Issues lingering on eve of camp
Watt, Watson tweet frustrations as Texans rookies prepare to report
On the day before rookies from the Texans and Kansas City Chiefs report to training camp and undergo testing for COVID-19, J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson were among NFL stars tweeting their frustrations over the lack of an established plan for safety protocols.
Because the Texans and Chiefs kick off the regular season Sept. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium, they’re allowed to report before other teams. After the teams’ rookies serve as guinea pigs to see how many test positive for the coronavirus, their veterans are scheduled to report Saturday for
testing.
Meanwhile, the owners and NFL Players Association continue negotiations that have answered few of the many questions the players have before they report.
On Sunday, Watt and Watson joined players like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson in showing their exasperation with the league’s inability to work out an agreement with the union that will ensure players have a safe environment when they report for work.
“Once again in the interest of keeping everyone (players and fans) as safe as possible, here’s an updated list of what we as players know and don’t know as the first group gets set to report to training camp tomorrow,” Watt wrote with a “We Want to Play” hashtag.
Watt has been participating in conference calls that NFLPA executives have been conducting with players.
Watt expressed his apprehension that “the NFL can mandate that players show up to training camp regardless if any agreement has been reached between the NFL and NFLPA.”
Watt added, “We still have not been granted the full and proper training camp acclimation period as recommended by the training and medical staffs. We still do not know if there will be daily or every other day testing, etc.”
Among the unresolved issues are the number of preseason games, training camp roster sizes, opt-out clauses, base pay, salary cap implications and how teams will handle players who test positive for COVID-19 during camp and the regular season.
The owners have made recommendations the NFLPA hasn’t accepted, and negotiations continue.
“We want to play,” Watt tweeted.
About three hours after Watt and other players produced their “We Want to Play” tweets, Watson weighed in with the same hashtag.
“It’s disheartening to hear the NFL is unwilling to follow the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health & safety,” he tweeted. “If we want to have a full season the NFL needs to listen to their experts.”
Obviously, tweets by Watt, Watson, Brees, Wilson and other players launched a concerted effort by union members to try to put pressure on the owners as training camp approaches.
One thing the players do know is that outside facilities like NRG Stadium, there will be mobile units provided by a private company hired by the NFL to do COVID-19 testing and produce results within 24 hours. The NFLPA has recommended players be tested every day.
Once players like rookies from the Texans and Chiefs pass their tests, they can start the conditioning part of camp if the NFL gives them the green light as expected.
The Texans have three unsigned rookies — defensive tackle Ross Blacklock (second round), cornerback John Reid (fourth) and receiver Isaiah Coulter (fifth). They don’t have to be under contract to undergo testing.
The NFL is less concerned about the Texans and Chiefs as it is the big picture. July 28 is the date all teams are supposed to be in training camp.
The Texans and Chiefs need a plan approved by both sides earlier than other teams. If there are still unresolved issues between the owners and the union, players are still expected to report, be tested and get to work preparing for the season.