NFL players voice concerns over lack of COVID safety protocols
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
With the first group of NFL players scheduled to report to team facilities for training camp on Monday, many in the league are speaking out about the league’s plan (or lack there of) regarding COVID-19.
Reports have leaked out over the last week about discussions between the NFL and NFLPA, although as of Sunday afternoon there had been no agreement between the sides relating to health and safety, opt outs, salaries, or contingency plans should the virus impact the sport’s timeline.
As a potential battle looms, similar to the one Major League Baseball and their players went through last month, many of football’s top stars took to Twitter around noon on Sunday to let the league and the fans know where they stand.
Once again in the interest of keeping everyone (players & fans) as informed as possible, here is 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.#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/xQcjs33zgM
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 19, 2020
I am concerned.
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020
My wife is pregnant.@NFL Training camp is about to start..
And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. 🤷🏾
We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay
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
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) July 19, 2020
The NFL continues to ignore major health and safety concerns putting the 2020 season in jeopardy. America wants to watch football and we want to play. Make the necessary changes @nflcommish #WeWantToPlay
— Byron Jones (@TheByronJones) July 19, 2020
You want to watch football this year? Us players need to remain healthy in order to make that happen. The @NFL needs to do their part in order to bring football back safely in 2020. #WeWantToPlay
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) July 19, 2020
If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. #WeWantToPlay
— Myles Garrett (@Flash_Garrett) July 19, 2020
We all want to play this season, but we need to stay safe in order to actually have a season! It’s time for the @NFL to step up and do their part so that us players can be safe at work and go play the game we love! #WeWantToPlay
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) July 19, 2020
A few players even compared the NBA’s process to the current state of their own league.
If #AdamSilver can respect the voices and protect his @NBA players why can’t @NFLcommish do the same? Listen to your players. If we want to have a full season it will have to look different with OUR safety as the priority. @NFL make the necessary changes. #WeWantToPlay
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) July 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/Cantguardmike/status/1284881212507643907
That may seem like an excessive number of tweets to throw into a post like this, but it’s just a fraction of the players who used the #WeWantToPlay hashtag Sunday afternoon.
For those hoping football could get underway without the drama or delay exhibited by the NBA, NHL, and MLB, it looks like the players are digging in for the same fight, a fight to make sure they are treated fairly as employees.