NFL, NFLPA agree on terms for virtual offseason program
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The NFL and the players' association reached an agreement on a "virtual" offseason program amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFLPA announced Monday.
The virtual period can begin April 20, though no on-field work can take place until all 32 club facilities are reopened, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Moreover, the NFL won't open team facilities until all 50 states remove lockdown orders, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.
2. The NFL's offseason will remain virtual as long as all 50 states are under some kind of lockdown. This means NFL franchises cannot resume in-house work, OTAs or any form of camps until all 50 states have removed lockdown restrictions. This includes states without NFL teams.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 13, 2020
If facilities don't reopen during the offseason workout program, teams can conduct a mandatory veteran minicamp on a virtual basis.
Each team gets three consecutive weeks of “virtual period” work (classroom instruction, workouts, and non-football educational programs using Skype, etc.) plus an extra voluntary veteran minicamp for new coaches.”Virtual period” ends no later than May 15.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 13, 2020
All offseason programs must end by June 26, according to Pelissero. Training camps usually begin in mid-to-late July.
More than 250 players have workout bonuses in their contracts for 2020, including 18 who can earn $500,000 or more, per Field Yates of ESPN.
Under the pact, teams and players will be asked to come to their own agreement for the benchmarks to earn bonuses, added Robinson.
The NFL is also going "fully virtual" for the 2020 draft after all public events scheduled in Las Vegas were canceled. The event will take place April 23-25.
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