The Kansas City Chiefs begin Phase I of their offseason program on Monday, but this year, things will be a little bit different.
Phase I is typically a conditioning period for NFL players, where they work with strength and conditioning coaches in an effort to get their bodies ready for the upcoming season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL facilities remain closed per league guidelines. The NFL has created a solution, however, which is for players to engage in what the NFL is calling an optional virtual period.
What exactly does this so-called virtual period entail? While Brett Veach is knee-deep in the 2020 NFL Draft he spoke a bit about the start of the virtual offseason program during his pre-draft press conference.
“We have a lot of stuff going on here, but Phase I, I believe starts on Monday, which is a virtual Phase I,” Veach said. “That will go on for three weeks and then from there we will be in contact with the league and defer to their guidance. It is a fluid process here, we’re all aware that some of the stuff can change. From the dialogue I’ve had with coach and our executives is that we have a virtual Phase I starting, it will be there in place for our players to log on and go through their video chat sessions with their coaches for the next three weeks. Then we’ll be in constant contact with the league and work off of that format.”
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero also shared some useful information about the virtual Phase I period. During the three week period that, players can receiver classroom instruction, workouts, and more via non-football educational programs (video conferencing).
Andy Reid told us during his pre-draft press conference that Chiefs strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin has been preparing a conditioning plan for the players. He also explained the team is preparing for a variety of possibilities with the offseason program.
“We got on that right away with Barry,” Reid said. “He was able to get players workouts. We haven’t done anything virtually with that, but that’s a plan going forward in case that’s the direction the league goes, so we’ll be prepared for that when they give us the OK on that. We know the players are working out. They’re out there getting their workouts in. The coaches have checked on them, likewise along with Barry and his crew. We stay close with the guys and at this time try and stay in touch with them. If there are any problems that come up to try to help them the best we can. And then, as far as the other part goes, the offseason program starts around the 20th with Phase I, so we have a little time before that. We’ll just see what direction this goes. Again, it’s normally a time that we use for conditioning workouts, so if we’re allowed to do that virtually, we can go ahead and do that at that time. We’ll try to stay in touch, and if we’re allowed to visit with the players with our Webex units or whatever, we can do that. We’re prepared to do all of that, and again, if we’re allowed back in the building, we’re good with that. We’ve got all that planned out too, so I think we’re good either way.”
Pelissero also mentioned that teams are allowed to send workout equipment and monitoring devices to players so long as the cost for a single player doesn’t exceed $1,500 dollars. So players could see some kettlebells and resistance bands arriving at their doorstep in the morning.
I did mention these are optional periods, but it sounds like at least one Kansas City Chiefs player is ready to go.
First day of practice mentality! 😤😤
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 20, 2020
Hopefully, other players will follow the example of their starting quarterback.