Players should have a say in plans
Progress is being made, but all sides need to agree on how to move forward together
The president of the NFL
Players’ Association cleared his throat with a loud “ahem” Tuesday afternoon.
“Players,” JC Tretter said (in a tweet), “our union has not agreed to any reopening plan. Any reports about coming back to work are hypothetical. You will hear from the NFLPA when there are new developments.”
Uh-oh. Is there a problem here? Is the same players’ association that two months ago only narrowly (1,019-to-959) approved a new 10-year CBA about to stall or even stop plans to play through the pandemic?
Probably not. By the sounds of it, this is less a brakes slamming roadblock than it is players just wanting the owners to know they still expect to be part of the conversation. As they should be.
There was also a story Tuesday that stated coaches could be allowed back to their respective training facilities as early as next week, which would create the possibility of mini-camps beginning either June 15 or June 27.
That’s what got Tretter going. He pointed out it would be next to impossible, as the agreement between the league and the NFLPA has off-season programs ending June 26.
“We are not putting dates on a potential return,” NFL vice-president of communications Brian Mccarthy clarified to Si.com.
“We have been and will continue working hand-in-hand with the NFLPA. We will base our decisions on the latest medical advice and in compliance with local and state guidelines.”
Meanwhile, progress continues to be made. The Giants and the Jets are now among New Jersey pro sports teams that “may return to training and even competition — if their leagues choose to move in that direction,” governor Phil Murphy tweeted Tuesday.
And then there’s Stephen Ross. For a guy whose football team hasn’t won a playoff game in 20 years, the owner of the Miami Dolphins is the picture of optimism, at least when it comes to the NFL season going on as planned, starting Sept. 10.
“I think there definitely will be a football season this year,” Ross said Tuesday in an interview with CNBC. “Real question is, will there be fans in the stadium? Right now, today, we’re planning to have fans in the stadium.”
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Speaking Tuesday on The Rich Eisen Show, Peyton Manning kept open his door to the broadcast booth. “It’s not in the cards for me right now,” he said, “but I can’t really say it’s ‘never’ forever. I haven’t said ‘no’ forever. I said ’no’ to this year. This just doesn’t feel like the right time.” … To be Jalen Ramsey is to be in an extremely comfortable situation. The Los Angeles Rams’ All-pro corner is set to make US$13.7 million in the final year on his rookie contract. From there, a record-breaking new deal is in his future. After what they traded the Jacksonville Jaguars to get him last season — their 2020 and 2021 first-round picks and a 2021 fourth — the Rams really have no choice. “They know where I stand,” Ramsey told reporters on a video conference Tuesday. “They’re on the same page as my agent.” Ramsey said “for sure” when asked if he’d attend camp without an extension.