NFL, union gear up for additional
talks
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[July 18, 2020]
The NFL said in a statement issued Friday that progress has
been made toward safely playing amid the coronavirus pandemic but
acknowledged not all issues have been settled with the players
union.
"NFL clubs met today via videoconference and received an update on
preparations for the 2020 season," the league said. "We will
continue to implement the health and safety protocols developed
jointly with the NFLPA, and based on the advice of leading medical
experts, including review by the CDC. We will address additional
issues in a cooperative way. All decisions will be made in an effort
to put us in position to play a full regular season and postseason
culminating with the Super Bowl which is the shared goal of the
clubs and the players."
The statement did not address the issues that remain to be settled,
but they are known to include additional health protocols and
financial measures.
DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players
Association, said in a video call with reporters that consistent
testing will be non-negotiable.
"We believe daily testing is important, especially given some of
these hot spots," Smith said, referring to the numerous NFL cities
experiencing a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. "We don't right
now plan on changing that position."
Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston and the entire state of Florida are among
the NFL markets that have experienced a surge in the virus.
Smith said the NFLPA called "an emergency meeting" Thursday night
with team doctors in the most-affected regions, and the medical
professionals said it was safe to begin football.
Camps are scheduled to open July 28, but rookies will report Monday
to several teams, even as the negotiations continue. Players can
file a grievance to delay the start of training camps and use the
reason of workplace conditions not being up to standards if COVID-19
protocols are still unsettled. The NFLPA has indicated it would seek
to stop camps once a player files a complaint.
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The NFL logo is pictured
at an event in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York,
U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
"One positive test late in the week [could derail] an entire team
because all the people who were close contacts need to get through
the protocols to make sure they're not sick and transmitting this
virus to everyone around them," players association president and
Browns center J.C. Tretter said.
"You don't have enough bodies to put on the field."
In his videoconference on Friday, Smith also had a message for
football fans: Everyone needs to wear a mask if they want to watch
football this fall.
"What's good for the country is good for sports," Smith said.
"Something as simple as wearing a mask will have probably the most
significant impact on the extent and whether sport returns in this
country."
The NFLPA released a statement Friday afternoon saying the players
shouldn't have to take both increased physical risk, and increased
financial risk.
"We know that players are taking all of the risk by returning to
work. We also know there will be a shortfall in revenues next year,"
the statement read. "We are bargaining for fair and reasonable ways
to soften the short term economic losses in our business.
(Field Level Media)
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