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It seems like forever but the Pittsburgh Steelers have finally kicked off their 2020 training camp. The NFL has been forced to lay out a series of protocols and rules to account for the COVID-19 pandemic. While we don’t have all the details of the parameters for training camp, here is a brief rundown of what we know as of now pertaining to the changes and additions this season.
- Teams can fine up to $50,000 for players who refuse to submit to coronavirus testing.
- Players can be fined up to $14,650 for failure to wear a mask, properly socially distance and for not wearing their Kinexon device.
- Players are also expected to adhere to rules outside of club facilities to reduce their risk of getting the coronavirus.
- August 5: Players must submit written notice to their clubs that they will be opting out of the 2020 season, either voluntarily or due to elevated risk to their personal health. So far, two Giants have opted out.
- Players who opt out and are deemed “high risk” can earn $350,000 instead of their non-guaranteed salary. Voluntary opt-outs will receive $150,000, but that does not extend to undrafted rookies.
- The first phase of training camp will include a 20-day “ramp-up” period, starting with four days of COVID-19 testing and two additional days of conventional physicals. Players will not be permitted to enter team facilities until they have received two negative COVID-19 tests. Any player testing positive will be put on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will not count against the roster.
- The second phase of the “ramp-up” period will feature a week of strength and conditioning drills, with players working in small groups of no more than 15. Team will be permitted to use helmets and shell (no pads) during the final five days of this phase.
- August 16: All teams must cut their rosters down to 80 players, the day before padded practices begin. The Giants initially went with a 90-man split squad, but called an audible and reduced their roster to 80 (actually 79, pending Markus Golden signing) on Sunday.
- August 17: Teams may begin holding padded practices, but will be limited to 14 sessions before the start of the regular season. Padded practices will last no more than 90 minutes to begin. 15-minute increments will be added onto each subsequent practice until they reach a total of 120 minutes. Players will be given one day off for every seven days of work.
- All 2020 preseason games have been canceled and inter-squad practices eliminated.
- September 4: Teams must cut their rosters down from 80 players to just 53, and file waivers claims in order to fill out their practice squads. The 2020 practice squad will be expanded to 16 players to accommodate expected absences due to COVID-19 infections.
- The NFL’s 2020 salary cap will remain stable at $198.2 million, but the 2021 salary cap will fall no lower than $175 million due to expected revenue losses. Any losses will be divided up through 2024.
- If the NFL season is canceled after games are played, players that were on the 53-man roster will receive a $300,000 stipend. But if the season is canceled before final roster cuts, only those players who were on a team in 2019 will receive a stipend of $250,000.
- The NFL and NFLPA agreed to start a fund to pay back benefits lost to declines in revenue, which will run through 2023.
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