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Earlier this week, the reports came out that the National Football League was officially slashing the number of preseason games from the regular four down to two, and that the possibility was there that it could be reduced even more. Apparently, if the NFLPA gets their way, that number will be reduced as far as it can be.
On a conference call on Friday morning, the NFLPA voted to play no. . .as in zero. . .preseason games in the lead-up to the 2020 regular season.
If this were to happen, it would be bad news for players at the bottom of the roster, particularly undrafted free agents, that would not get any opportunities to put game tape on film before final roster cuts at the end of Training Camp. All of the decisions that the coaches would make would be based entirely upon impressions that players made in practices. I understand that with the COVID-19 situation being what it is that’s not the primary concern, but it is a concern for coaches that are trying to put together the best possible roster.
There is no word yet as to whether or not NFL owners will sign off on this, and they have to in order for this to occur.
One possible scenario that has been discussed by the NFLPA comes from Close, Personal Friend of The Daily Norseman Tom Pelissero™:
With the NFLPA still opposed to preseason games, one possible camp schedule the union has discussed:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 3, 2020
3 days: medical/equipment
21 days: strength & conditioning
10 days: unpadded practice
14 days: practice (10 max/8 padded)
Then it’d be straight into Week 1.
The NFL insists that the Minnesota Vikings (and the 31 teams that don’t matter as much) will be reporting to Training Camp on 28 July, which is about three and a half weeks away. Obviously, just like everything else in this situation, that’s probably in flux as well.
We’ll be continuing to monitor the situation with how the NFL is going to be doing business this season, and whenever there are updates we’ll have them for you here.