The NFL is close to returning to action, and as the late-July start date for training camps creep closer, the issues between the NFL, NFLPA and the concerns of the players about returning to the field are starting to become public.
Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson is the latest player to voice his concerns over the safety plans in place for players to return to the field. Jackson, in an Instagram post on Wednesday, called it "unacceptable and utterly disrespectful" for the owners to expect players to return to action on July 28 with no "safety/ financial guarantee agreed upon for us as players."
Jackson's full statement read:
It is unacceptable and utterly disrespectful for the owners to have set a camp start date of July 28, 2020 with no safety/ financial guarantee agreed upon for us as players, the backbone of this industry. Today is July 8 and we have no answers to simple questions we've been asking since this pandemic started. We (players) are sons,fathers & brothers wanting to protect our families during this unprecedented time. As Pro-Athletes we are willing and able (to) juggle. Juggle the risk that our careers bring, the stress of the game on our minds and bodies and most important making sure we don't neglect our families. Now, you want us to weigh putting food on the table the best way we know how which we could potentially catching the killer virus and bring it home or starve. I can not pass rush from 6 feet away, I cannot defeat a double team from 6 feet away nor can I tackle somebody from 6 feet away (to not do those things in practice, just in games is asinine). This sport is not in any way able to be played 6 feet away, let alone stop the transfer of sweat and blood. Respectfully, every owner is over 40 and understandable will probably not be out there with us on the field nor in the building. I ask in this moment you see us as people not financial burdens or roster spots. Health is wealth for both parties.
Jackson's concerns are absolutely fair -- the health of the players should be the key factor in any decision the league makes leading up to the start of the 2020 season.
Whether that will happen remains to be seen. While the NFL has put in strict social-distancing guidelines for every team to follow while they are in the facility, they are also reportedly asking players to put 35% of their salary this season into an escrow account. That proposal reportedly did not go over well with the players, and that could be why more-and-more players are speaking out about the risks they face by taking the field this upcoming season.
The question moving forward is whether players will start to decide to not play this upcoming season, which has started to happen in the MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS and PGA Tour. While there are risks in all sports, it is fair to say that the risk might be the highest in the NFL, due to the physical nature of the sport.
Jackson is one of the first to voice strong concerns over the safety issues, but he likely won't be the last -- and the late July starting time for training camp is starting to look less-and-less like a sure thing.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
