NFL eliminates Preseason

To help hell undrafted players and late round picks develop and earn a shot at NFL roster, The NFL has decided to look out for them and cut the preseason down to zero. 

Ian Rapoport tweeted, "Per source, the league today offered the union zero preseason games. A big step."

To make the NFLPA happy, the NFL had previously reduced the preseason to two games but that wasn't good enough to the Big Names, who also opposed the lowest paid players getting pay raises in the new CBA.

Reid Goldsmith if Clutch Points, wrote saying that it was all about player safety. However, there is a contingent of fans who believe this was about helping big names hold back new comers.

Goldsmith wrote, "While the NFL is seemingly the professional sports league least affected by COVID-19, due to the fall and winter seasonal sport, the league may be still unprepared to handle the public health crisis in the United States because of the very nature of the contact sport. In recent days, there has been a suddenly strong push for improved health and safety protocols from players, buoyed by three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Houston Texans star defensive end, JJ Watt."

There has been talk about teams having their salary caps reduced next season due to lack of income during the 2020 season.  This would hurt the Patriots who have about $100 million coming to them but it would also hurt teams like the defending superbowl champions. The Chiefs just locked up most of their money between two players 

Goldsmith wrote, "The coronavirus pandemic may also impact the league’s revenue, given that states have varied planed in permitting fans to attend mass gatherings vis a vis NFL stadiums. Without fans in attendance or with a capped number of fans, COVID-19 may hit franchises’ bank balance hard, too, along with players and staff closely monitoring symptoms of the virus."

NFL rookies to report July 20 or face discipline; league’s coronavirus protocols missing in action.

The NFL has no idea what it's doing regarding player safety due to Covid-19. Players are expected to start reporting as early as July 20th with, all players expected to report by July 28th; With threats of fines for players who don't put their lives on the line for the shield.

According to Nick O'Malley of Mass live, the NFL and NFLPA are still in talks. O'Malley pointed out the NFL has had about six months to get their affairs in order but have accomplished almost nothing in the process.

O'Malley wrote, "As the NFL and union continue to workout COVID-19 guidelines for the upcoming season, the league has reportedly submitted a proposal to deal with players opting out of the season. The latest reported proposal would allow players to opt out of the 2020 season if they give their written notice by Aug. 1."

If the league allows for players to opt out, this could be good for the bubble players. The league is pushing for a season, while players want safety, with UDFAs not getting their chance to earn spots, this could allow some to still get a chance; kinda like the strike season in the 80s.

Many teams are working at allowing minimal fans at their stadiums, and with some players not caring about the virus and just wanting to play; the league may issue waivers for players that still wish to play in order to avoid lawsuits.

Nobody honestly knows what's going on but for now, the NFL is operating as close to normal as it can but for how long can they keep it up. Football is an American sport but we as Americans are refusing to follow simple safety requirements to get rid of the virus. With that kinda irresponsibility, can we really expect the NFL to have a successful and safe season? Players have all right not to report. It's only a matter of time before one ends up six feet under dirt.

Some NFL teams considering game-day travel in 2020

Caio Miari of the score wrote an article talking about NFL teams planning on game day flights to and from due to covid.

Miari writes "Multiple NFL teams intend to fly to and from the sites of their road games on the day of the contest during the 2020 season, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a league source."

NFL teams are looking to protect the product during the pandemic while players are seemingly against it. 

Eric Ebron tweeted that the "entire team would be on IR" while Dauris Slay said "that's not go work".  Patriots James white just tweeted an emoji face.

Teams are expected to meet in late July and will certainly talk about this before the season kicks off in September. If the league does implement this, Miari wrote that some teams will have an advantage.

"The Seattle Seahawks have 28,982 miles of regular-season travel in 2020, the most in the NFL. AFC North teams will face the least travel, with the Baltimore Ravens set for a league-low 6,420 miles."

The players will have to choose between getting paid and jet lag. Just one more  obstacle due to covid.

Clutch Points reported NFL Players catch Corona as NFL is preparing to Open.

On Monday june 8th, the NFL released rules for players to return to work and to team facilities. The NFL broke players down into two groups and even explained how facilities would be cleaned.

On June 13th, 21 states reported spikes in new cases according to the Washington Post. Who listed a few of them.

"Alabama, Oregon and South Carolina are among the states with the biggest increases. Alabama saw a 92 percent change in its seven-day average, while Oregon’s seven-day average was up 83.8 percent and South Carolina’s was up 60.3 percent. Hospitalizations have risen as well. For example, Arkansas has seen a 120.7 percent increase in hospitalizations, from 92 cases to 203, since Memorial Day."

Early June 15th, NBC’s Erin McLaughlin reported "Growing concern as 14 states see 25% spike in coronavirus cases amid reopening."

Shortly after NBC's report, the New York Times reported "Arizona, Texas and Florida are reporting their highest case numbers yet. As of Saturday, coronavirus cases were climbing in 22 states amid reopenings."

Obviously, this is concern for everyone but for the NFL, this could delay or even end the season before it starts. States like Pennsylvania, Washington, North Carolina and Michigan whom host NFL teams were also listed.

According two Shane Mickle of Clutch Points, at least two clubs have had players test positive for the virus as of the morning of June 15th.

Shane reported "Several Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans players have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.

None of the players are believed to have been in the teams’ facilities, but as the NFL tries to get ready for a full season, players testing positive is concerning."

According to Ian Rapoport the NFL had already planned for this and is taking action.

"A month ago, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said: 'We fully expect that we will have positive cases that arise. … Our challenge is to identify them as quickly as possible and prevent spread to any other participants.' The teams appear to have done that." 

NFL Players just want to get back on the field. With Millions of dollars at stake, many are willing to put themselves and others at risk.

Allen Robinson of the Chicago Bears was reported to of said “I’m not too concerned. I think that if we’re going to be put back in the facility, I think measures are going to be taken.”

The NFL is a billion dollar business and while Roger Goodell has been doing everything to protect the shield from possible lawsuits, he has been animate about the NFL opening on time. As long as players like Robinson don't care, the league may issue waivers and even bring in scabs willing to play.

Stay tuned as this story is sure to continue. 

‘Multiple’ NFL coaches won’t return to team facilities before training camp

ESPN'S Jeremy Fowler is reporting that we may not see any type of normalcy as many coaches won't meet until August.

“Coaches from multiple NFL teams tell me their staffs aren’t returning to team facilities until training camp barring an unforeseen development. Others are holding out hope for in-person work in June, but some teams are making the decision now that everything stays virtual”

This will have a major impact on NFL teams and players. Coaches usually use the time to evaluate personal to see which undrafted players are actually better than Veterans. 

Players will miss out on coaching and having the opportunity to learn the playbook, systems and schemes. This is the most crucial time for players, who need the extra coaching.

There are players like Tom Brady who are getting teammates together to practice, and there are also players like Hjalte Froholdt who have sought out offseason training programs that get Intel from teams on what players need to work on. Thus to be ready for the upcoming season.

Obviously, not everyone shares this work ethic as there is no news of Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Brian Hoyer, Lamar Jackson, Philip Rivers, Jarrett Stidham and the rest of the NFLPA members holding voluntary workouts of their own. 

Maximo Gonzales of Clutch Points wrote "The league had extended its virtual offseason workout program until the end of May in order to give teams in states with varying restrictions ample time to prepare. Of course, the lack of any definitive plan has seemingly resulted in some pushback regarding the upcoming June minicamps."

New York opened Sunday allowing the Bills to begin their OTAs. Several teams have been given permission to open today, Including New Jersey's own New York Jets and New York Giants. We won't get into why New Jersey teams are fronting as New Yorkers. For now all that matters is their spring has started.

It would not be surprising to see virtual camps run until near the end of June according to NFLPA president JC Trotter, who is the center for the Cleveland "Dumpster Fire".

Roger "The Clown" Goodell, commissioner of the NFL wants to start the season on time but coaches are putting player safety above the league. The Commish may have to order mandatory camps to get the league up and running by September. 

Maximo Gonzales pointed out the obvious for those not paying attention. "Until then, it seems that many coaches are in no hurry to put an end to the virtual period of the offseason." 

And that is bad for an early September kickoff. While the NFL tries to get back to Normal. The US had 12,668 confirmed new cases but testing in the United States is still slower than it should be and states have begun reopening. Which is cause of concern for a second wave of the deadly virus.

There is a very real chance that the 2020 NFL season maybe scrapped or games may end up on PPV with empty stadiums, so the league can make up for ticket revenue. For now, the NFL is "must wait and see" TV.

Hopefully the league will start airing Hank Williams Jr commercials with his "Are you ready for some football" to get fans excited for the upcoming season.

Update: as of 0740 the number of new cases jumped to 18,971 from the 12,668. The United States won't know how many people were actually infected with the virus during Memorial day for approximately 3 weeks.

The CBA, The Crying Millionaires, and The Working Man

Aaron Rodgers, Richard Sherman, Maurkice Pouncey, Landon Collins, Allan Robertson II, Russell Wilson, and several other upper class players are against the new CBA which helps the middle and working class players in the league.

The Players will vote within the coming weeks on the new CBA. If passed will go into effect immediately. This benefits owners as well as the working class of the NFLPA, and lock them into an agreement until the 2030 season has completed.

The upperclassmen of the NFLPA don't like that the new CBA would start immediately and would make the final year of the current CBA, Nul and void. There's extra money in it for them if the Final year stays, while there's nothing in it for the lower paid players.

By not adding two games, the NFL messed up, as there is uncertainty over which teams will be playing 9 home games. The league would not be able to add an 18th game until the CBA expires hurting expansion, if passed. Owners however, gave themselves until 2023 to figure it out.

If the CBA passes, the players are also looking at a jump from collecting 47% of league revenue to around 49%. The would be getting just under half of the league's money, and the percentage would not be allowed to be lowered by the league. The players would also get additional money from gambling, among other areas.

The lower class of the NFLPA, which is about 60% of the union, would see a 20% pay raise. Depending on years of experience, some players would make almost $600,000 more. Mr. "Discount Double Check" Aaron Rodgers is said to be against raising the minimum salaries. One must be curious why Aaron doesn't want his teammates to get a pay raise, is it so there's more money for him?

Current contracts would be adjusted to give players an amount equal to a 1/17 percentage of their current contract as a bonus for the 17th game.

The Upperclass are upset that their future contracts will not be fully guaranteed. They want to remove the safety nets the league has used to protect themselves from player injury or early retirement removed.

However, the league made changes to the guaranteed money, and the fully funded rule, that will allow the members of the NFLPA to negotiate for more guaranteed money when the players sign/resign contracts.

With the 17th game teams add two more players to the active roster, one required to be an offensive lineman. The practice squad will increase to 14 players by 2022 and those players will receive a weekly pay increase, as well as benefits.

Owners are protecting their assets, when it comes to players. They have voted to be able to call up two players from their practice squad each week, bringing the active roster to 55. Each player can be called up and sent down twice before having to be sent through the waiver process.

Teams will have to learn to manage this as each time a player is called up, they receive active roster pay instead of their practice squad checks. This will also give players a better chance of earning a paycheck.

Teams will still only be able to use one tag on players. Rookie contract players will get raises/bonuses for play, and the 5th year options will be fully guaranteed.

Players will now receive paychecks over 8 months of the year, instead of the current system of 4 months.

There is also a veteran signing benefit, allowing teams to sign two veterans of over four years experience to contracts and a % will be paid for by the league.

There will be pay increases based on performance, as well as additional pay for playing in the pre and post season games. The league will also be providing more benefits for current and former players.

Todd Marinovich, Rob Gronkowski, Josh "Flash" Gordon, and Marshawn Lynch will happy that the league will no longer be tested for marijuana. Drug test will will start two weeks before camp and players will be allowed to have 150 nanograms of THC in their blood. A medical board will determine if a player needs help and the risk of suspension will be low.

There will also be new rules for performance enhancing drugs and DUI, with set suspension for violations being written into league rules for fairness.

Goodell will be replaced with an arbitrator. Both teams and players should see less fines. The NFL in exchange increased punishments for players who holdout and all players who don't report to or leave camp.

Players will now make money off training camp, but not to the amount the upper class of the NFLPA want. Players will also get paid for the first round bye week.

The new playoff rule will also see an elimination of the number two seed bye. This has angered the upper class of the NFLPA. As They are expected to see less time off in the regular season now as teams will fight to have a bye week off for extra planning, in the post season. Players will see pay increases all throughout the playoffs.

Players also won on international games and will receive more money from playing over seas due to lost revenues. This will help teams like Jacksonville who are set to play two games out of country.

The New CBA will help both sides. There are area's where the owners screwed themselves, like by not allowing for the possibility of an 18th game before the CBA expires. There are also the upper class elite of the NFLPA who don't benefit from this contract, as much as the working man of the NFLPA. Both sides will have things they don't like but as a whole, they should be happy with the CBA agreement, and should pass it soon. Making NFL and football fans very happy that football won't stop.