Through the NFLPA, players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have issued statements expressing their intent to forgo participating in voluntary offseason workouts. The statements were released amid NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and president JC Tretter issuing a letter to players encouraging them to not attend voluntary workouts because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFLPA’s leadership has been operating under the hope that the NFL would be open to having another virtual offseason. Tretter reportedly told players earlier this month that the NFLPA wants virtual OTAs and minicamps before an in-person training camp. The NFL countered by proposing that the first two weeks of offseason programs be virtual before starting in-person sessions. Based on the NFLPA’s letter to the players, along with the Broncos, Seahawks and Buccaneers’ statements through the NFLPA, the NFL’s counter is not good enough.
