The NFL and NFLPA appear to be at odds about the proposed length of the league’s preseason in 2020.
It was reported earlier Wednesday that the NFL would cancel the first and fourth weeks of the exhibition schedule, limiting preseason to two games for each team. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the NFLPA has not signed off on that change, and some in union leadership would prefer to see the preseason canceled altogether.
While the expectation for weeks has been the NFL goes to two preseason games, the NFLPA hasn’t signed off. and some in union leadership continue to question whether it’s smart to play ANY preseason games, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Board of reps call Thursday. Stay tuned.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 1, 2020
It’s never a great sign to see the league and the players’ union at odds over anything like this, especially when it seemed like a done deal. Players don’t love preseason at the best of times, and with added emphasis on keeping players healthy, they may not see it as being in the best interest to play those games. Sticking to training camp workouts, while not simulating game experience, might be best, especially since starters don’t feature much during preseason.
Hopefully the two sides can square this away quickly. We’ve already seen one sport get seriously bogged down in a labor dispute before starting its season, and one is more than enough.
