Jamal Adams on empty stadiums: 'Let fans decide' if they want to come
New York Jets safety Jamal Adams doesn't want to play without fans, and he thinks supporters should be able to decide whether they will attend games during the upcoming season, he tweeted Friday.
The NFL, which reportedly won't set attendance limits for the 2020 season and told teams to follow local COVID-19 guidelines, is apparently considering requiring fans who attend games to sign liability waivers in order to prevent lawsuits.
Multiple clubs have announced their plans for home games amid the pandemic, and they all involve limited capacity. If fans are permitted to attend Baltimore Ravens games, the seating capacity will be reduced to fewer than 14,000 seats. The Jacksonville Jaguars, meanwhile, said that they'll use about 25% of their stadium capacity in 2020.
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't specify a target number, but team president Mark Donovan confirmed the team will "move forward with a reduced-capacity plan," at least for the first few games of the season.
Over the last week, the NFL and NFLPA have been discussing the 2020 season in general and pandemic protocols specifically ahead of training camp. The two sides reportedly aren't close to an agreement. The areas of conflict include preseason length, postgame interaction rules, coronavirus-related face shields on helmets, and a league proposal to hold 35% of player salaries in escrow.
Adams, who was drafted sixth overall in 2017, requested a trade from the Jets this offseason. He was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2019.
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