NFLPA wants players tested daily for virus when camps open

NFL Players Association wants players tested daily for coronavirus, one of outstanding points in discussions with NFL over health and safety protocols as start of training camp draws near.

“We believe daily testing is important, especially given some of se hot spots,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said Friday, referring to states with increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. “We don’t right w plan on changing that position.”

league and union already finalized protocols regarding team travel, media, and treatment response, and updated facilities protocol to specifically address training camp based on recommendations from a joint committee of doctors, trainers and strength coaches formed by league and players’ union. committee recommended testing every or day.

NFLPA president JC Tretter, a center for Cleveland Browns, called an “emergency” meeting Thursday night with head team doctors from clubs in hot spot cities to discuss wher it’s safe to start camp. Rookies for Houston and Kansas City are set to report on Monday. Players from all teams report by July 28.

“y gave ir medical opinion it was safe to open training camp, and that’s where we are,” Smith said.

If league and union fail to reach an agreement, NFL can implement its proposed rules, according to CBA. NFLPA could file a grievance to argue league isn’t providing a safe work environment under rules of collective bargaining agreement.

“ league is manment,” Smith said. “y have exclusive right, just like somebody who owns a plant, regarding when it opens and when it closes. y want training camps to open on time. role of union is to hold m accountable about wher it’s safe to open w. ... We are all trying to get to right decision more so than getting to fast decision.”

An acclimation period for players is ar main sticking point. union wants 45 days per joint committee’s recommendation. breakdown would be 21 days strength and conditioning, 10 days of n-padded practices, n 14 days of contact to get ready for games. Also, union doesn’t want to play any preseason games while NFL had planned to cut exhibition schedule from four games to two.

“To eng in two games where players would be flying all over country and n engaging with each or to work, and to do that prior to season, doesn’t increase likelihood of starting and finishing season on time,” Smith said.

t all players agree on t playing preseason games.

“I think we should play those two games,” Philadelphia defensive back Jalen Mills told Associated Press. “We need to kw how everything is going to work on game day. Of course, preseason, we don’t kw about fans right w, but as far as protocol is going to work, as far wher y’re testing us before games or testing us prior and up to games, testing us on game day.

“Walking in a stadium, how’s that going to be? How’s traveling going to be different staying in a hotel? I think we need to kw that. ... Everybody is t playing first game at home. Everybody’s t doing that. So you got guys who are going to travel Week 1. And I feel honestly, me, I will want to kw how protocol is going to be so I will be able to t only physically prepare myself, but also mentally, kwing exactly what NFL is going to do as far as this whole COVID thing and protocols as far entering games.”

league previously requested that players report to camp earlier than July 28 to give m more acclimation time for strength and conditioning because y held formal workouts or team minicamps. But union declined.

NFL held a videoconference call with team owners Friday to discuss preparations for season.

“We will continue to implement health and safety protocols developed jointly with NFLPA, and based on advice of leading medical experts, including review by CDC,” league said in a statement. “We will address additional issues in a cooperative way. All decisions will be made in an effort to put us in position to play a full regular season and postseason culminating with Super Bowl which is shared goal of clubs and players.”

Ar unanswered question is how many positive tests for coronavirus would force a team to shut down.

“If a center tests positive on a Friday and re’s a quarantine period for all of his close contacts, aren’t we talking about 35 players in close contact with me so how does that affect a game?” Tretter said. “Maybe schedule of how week looks needs to be different to monitor type of close contacts you have and avoiding situations where one positive test on a wrong day late in week derails an entire team.”

Some teams began sending ir Infectious Disease Emergency Response to NFLPA on Thursday night. union is reviewing those plans to make sure y’re in compliance with protocols already negotiated.

“This isn’t a rmal year so we’ve always done it this way is t going to work this year,” Tretter said. “ idea that this is just going to go away with snap of a finger and you don’t have to change, it’s wrong. ...

“Everything needs to be revamped and refitted to fit coronavirus because expectation that you’re going to be able to fit coronavirus into football is t right expectation.”

Of course, league and union are also discussing ecomics because re’s a projected loss of revenue due to likelihood teams will be playing games without fans. union prefers to spread out financial hit over several years while league has proposed doing it over two seasons. Smith said NFL’s suggestion would cause salary cap to drop by as much as $70 million per team in 2021.

“If we had a preference we would never want players of next year to unfairly bear brunt of a massive decrease in revenue in football,” Smith said. “y are taking most risk by coming back to work at this point.”

Questions also remain on players’ rights to opt out of playing. Smith said player has informed union of intent to opt out as of w.

Im credits: AP