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With the NFL and the NFL Players Association reaching a landmark CBA on the go covering 2020 and beyond, the two sides have found a way to ensure players practice personal responsibility in a pandemic.
According to multiple sources, the deal specifically prohibits players from engaging in certain behaviors this season. Players may not attend indoor nightclubs, indoor bars (except to pick up food), indoor parties (with 15 or more people), indoor concerts, professional sporting events, or indoor church services that allow attending to more than 25 percent of its capacity.
Players can be fined for violating these rules. Also, if they test positive after participating in prohibited activities, they will not be paid for the games they lose. In addition, future guarantees on their contracts would be void.
It will be interesting to see how teams enforce the rules. Some may use security officials to monitor local establishments or to track player behavior. Others may rely on contacts within the community to contact the team if / when violations are observed. Some may set up an NBA-style tip line.
As a source said Saturday morning, “All players should remove social media.”
Ultimately, the goal will be to prevent players from breaking the rules and, in turn, prevent them from giving a positive result and otherwise bring the virus to the team. This will require coaches and team leaders to be very direct and clear regarding behavior outside of work that will be considered acceptable.
Teams that can best communicate that message, and that can best guarantee compliance for all players, will be most likely to minimize outbreaks.
