Players on the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are boycotting in-person work and calling for a virtual offseason, citing “no comprehensive” pandemic safety plan, according to statements released by the union on behalf of the teams.
“We find ourselves still in the midst of a pandemic with no comprehensive plan to keep players as safe as possible, yet teams are pressuring players to attend voluntary workouts” that begin next week, DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, tweeted on Tuesday.
The union released a statement on behalf of the Detroit Lions Wednesday morning.
A statement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players. pic.twitter.com/SOa24L779P
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 13, 2021
“The union has advised players that given the continued risk of exposure and the goal of a full 2021 NFL season, that they should not attend these voluntary workouts,” Smith said. “It is every player’s decision, but our advice is to continue to use an abundance of caution given the current environment.”
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Members of the Broncos and Seahawks were the first to declare their intentions to abstain from in-person gatherings this spring.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss organized team activities, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
During last year’s offseason, NFL players were barred from entering team headquarters due to the pandemic. Teams cooperated online until training camps opened in August.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy disputed NFLPA’s advisement, telling the Associated Press on Tuesday that “NFL team facilities are the safest places in our communities thanks to our comprehensive protocols that were developed in conjunction with the NFLPA and public health officials.”
He added that the league and players union are continuing the discussion about maintaining safe offseason programs. All offseason programs are voluntary, aside from one minicamp, though most players join them, and many have contractual obligations for participation.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams on Tuesday announcing that COVID-19 safety protocols will begin to be relaxed as more players throughout the NFL get vaccinated, according to a copy obtained by the Associated Press.
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The Washington Examiner contacted the NFL but did not immediately receive a response.
