First, there was a report two preseason games would be cut by the NFL, A report Friday suggests the NFLPA would like to erase the entire preseason slate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Thursday night’s NFLPA call, the union’s board of reps voted unanimously to recommend that the NFL play no preseason games this year. It’s unclear whether the league, which has already decided to cut the preseason from four games to two, will consider the recommendation.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 3, 2020
The original thought/plan was the league would cancel the first and last week of the preseason schedule. The Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers has already been called off.
The league does not believe it needs the union’s approval to set its preseason schedule, although the players would argue that the changes in work rules brought on by the pandemic allow them the right to be involved in the decision.
If this does happen, it would be fascinating to see whether offenses are ahead of defenses early in the season, or if the defenses benefit and have an advantage over offenses.