One of the big issues facing the NFL in a return to the field in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is what to do with players who don’t believe it’s safe enough for them to participate. The concept of players being able to opt-out is a hot topic with the NFLPA in their negotiations with the league to set up the parameters for training camp later this month.
According to the NFL Network, the owners and players are indeed working on a solution that would allow players to opt against playing without any penalty.
“My understanding is both the union and the league intend to have an opt-out for players who have either a pre-existing condition, family (members) with pre-existing conditions, just general concerns over COVID-19, would not want to play this season,” Tom Pelissero reported on the NFL Network on Wednesday. “General managers were told on a call earlier this week there would be a specific date by which players would need to opt-out. That date is still to be determined.”
NFLPA president JC Tretter has brought up the idea in a couple of different interviews on the potential to return to the field as well. It’s something other sports have already had to deal with, notably in the NBA with several prominent players sitting out for personal health and safety reasons.
Training camps are still scheduled to kick off later this month, albeit with severely limited media access and no fans in attendance.