Eric Christian Smith / Associated Press
The NFL preseason roster reportedly ended before it started, as the league and NFLPA agreed to reject all preseason games during negotiations on the upcoming 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network confirmed the news on Tuesday. As Garafolo noted, the league made the offer to the NFLPA.
The two sides have yet to resolve other elements of action, although they have overcome some obstacles.
According to Pelissero, there is a “general agreement” on the players who choose not to play in 2020 due to COVID-19. The two sides also agree to player stipends if games are lost, according to Pelissero.
The rosters will be at 80 players to start training camps, according to Albert Breer of Illustrated Sports.
“What does ‘blanket agreement’ mean about opt-out and stipend? Details are still being finalized (ie who qualifies as high risk, how much are they paid, etc.), but the NFL and NFLPA have agreed the concept, “added Pelissero. “Those will exist.”
Meanwhile, Mike Florio Pro Football Talk explained what the preseason would not mean for each team’s training schedule.
“No preseason game will allow the league to follow a schedule recommended by a joint committee. That schedule requires three weeks of strength and conditioning work, 10 days of practice without padding and 10 days of practice with padding during the past two weeks. “
How Pelissero noted that the NFLPA still wants a longer “acceleration period” from now until the start of the regular season.
NFLPA President and offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns JC Tretter He explained in more detail in a letter on the organization’s website, noting that injuries increased by 25 percent when league operations paused after the close of 2011.
Tretter elaborated further:
“The NFL initially accepted and implemented the Joint Committee’s suggestions, including elements such as joint and fanless non-practices at training camp. However, the NFL was not willing to follow the Joint Committee’s recommendation of a training camp program. 48 days. “
“Despite these experts’ assessment that teams face a serious risk of spikes in injury to players this year (based on previous NFL data and recent findings from sports leagues that have already returned to play this year) The NFL is unwilling to prioritize the safety of players and believes the virus will spread to soccer.“
The preseason was originally scheduled to begin on August 6 with the Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, but that matchup had already been eliminated along with the postponement of the consecration ceremony for the Hall of Famers class. 2020 Professional Football Fame.
All other teams were slated to begin their preseason matchups between August 13-16, and final tunings will take place on September 3.
With the preseason purportedly eliminated, the next time two NFL teams hit the field for a game will be Sept. 10, when defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs will host the Houston Texans in a rematch of the round. divisional of the AFC.
.
