With coronavirus prevalent, players have safety concerns as training camps approach

Eric Rowe has a theory on when, where and how he typically gets sick every year.

Right when flu season rolls through the country in the fall, one of his teammates becomes ill, sneezes or coughs a few times inside the locker room and, like clockwork, waves of his NFL teammates will have similar symptoms.

Within days virtually becomes infected.

“That’s been the norm,” Rowe, the Miami Dolphins’ starting safety pointed out, explaining the Petri dish that 100 players and coaches in locker rooms and team meetings creates for NFL teams. “So just imagine how quickly [COVID-19] is going to spread.”

Rowe’s concerns about catching the illness that has triggered a world-wide pandemic sits in the back of every NFL player’s mind as 32 NFL teams inch closer to opening up their facilities later this month.

Training camp is scheduled to open in less than two weeks, but there is plenty of uncertainty about all the logistical issues, and the level of safety teams are creating for their workforce.

The NFL Players Association expressed concerns Friday for players returning to facilities, especially those traveling to South Florida to train or play for teams such as the Dolphins, which are housed in a national coronavirus hotspot.

The league and its players association want to begin training camp on time on July 28, but want to ensure players are tested daily to prevent the spread of the disease. Negotiations with the owners have been ongoing, but little progress is being made.

“The league has made the decision that they want training camp to open on time. The role of the union is to hold them accountable about whether it is safe, and the whole team