NFL doctors tell union boss DeMaurice Smith that training camps can open on time

The NFL and its players’ union have several health and economic issues to work out before training camps are scheduled to open July 28.

Delaying the start of summer practices because of the coronavirus pandemic apparently isn’t among them.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said based on information he received from medical personnel Thursday night, camps for the league’s 32 teams are expected to open on time.

“With a couple of reservations, they felt it was safe to open training camp,” Smith said Friday on a video call with members of the Pro Football Writers of America. “They provided their medical reasons. Some of the things we agreed with. Some of the things we may not have agreed to, but overall they gave their medical opinion that it was safe to open training camp, and that’s where we are.”

The Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs already have asked rookies to report Monday. Houston has been one of the cities hit hardest in recent weeks by surging covid-19 cases.

Coronavirus cases are spiking in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Although Pennsylvania isn’t considered a “hot spot,” Allegheny County reported 240 new cases Friday, bringing the total to nearly 6,000 since March.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to conduct training camp beginning July 28 at Heinz Field, the first time since 1966 they haven’t ventured to Saint Vincent in Unity Township for the opening weeks of practice.

“There are players who are nervous about flying from a relative safe location to a relative hot spot with their families,” union president and Cleveland Browns center J.C. Tretter said. “That is a major concern with stuff going on — Houston, Miami. How safe is that?”

Before camps begin, the league and union need to negotiate the number of times players will be tested for covid-19. The union wants testing done every day, along with what Smith called “very intensive contact tracing,” that will help the long-term initiative.

“Anybody can start the season, but I believe daily testing increases our chances of finishing it,” he said.

While ownership wants to have two preseason games for each team to test road and home conditions for players under the coronavirus safety protocols, the union doesn’t want any exhibition season. They are seeking a 10-day acclimation period of practices without pads at the outset of camp.

“We believe the right focus for players and our business is not only coming up with a way to start the season, but to contemplate a way to finish it,” Smith said. “Engaging in two games where players are flying all over the country and meeting together to engage for work, we feel that doing that prior to the season doesn’t properly influence or increase the likelihood of starting and finishing the season on time.”

Added Tretter: “Every decision we make that doesn’t look at the long term of getting through a full season is going to set us up for failure.”

Several players from other sports leagues attempting to resume or start their seasons have opted out of playing. The NFL has proposed an Aug. 1 deadline for players to opt out of the 2020 season. Smith said no NFL players have informed him of a decision to opt out this year.

The two sides also are working toward a decision on how future salary caps will be impacted by the lost revenue from the 2020 season, which could be played with few or no fans in stadiums. Smith has received estimates that NFL teams would lose $70 million apiece in revenue. In theory, that could reduce the 2021 salary cap from $198.2 million to about $120 million.

“That would mean a number of players could be cut,” Smith said. “A lot of players who have salaries that would push the team above that cap would be forced to drastically renegotiate their contracts or be cut.”

The NFL initially proposed players put 35% of their salaries in an escrow account to help manage costs for this season. Another proposal was a $40 million reduction in salary and benefits for 2020. The NFLPA has rejected each proposal.

Smith would like any cap reductions spread out over multiple seasons.

“If we had our preference, we would never want the players of this year and to a certain extent next year to unfairly bear the brunt of a massive decrease in revenue in football,” he said. “They are taking the most risk by coming back to work at this point in time. … For a player taking a massive increase in risk this year … we want to figure out what is fair.”