It’s official: The NFL will open training camp as scheduled. What exactly that will look like remains the most important question.
In a letter from the league to NFL coaches and general managers, it was reported that the reporting dates for all teams will be as follows:
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– July 21: Novice report for training camp.
– July 23th: Quarterbacks and injured players report. For the Giants, that includes quarterback Daniel Jones arriving for his second training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Center.
– 28 of July: All the other players arrive.
As of now, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted, only a maximum of 20 players will be allowed on each team’s premises at a time until the NFLPA approves each team’s infectious disease emergency response plan. If the NFLPA disagrees with each team’s plan, a complaint can be filed, but teams have the right, under CBA rules, to set reporting dates.
If the players must report at that time, do not, the teams have the right to impose penalties in the form of fines.
NFLPA executive DeMaurice Smith said in a media conference call Friday that the schedule the union is pressing on at training camp, keep in mind: the offseason was practically held so there is no mini-camp. In person or OTA this year, it would include 21 days of strength and conditioning, 10 days of practice without padding, and 14 days of contact to prepare for the games.
That would make it difficult to conduct preseason games, which the league wants but the NFLPA is against.
“Participating in two games where players would fly across the country and then interact with each other to work, and do it before the season,” Smith said Friday, “doesn’t increase the likelihood of starting and ending.” the season on time. “
Another trouble spot the NFLPA has been pushing for is the daily tests of COVID-19, while the league has been planning to test three times a week. Another issue is financial. With zero (or limited) fans in the stands, league revenue could take a significant hit. The NFLPA is trying to spread that revenue over a few years rather than incurring a loss of up to $ 70 million in maximum space per team in 2021.
However, it seems that the plan is for training camp to start on time.
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