FRISCO, Texas – As if in doubt, it seems certain that this upcoming preseason will be unlike any other in league history.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have been in discussions this week about the details of this summer’s activity, which will begin next week when the teams show up for training camp.
The most important detail from those conversations pertains to preseason games, which don’t seem to be happening in 2020. The NFL AP reportedly told its players that there will be no preseason games this summer as teams get used to it. playing games against the backdrop of COVID-19.
That had been a point of conflict between the league and the players for the past few weeks. Originally, NFL owners favored a two-game preseason schedule, allowing each team to play an exhibition at home and on the road. In the interest of concerns about the health and safety of the players, the league appears to have agreed to dismiss the preseason entirely.
There are several more ongoing conversations between the two sides as they try to work out the details before the official start of training camp. The NFLPA also reportedly told its membership that the expectation is that rosters sit at 80 players per team, 10 points below the usual 90-man limit during training camp.
All of this occurs less than a week after many high-profile players flocked to social media to voice concerns about safety protocols as the league begins the process of returning to work. There are still some details to work out as the NFL moves into soccer, but it certainly seems like those concerns are being heard.
