An NFLPA database shows that 72 NFL players were known to have tested positive for the coronavirus as of July 10.
As the NFL and the NFL Players Association continue to negotiate rules under which training camps can start later this month and the regular season can start in September, the union is trying to make sure its members are up to date. on the presence of the coronavirus. across the country and in their specific communities.
The number 72 is difficult to put in context, because not all players in the league, or even a very large number, have been tested. But estimating 32 traditional 90-man training camp lists would give you a total number of 2,880 NFL players right now, meaning the 72 represent 2.5% of the league’s player population.
The NFLPA has released this information on its website, which also gives players a market-by-market look at how the virus has spread in cities where the camps are slated to open later this month. The map on the site is based on 14-day averages of new positive tests and currently shows Miami as the “most popular” virus spot among the NFL markets, with 4,164 average daily cases in the past two weeks. Nearby are Los Angeles, Arizona and Dallas.
At the other end of the spectrum, the chart shows the New England Patriots market with the fewest positive tests in the past 14 days. Other teams in the low-end markets include the New York Jets and Giants, the Buffalo Bills, and the Detroit Lions.
The NFLPA has spent the past two weeks negotiating with the league specific health and safety protocols to reopen procedures in light of the virus, as well as on economic issues such as the impact of the loss of 2020 earnings on the 2021 wage cap. Several prominent members of the players’ union have publicly said they will not agree to play again until they are convinced that everything possible has been done to keep them as safe as possible. The league and union continue to haggle over issues ranging from frequency of testing to specialized face shields and exclusion procedures for players who are not comfortable playing in the current climate.
Training camp for most teams is scheduled to start on July 28.
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