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NFL, NFLPA in talks about possible player opt-outs over coronavirus concerns

July 9, 2020 by Bills Wire Leave a Comment

NFLPA executive committee member Sam Acho, who had a cup of coffee with the Buffalo Bills in 2019, recently went on the record to say the league’s owners are not really interested in opt-outs for players.

Naturally those opt-outs would be in regard to the upcoming 2020 regular season and the questions surrounding it due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But while Acho recently indicated the NFL was “very hesitant” to allow opt-outs, maybe his words were heard loud and clear. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA are now discussing potential player opt-outs with coronavirus cases on the rise.

Pelissero said that the league and union believe player opt-outs will be available, but that they’ll need to be communicated by a certain date.

“My understanding is both the union and the league intend to have an opt-out for players who have either a pre-existing condition, family (members) with pre-existing conditions, just general concerns over COVID-19, would not want to play this season,” Pelissero said. “General managers were told on a call earlier this week there would be a specific date by which players would need to opt-out. That date is still to be determined.”

In regard to players opting out of returning amid the pandemic, the NBA and MLB are looking to return to play weeks before the NFL. Both of those respective leagues have seen players opt-out.

Recently, Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs took to social media to say “he’d be lying if he said he was comfortable” in a string of messages in regard to returning to playing. Prior to that, safety Micah Hyde had multiple players in the NFL he’s spoken to expressed to him they’re not quite such about returning, either. Former Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander also did the same. While no longer playing, the recently retired linebacker is still on the NFLPA’s executive committee and he had an interesting thought: What about coaches? Alexander said they might be even harder to replace.

With training camp set to begin in just a few weeks, the NFL and NFLPA need to act quick when it comes to details of any potential opt-outs ahead of the 2020 season.

 

Related

Which Bills player would be most-deserving of a 10-year deal?

Where does Stefon Diggs’ cap hit rank among NFL WRs?

Bills’ Stefon Diggs unsure if he’s ‘comfortable’ with playing

AFC East said to be worst RB division in NFL

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