NFLPA concerned about COVID ‘hot spots’ as Florida deaths surge

On the day Florida set a new one-day record for COVID-19 deaths (132) in the state, the list of those questioning the wisdom of holding training camp in the pandemic’s epicenter added an influential name.

Count the NFL Players Association among the skeptics.

“We have one question that encapsulates it all: Does it make sense for the NFL to open up training camps in ‘hot spot’ cities right now?” a person familiar with the NFLPA’s views told the Washington Post Tuesday.

There’s no spot hotter than South Florida.

And yet, Dolphins rookies are scheduled to report to training camp next week. But there’s real doubt in prominent league circles whether that will happen on time — particularly since statewide cases could surpass 300,000 cases Wednesday.

The league insists it has not altered its plan — with teams practicing and playing at their home facilities, and the season beginning on Sept. 10 — but the Dolphins have communicated to their players that things could change.

As of Tuesday evening, the NFL and the NFLPA hadn’t even yet agreed on a testing protocol.

“Everything is up in the air,” Dolphins players have been told, and a delay in the start of training camp isn’t out of the question.

For now, camp is set to begin in earnest on July 28. The Dolphins practice at Nova Southeastern and stay at a team hotel in south Broward County, which has experienced some of the biggest COVID-19 numbers in the state.

David Canter, a Davie-based agent who represents more than three dozen NFL players, has been a vocal critic of how the state of Florida has managed the pandemic, and has deep reservations that the NFL season can be held as planned.

“We all want football and we all want safety, unfortunately as far as I can tell there’s yet to be a definitive plan on how we can do that effectively,” Canter said.

“I remain hopeful but pessimistic.”

At a press event with Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Miami-Dade mayors earlier in the day, Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert — whose town is home to Hard Rock Stadium — reflected on the government’s messaging to the public earlier in the pandemic and people’s reactions.

He said the public reacted to restrictions by finding workarounds once businesses closed, instead of strictly keeping in-person social interactions to people within the

Gilbert

household.

“We closed down the clubs, so people’s backyards became the clubs. We said no parties, and so we had barbecues and cookouts,” he said. “We said you couldn’t socialize in areas, but what we should have been saying is you can’t socialize. Because it’s not where you do it, it’s what you’re doing, and the proximity to other people.”

Gilbert said stay-athome orders and business closures did not last long enough to allow people to develop the habit of wearing masks when they leave home.

“We weren’t closed long enough to create good habits,” he said.