NFL Players Run Social-Media Blitz at League Over Safety Concerns

In a coordinated attack that was run with the precision of a well-executed zone blitz, NFL players called on their league to address health and safety concerns on social media on Sunday.

The appeals to the league, which came the day before rookies for Houston and Kansas City are set to report to training camp, were made after the NFL informed teams that training camps will open on time on July 28 even though negotiations with the NFLPA over testing for the coronavirus and other health and safety protocols are ongoing.

Worried about being expected to report to camp before those issues have been resolved, players took to social media.

Once again in the interest of keeping everyone (players & fans) as informed as possible, here is an updated list of what we as players know and don’t know as the first group gets set to report to training camp tomorrow.#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/xQcjs33zgM

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 19, 2020

I am concerned.
My wife is pregnant.@NFL Training camp is about to start..

And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. 🤷🏾

We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020

It is disheartening to hear the NFL is unwilling to follow the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health & safety. If we want to have a FULL season the NFL needs to listen to their experts!   #WeWantToPlay @NFL

— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) July 19, 2020

It’s crazy to hear the NFL has yet to address major health and safety issues with training camp being 2 weeks away. We want to play football. Make it happen @NFL. Keep us safe!#WeWantToPlay

— Kyler Murray (@K1) July 19, 2020

Everyone I’ve spoke with is in the same mental space at this point. #WeWanttoPlay but more than anything we want to remain healthy and that also means keeping our wives, kids, and other family healthy as well. @NFL its bigger than $ handle this properly.

— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) July 19, 2020

We need answers and we need them now. We need to know that the @NFL is doing everything in its power to ensure the health and safety of the players. Simply put, the @NFL must heed the advice of its own medical experts if we are to play a full season. #WeWantToPlay

— Justin Tucker (@jtuck9) July 19, 2020

If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. #WeWantToPlay

— Myles Garrett ⚡️ (@MylesLGarrett) July 19, 2020

The NFL has ignored the safety recommendations from the experts that THEY hired. We all love this game and want to go out and compete with our brothers. The NFL needs to provide a safe work environment for us to do that. #WeWantToPlay

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 19, 2020

We all want to play this season, but we need to stay safe in order to actually have a season! It’s time for the @NFL to step up and do their part so that us players can be safe at work and go play the game we love! #WeWantToPlay

— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) July 19, 2020

Getting ready to report this week hoping the @NFL will come to agreement with the safe and right protocols so we can feel protected playing the sport we love #WeWantToPlay

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 19, 2020

Safety is key. #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/JlZ54bWK83

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) July 19, 2020

NFLPA president JC Tretter, a center for the Cleveland Browns, previously warned that the NFL’s “unwillingness to follow the recommendations of its own experts will put this season and the safety of all players at risk.”

After the social-media blitz on Sunday, the Cornell University grad once again called on the NFL to listen to medical advice on a number of issues, including signing off on daily testing for COVID-19.

“What you are seeing today is our guys standing up for each other and for the work their union leadership has done to keep everyone as safe as possible,” Tretter wrote. “The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts’ recommendations.”

Per the current collective bargaining agreement, players who do not report to training camp could be subject to fines, forfeiture of bonuses and salary and the loss of an accrued season.

Obviously, the NFLPA wants those terms renegotiated given the circumstances and believes players, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions, should be able to opt-out of the season without facing any sort of penalty.

A resolution could come as soon as today: