Report: NFLPA against preseason games
The NFL Players Association is still opposed to preseason games, and on Thursday voted that the proper number of August contests amid the COVID-19 pandemic was zero, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.
The vote was unanimous, a source told Dan Graziano of ESPN.
The league is reportedly planning to trim the 2020 preseason from four games to two and, according to Garafolo's sources, believes it has the right to set the length of the preseason per the collective bargaining agreement.
However, the new CBA gives the union increased rights regarding health and safety, and the NFLPA believes it is permitted to comment on whether games are being held in the players' best interest.
A potential training-camp schedule suggested by the union that doesn't include a preseason is currently being discussed in league circles.
With the NFLPA still opposed to preseason games, one possible camp schedule the union has discussed:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 3, 2020
3 days: medical/equipment
21 days: strength & conditioning
10 days: unpadded practice
14 days: practice (10 max/8 padded)
Then it’d be straight into Week 1.
The NFL and NFLPA's joint committee on health and safety previously recommended a three-week acclimation period comprised mostly of strength and conditioning prior to padded practices.
As the league and the union work to finalize medical protocols for the 2020 campaign, Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, and NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer addressed players via conference call on Friday.
It was determined during Friday's call that COVID-19 cases detected after players report would be classified as "football injuries," requiring players to be paid, according to MMQB's Albert Breer.