NFL cancels all exhibitions
The NFL Players Association has agreed to the league’s plan to drop all preseason games for the 2020 season, a person familiar with the decision said.
The union also agreed to a 80player roster limit for training camp, instead of the usual 90.
The players’ union plan came during a conference call on Tuesday.
The agreement between the union and the league came a day after league made a proposal on not playing any preseason games because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The players’ association originally had sought no preseason games and the league had reduced the exhibition schedule to two games. But on Monday evening, the NFL said it would eliminate those preseason contests and also would offer players 18 days for acclimation, up from seven days.
Rookies have started reporting this week and all players are expected to report next week.
95 test positive: The NFL Players Association says 95 players are known to have tested positive for coronavirus.
That number is up from 72 in the union’s last report July 10.
Players will be tested daily for coronavirus for at least the first two weeks of training camp, per the league’s new testing protocols.
After two weeks of daily testing, if the positivity rate of those tests falls below 5% among players and team individuals with close access to them, testing would go to every other day. If the positivity rate doesn’t fall below that threshold, daily testing would continue until it drops.
League to allow social justice decals: The NFL is planning to allow players to have decals on the back of their helmets bearing names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence.
The league has been in talks with individual players and their union since June about somehow honoring such victims. The initiative will be done leaguewide, with each team deciding who it will honor and how to display the names or initials.
Unlike the NBA, which is allowing players to wear slogans on their jerseys, the NFL will stick to names and initials once a final agreement has been reached with the players’ association. The program will continue for the entire season.
Bennett retires: Michael Bennett, who won a Super Bowl as a defensive end with the Seattle Seahawks and made three Pro Bowls, says he is retiring.
The 34-year-old Bennett played for five teams.