INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL, its teams and the NFL Players Association have been locked in an ongoing tug of war this offseason in the aftermath of the changes the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the offseason in 2020.
The NFLPA has stood firm, saying that the 2020 season proves players don’t need to be on the field for organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Teams and coaches, however, want to get on the field and start working toward 2021.
A month ago, players from teams around the league started drawing a line in the sand. First, it was the Seahawks, Broncos and the Buccaneers, then the announcements started coming fast and furious, the players from more than 20 teams issuing collective statements that they wouldn’t take part in voluntary workouts.