Tag: Players Union

NFLPA pushing for an all-virtual offseason again in 2021

The NFL players association is once again pushing for an all-virtual offseason due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

It’s almost time for NFL clubs to begin their offseason programming, and similar to last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the offseason could be conducted virtually.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero provided the latest update on the union’s stance.

“NFLPA President JC Tretter told players on a call today the union is pushing for an all-virtual offseason – and would urge players to boycott if teams conduct in-person OTAs this spring, per sources,” Pelissero tweeted. “Said Tretter: ‘We’ve been telling them, it’s voluntary and we’re not gonna go.'”

Under the CBA, the only mandatory workout requirement ahead of summer’s training camp is June minicamp, which Pelissero is reporting the union also wants to keep virtual. Some 300 players stand to lose their workout bonuses if they opt to skip the OTAs.

Nothing is yet set in stone and the NFLPA and the owners will continue their talks.

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72 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19 as of last Friday

According to the NFL Players’ Association’s website, 72 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19 as of last Friday.

The NFLPA’s number one priority for starting the 2020 NFL season is the health of the players it represents. The players union has been keeping a detailed website, tracking all relative coronavirus information, which is also available to the general public.

As of last Friday, 72 players around the league have tested positive for COVID-19, which is roughly 2.5% of the workforce.

The NFLPA website shows the areas where clubs are located across the country relative to the level of the outbreak in that region. The Dolphins, Cardinals, and Jaguars are dead center in three of the hot spots as of now.

With some rookies and select players set to report to training camps as soon as this Saturday, the NFLPA and the NFL are quickly running out of time to finalize all the protocols to ensure a safe reopening for the start of the season.

You can check the NFLPA’s coronavirus updates here.

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No talks scheduled between NFL and NFLPA as of now

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have many protocols to iron out before the start of the season, but no talks are scheduled as of now.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have a lot to discuss – including how and when to start the 2020 season. However, it looks like no talks are scheduled between the two sides, as of now.

“As of now (12:44 pm ET), there are no formal talks scheduled between NFL and NFLPA today on reopening protocols, though obviously that could change,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweeted Wednesday. “NFLPA is having an internal call this afternoon to discuss its response, and is also having a call this afternoon to update agents.”

The players’ union sent its response to league regarding major economic concerns, including the specifics of opt-outs for the season. States experiencing major surges in the virus could shut down once again, barring any gathering over 10, making training camps nearly impossible to hold.

“The NFL sent a response Tues night to the NFLPA’s proposal on reopening protocols,” Graziano continued in the thread. “Still no agreement. Players still want daily testing, elimination of preseason games and for COVID to be classified as a football injury. (Non Football Injury List allows team to not pay a player.)”

This story is continuing to develop.

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NFL, NFLPA in talks about possible player opt-outs over virus concerns

The NFL and the NFL Players’ Association are currently in talks about possible player opt-outs over coronavirus concerns ahead of the season.

Things are changing on a daily basis with the National Football League as pressures are mounting over growing coronavirus concerns and training camp report dates are less than three weeks away.

Earlier in the week, NFLPA Vice President Sam Acho told SiriusXM NFL Radio he believes the NFL would be hesitant to allow players to opt-out of the season despite COVID-19 cases on the rise.

On Wednesday, however, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reported the league and the players’ union are currently in talks to discuss the ramifications of just that.

“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,” Pelissero said during an appearance on NFL NOW. “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.”

With the start of training camps set for July 28, the league and the union have precious little time to iron out the details of any potential opt-outs ahead of the 2020 NFL season.

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Michael Thomas laughs off reported NFL request to hold partial wages in escrow

The NFL suggested 35% of wages be held in escrow during the 2020 season, which New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas scoffed at.

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Talks are ongoing between the NFL and the NFL Players Association as both sides gear up for the 2020 season despite the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. One point of contention in recent conversations between labor and management is an NFL proposal to hold 35% of wages in escrow to help manage costs during the upcoming season.

Naturally, that wasn’t an appealing offer to the players’ union, which told ownership “to kick rocks” when the option was brought up. Superstar New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took aim a little more directly at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the ownership group he represents, saying that, “Roger and those owners better use their billions and put it in escrow or plan accordingly.”

Thomas is likely more skeptical of whether a season can get off the ground while addressing players’ health concerns than he’s worried about whether it’ll be a profitable season. And he’s not alone in those concerns, with teammate Cameron Jordan laughing at the in-escrow suggestion as “an option on the table.”

NFL owners are clearly expecting some sort of loss in revenue from the 2020 season, probably due to decreased ticket sales and gameday concessions. But with new TV broadcasting contracts on the horizon and the collective wealth of league ownership (estimated at a combined net worth north of $72 billion among just the 10 richest team owners), owners are in a better position to take a financial hit this year than the players themselves.

Still, there will be ripple effects from a less-profitable 2020 season. The Saints stand to lose out on as much as $440 million if they aren’t able to bring fans into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this year, and a big reflection of those losses will come in the form of a decreased 2021 salary cap. But we’re a long ways off from those anxieties becoming reality.

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NFLPA board of reps calls on NFL to cancel all 2020 preseason games

The NFLPA Board of Representatives has voted unanimously to call on the NFL to cancel all 2020 preseason games in light of the coronavirus.

The NFL Players’ Associations’ Board of Representatives is standing firm on its stance against playing any preseason games this summer. On Thursday, the board voted unanimously to call on the NFL to cancel all preseason games in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s the wording of the passed resolution:

“RESOLVED, that in light of the absence of medical justification for holding any preseason games and the necessity of adhering to the acclimation period in order to reduce the possibility of injuries, the NFLPA Board of Player Representatives recommends that no preseason games be played during the 2020 NFL preseason, and the Board calls upon the NFL to cancel all preseason games due to the on-going COVID pandemic.”

In the July 3 memo, the NFLPA insists the NFL has no medical justification to support the decision to retain two preseason games or for the shortening of the previously agreed-upon acclimation period.

According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, the fight over the preseason games is “just getting started.”

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A look at possible NFL training camp schedules with no preseason games

Here’s a look at possible 2020 NFL training camp schedules with no preseason games due to the rise in COVID-19 cases around the nation.

The National Football League is expected to announce the cancellation of half of the preseason games scheduled for this summer in light of the rising COVID-19 breakout across the nation.

Games scheduled for Week 1 and Week 4 are likely to be canceled outright with teams playing one home and one away matchup over Week 2 and Week 3.

However, the NFL Players’s Association remains opposed to playing the exhibition games altogether and has discussed possible alternatives.

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero has reported a proposed training camp schedule should the preseason games be scratched in 2020.

“3 days: medical/equipment

21 days: strength & conditioning

10 days: unpadded practice

14 days: practice (10 max/8 padded),” Pelissero tweeted.

“Then it’d be straight into Week 1 (of the regular season).”

Pelissero also noted the number of players participating in each phase of the program would be greatly reduced, for instance, only five players at a time for strength and conditioning workouts and up to 40 in unpadded practices.

With camps set to begin on July 28, the NFL and NFLPA now have less than a month to come to any sort of compromise and the clock is ticking.

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Report: NFL players may be fined for conduct leading to COVID spread

The NFL Players’ Association is considering whether or not to fine players for “conduct detrimental” which leads to the spread of COVID-19.

The National Football League is desperately trying to find a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus between players ahead of the start of training camp scheduled for the end of the month.

The NFL Players’ Association has already cautioned against group workouts since a number of players have tested positive around the league.

Now, the players’ union is considering fining players for “conduct detrimental” leading to the spread of COVID-19.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported Thursday night that the union held a two-hour conference call with players’ representatives and discussed the possibility players could be fined if “they’re found to have spread COVID-19 by engaging in ‘reckless’ behavior away from the facility, such as eating out at restaurants or riding in Ubers.”

Some superstars around the NFL, including quarterbacks Tom Brady and Seahawks signal-caller, Russell Wilson, have continued to engage in the group workouts despite the union’s warnings. Perhaps instituting a monetary fine will help drive the message home that safety must come first.

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NFLPA directs agents to instruct players on CDC’s COVID-19 risk factors

The NFLPA directed agents to instruct their players on the CDC’s COVID-19 risk factors and to speak to their doctors before returning to play.

The NFL Players’ Association is continuing to strive to find the best possible practices to ensure their players are able to safely return by the start of training camps at the end of July.

Most recently, the players’ union sent out a memo to NFL agents instructing them to advise players as to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions’ risk factors for COVID-19. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports the agents are required to speak with their clients on the matter by mid-July, urging them to contact their own, personal physicians prior to deciding on whether or not to play this season.

A copy of the memo is included in Pelissero’s tweet.

“Every player needs to be aware of their individual medical status as they approach a return to work,” the memo reads. Players are to be advised to contact both their personal as well as their team physicians. “Proactive engagement in this matter will help players achieve that goal.”

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NFLPA urges players not to practice together due to increased COVID-19 cases

The NFLPA’s medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, has urged players not to practice together due to increased COVID-19 cases around the nation.

In light of the increase in COVID-19 cases around the nation, the NFLPA is now urging players not to practice together during private workouts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

A number of players around the league have already tested positive for the disease.

The players’ union issued a statement from its medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, on Friday.

“Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in Covid-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts,” Mayer wrote. “Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.”

“We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences,” Mayer continued, before concluding his statement with, “Be safe.”

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