Tag: Players Union

Dr. Fauci, the NFL and the players’ union weigh in on testing protocols

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the NFL and the players’ union have weighed in on testing protocols for the coronavirus and all three seem to be at odds.

The National Football League is desperately trying to find a way to put its product on the field in 2020, however, the coronavirus pandemic seems to have a timeline of its own.

On Thursday, one of the nation’s leading medical experts – Dr. Anthony Fauci – gave his thoughts on whether or not football is likely to be played this season.

“Unless players are essentially in a bubble – insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day – it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall,” Fauci told CNN. “If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year.”

The NFL responded shortly thereafter with a statement from its own expert, chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills.

 

The NFLPA was also quick to respond, with a message from the union’s medical director, Thom Mayer.

All three experts seem to agree that testing will be one of the most important factors in ensuring player safety. But just exactly how the protocols will be put in place remains a major discrepancy.

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NFL and players union agree to reopening plan for team facilities

The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to guidelines for reopening team facilities to all players.

The NFL and the players union have agreed to a set of terms to provide for the safe reopening of team facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

A four-part memo was sent to all 32 teams which detailed protocols for clubs, per the Associated Press. Screening, testing, infection prevention and COVID-19 treatment are all addressed at length. Guidance on accessing facilities, cleaning, hygiene and team travel are also discussed.

Team facilities were closed in late March at the outset of the pandemic.

“Clubs will be required to certify that they have made the arrangements necessary to meet their obligations under these protocols,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in the memo. “And, in certain instances, to provide the details of those arrangements to be reviewed and confirmed by the jointly retained infectious disease experts at (Duke University).”

A tiered approach to return must be followed and presented to the league for approval at least seven days before the reporting date for training camps later this summer.

“No set of protocols can eliminate the risk of contracting COVID-19, nor ensure that the disease itself will be mild,” Goodell stated. “And we should expect that these protocols will change as medical and scientific knowledge of the disease continues to grow. But we believe, along with the NFLPA, that these protocols offer a sound basis for bringing players back into the facilities and moving forward with our planning for the 2020 season.”

This story is continuing to develop.

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NFL players union has not yet agreed to a reopening plan

The NFL players union (NFLPA) has not yet agreed to a reopening plan following the pandemic despite some team facilities opening their doors.

The National Football League might be allowing for team facilities to slowly reopen around the country, however, the players themselves are not yet ready to return.

Browns center and NFL Players Association president, JC Tretter, tweeted the following message on Tuesday.

“Players: our union has not agreed to any reopening plan. Any reports about coming back to work are hypothetical. You will hear from the NFLPA when there are new developments.”

Tretter’s tweet could be a reaction to the report by CBS Sports’ Charles Robinson that suggested head coaches could return as soon as next week and minicamps could be held beginning mid-June.

“We have the, I guess what you could call an advantage of we still have time before our season is projected to start,” Tretter said on a conference call May 19 via CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards. “A lot of the other leagues are trying to figure this out right now and trying to piece it together, and we still have time. I would not say we are at the point where we need to make an agreement.

“We are going to keep sitting back and making sure we make the right decisions for our players.”

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