With Major League Baseball, the NHL and NBA slated to return to game action in the coming weeks, many are concerned about the state of the NFL. Gifted with time to make the best decision possible, negotiations between the league and the NFLPA have been rough at times.
Will there be a preseason?
What about a COVID-19 stipend if the season is canceled?
Will training camps even start on time?
While many of the aforementioned issues remain, the league sent all 32 teams a memo announcing the start dates for training camp.
This per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network:
NFL clubs just received this email with reporting dates.
Training camp is on. pic.twitter.com/lya1JtxW4o
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 18, 2020
As stated in the memo, the league, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), has the right to impose the agreed upon start dates despite ongoing negotiations. Those dates are:
- Rookies report July 21
- Quarterbacks and injured players report July 23
- All other players report July 28
The only two teams that are exceptions to these dates are the Texans and Chiefs, who open the season on Thursday Night Football. Those two organizations will have their players reporting to camps as early as Monday.
Is this it? Not really. Like the MLB and MLBPA negotiations, the owners and players can negotiate in good faith, but under the CBA the owners don't have to negotiate special circumstances like a global pandemic. If the NFL and NFLPA can't come to terms on a new deal, any players who do not report will face disciplinary action.
In the meantime, a lot can change on issues such as if there will be a preseason, testing protocol, expanded regular season rosters, the ability to return as many players as possible off injured reserve, among many others.
If the two sides can't come to terms, just like what happened in the MLB negotiations, the players will have to make the decision to show up and play, or file a grievance. In other words, this isn't over, but plenty can change between now and the start of training camps.
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