The NFLs unwillingness to follow the recommendations of its own experts will put this season and the safety of all players at risk. This year must look differently if we hope to play a full season and crown a Super Bowl Champion. Read: https://t.co/lp7vFYFFjN
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) July 7, 2020
In an article published this week, NFLPA president JC Tretter noted that injuries increased 25% and hamstring strains went up 44% after an extended lockout during the 2011 offseason.
Taking those numbers into consideration, the NFLPA has requested an extended training camp period and no preseason games this year. Here’s part of Tretter’s article that was published on the NFLPA’s website:
As a preventative measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFLPA and NFL formed a Joint Committee of doctors, trainers and strength coaches to develop protocols designed to bring players up to full speed in a healthy way when they return. The NFL initially accepted and implemented the Joint Committee’s suggestions, including items like no joint practices and no fans at training camp. However, the NFL was unwilling to follow the Joint Committee’s recommendation of a 48-day training camp schedule. Despite these experts’ assessment that teams face a serious risk of player-injury spikes this year (based on past NFL data and recent findings from sports leagues that have already returned to play this year), the NFL is unwilling to prioritize player safety and believes that the virus will bend to football.
As of now, the league is planning to have two preseason games per team in August. Tretter argues that players need more time to physically prepare for the season, not exhibition games.
“It has been clear for months that we need to find a way to fit football inside the world of coronavirus,” Tretter said. “Making decisions outside that lens is both dangerous and irresponsible.”
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