FRISCO (105.3 The Fan) - It began with the cancellation of the "Week Zero'' preseason game that was to feature the Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Hall of Fame in Canton. And now? "The Incredible Shrinking NFL Preseason'' is about to get smaller.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports Monday that the latest proposal by owners to players includes just a single preseason game. That is down from four (or five, as was to be the case with the Cowboys and Steelers) ... which recently went down to two.
If approved by the NFLPA - which has its hands full with trying to organize against even reporting to training camp this week under the present COVID-19-influenced circumstances (see Tank Lawrence) - the one preseason game would take place during the week of Aug. 27That would be "Week Three.'' Which might become "Week One-And-Only.''
At one point, the owners floated the concept of staging two preseason games, saying that it would allow for one home game and one away game for every team - thus allowing clubs to work through the logistics of playing in this changed environment. (We think it's not too cynical and is worth noting that there is also revenue to be salvaged by playing those games.)
The NFLPA is taking the position that it wants no preseason games and a longer acclimation period as players transition back to football safely.
As NFL stay-at-home training camps open this week, maybe the owners' willingness to cut the preseason down to one game is an olive branch extended as a result of the NFLPA's desires. But at this point? The NFL wants its games. And the NFLPA wants its safety. And the 2020 football season continues to incredibly shrink.
