Cards’ Hopkins, others raise concerns
Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins joined multiple NFL players to launch a united #WeWantToPlay campaign on various social media platforms Sunday that chastises the league for still not implementing a safe and coherent plan for their return to work amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In one of his posts, Hopkins features an illustration of himself alongside Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray with the heading, “Do ya’ll want to see this??”
“Before players can go back to work the @NFL needs to address the health and safety concerns from their own experts so we can remain healthy,” Hopkins writes. “If you want the @AZCardinals to have a full season this year help us by telling the @NFL! #WeWantToPlay.”
Hours later, Murray also joined the conversation, posing this on Twitter:
"It's crazy to hear the NFL has yet to address major health and safety issues with training camp being 2 weeks away. We want ti play football. Make it happen @NFL. Keep us safe. #WeWantToPlay."
The coordinated messaging, which included posts from Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt and many others, criti
cized the NFL for mandating that players report to training camp even though major health and safety concerns have not been agreed upon between the league and the Players Association.
Cardinals rookies are scheduled to report Tuesday, quarterbacks and injured players are set to report on Thursday and all veterans are set to report on July 28.
Some of the questions Hopkins and the others take issue with include:
— "We still have not been granted the full and proper training camp acclimation period necessary as recommended by the medical and training staffs.”
— “We still do not know if there will be daily testing, every other day testing etc.”
— “We still do not know if there will be preseason games or not.”
— “We still do not know how a positive COVID test will be handled in regards to others on close contact (in the huddle, directly engaged with, etc.)”
— “A strong and fair opt-out clause for those at higher risk or those with family members at higher risk has still not been agreed upon.”
— “If players do not show up on time, they can be fined or considered in breach of contract, even if health and safety protocols have not been agreed upon or IDER (Infectious Disease Emergency Response) plans have been improved.”
Here’s what Wilson, quarterback of the Seahawks, wrote on Twitter:
“I am concerned. My wife is pregnant. NFL training camp is about to starts. And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Healthy & Family Safety. We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones.”
Brees, the Saints’
quarterback, wrote, “We need Football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL’s unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. Get it done NFL.”
Browns center JC Tretter, president of the NFLPA, explained the players’ #WeWantToPlay campaign in one of his own posts on Twitter.
“What you are seeing today is our guys standing up for each other and for the work theur union leadership has done to keep everyone as safe as possible,” he wrote. “The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts’ recommendations. #WeWantToPlay.”
On Friday, all 32 clubs participated in a conference call and were provided with updates regarding the latest information related to the pandemic and the start of the 2020 season. Following the call, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted this statement from the league:
“NFL clubs met today via video conference and received an update on preparations for the 2020 season. We will continue to implement the health and safety protocols developed jointly with the NFLPA, and based on the advice of leading medical experts, including review by the CDC. We will address additional issues in a cooperative way. All decisions will be made in an effort to put us in position to play a full regular season and postseason culminating with the Super Bowl which is the shared goal of the clubs and the players.”
The Washington Post reported Sunday that the NFL has received IDER plans for all 32 team and that Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, had approved of all 32 plans. The next step is for the Players Association to also approve of them following the consent of the players.