3:57pm: Add the Jets and Texans to this list. They are the 13th and 14th teams to reveal players will not show up Monday. Veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeted the Texans voted not to attend. Though, the Jets (Twitter link) join the Chargers and Falcons by pointing out that “many players” have agreed to do so. Some are likely to attend workouts.
3:47pm: Three more teams joined the lot of those who have pledged to pass on the NFL’s in-person OTAs this spring. The Chargers, Falcons and Steelers indicated all or most of their players will not attend workouts at team facilities.
The Bolts and Falcons’ statements said “many” of their respective players will not attend workouts (Twitter links), while the Steelers’ statement (on Twitter) provided no such qualifier.
Thus far, these three join the Broncos, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Bears, Browns, Giants, Patriots, Lions and Raiders in vowing to stay away from team facilities this offseason. The Steelers’ statement indicated the protocols that were in place last season are not entirely present for the NFL’s offseason program, creating confusion. Teams can begin holding onsite offseason workouts Monday, and more than half the league’s franchises are set to do so.
The NFL and NFLPA have been discussing offseason protocols for several weeks. No resolution has come, leading union president J.C. Tretter to call for these boycotts. The Chargers, Steelers and Falcons will proceed virtually, though some players — presumably the ones with workout bonuses — will likely show up. It will be interesting how teams navigate this matter after the draft. Draft picks and UDFAs can gain more from onsite offseason work, with the latter group not exactly in position to shun developmental opportunities. How rookies proceed may influence how certain veterans do as well.
For now, however, there are 12 teams who have come forward to say they will stay away from OTAs due to COVID-19 concerns. That list may continue expanding ahead of Monday.
Why? Vaccine have gotten easier and easier to get. NFL proved last year they can manage this well enough. Falcons can’t afford not to use every opportunity to get better. Seems dumb to me. Covid isn’t what it once was
Delusional. The NFL proved last year that they can’t manage covid protocols at all. Did you even notice all of the postponed games, lockdowns and personnel in isolation because of team violations? Covid isn’t what it once was because it is mutating and becoming even more virulent. Vaccines aren’t keeping up with it. Must be a trumpster and even that idiot got the vaccine in spite of all his “covid is nothing” bs.
If vaccines aren’t keeping up, then why get the shots?
your comment was somewhat valid until you brought politics into it.
It majorly affects the bottom of the roster players. Can’t show your skills, or get coaching to improve, you’re cut.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT COVID!!!!!!!!!
In Tretter’s original letter to the players on March 31st (link to nflpa.com), he spent all of two sentences specifically on COVID: “The pandemic is not over, and despite increasing vaccination rates, the number of infections are on the rise. Even the most aggressive estimates put herd immunity in the U.S. at some time in early August.”
The bulk of his letter to the players had to do with the side effects of the COVID precautions: a 30% reduction in concussions over the average of the previous five years, a 23% reduction in “missed-game” injuries, and a 45% decrease in heat-related illnesses. Tretter also duly noted that ACL tears and all categories of lower extremity strains were not reduced by the virtual off-season, cancellation of the pre-season, etc., etc., so there is work to be done to get those injury rates down.
Tretter spent the rest of the piece arguing that the game didn’t suffer from all that missed practice and playing time, and cited some stats regarding performance, competitiveness and parity to make his case. I take those arguments with a grain of salt.
But it’s really not just about COVID, it is also about the players’ union wanting to see permanent reductions in the number of concussions, missed-time injuries and heat-related illnesses suffered by its membership. That’s what any union should be doing.