Jamal Agnew of the Detroit Lions spoke with press reporters after a march on Belle Isle on Friday, June 5, 2020.
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Detroit Free Press
The NFL currently has stated it will shorten the preseason to 2 video games, to be played in preseason Weeks 2 and 3, but the NFLPA wants exhibit games removed entirely.
Instead of video games, the union desires a longer acclimation duration to account for the missed out on practice time from the spring and avoid the spike in injuries the league saw after the 2011 lockout.
Under the NFLPAs plan, the preseason would consist of three weeks of strength and conditioning training, 10 days of non-padded practice and 10 days of padded practice.
They have three roadway video games arranged in other coronavirus hot spots in the very first half of the season, a Week 3 game versus the Arizona Cardinals, a Week 6 video game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars after a week and the bye 7 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Oct 21, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hands the ball off to Detroit Lions running back LeGarrette Blount (29) against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Obligatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports ( Photo: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports).
A new NFL proposition that would shrink the preseason to one video game is an action towards footballs effective return this fall, however the Detroit Lions still need to be cautious about the leagues most current plan.
According to Pro Football Talk, if the NFLs most current return-to-play proposition is implemented, every team would play one video game in what was scheduled to be the 3rd week of the preseason.
The Lions, if the schedule holds, would play the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Dolphins Miami-Dade County home is one of the hottest spots in the nation right now for COVID-19 and is thought about in a ” red-flag zone” with more than 3,000 new cases reported Saturday and minimal ICU bed schedule.
The Lions are scheduled to report to training camp July 28, when gamers will be evaluated for coronavirus. Rookies and quarterbacks can report this week.
[NFL on the clock with COVID-19 safety concerns, whether it admits it or not]” Were going to firmly insist and continue to combat for the ideal acclimation period,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith stated. ” Preseason effects that, but also the other concern about preseason is our company believe that the ideal focus for our players and our company is not just coming up with a method to start the season, but to consider a way to finish it. And participating in 2 games where players would be flying all over the country and after that meeting together to engage in work, we feel that doing that previous to the season doesnt effectively affect or increase the possibility of ending up the season and beginning on time.”.
The Lions open the regular season in less than 8 weeks, Sept. 13 versus the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.
” Preseason effects that, but also the other concern about preseason is we believe that the ideal focus for our players and our business is not only coming up with a method to begin the season, however to contemplate a way to finish it. And engaging in two games where players would be flying all over the nation and then conference together to engage in work, we feel that doing that previous to the season does not appropriately influence or increase the likelihood of starting and completing the season on time.”.
” How safe is that? … Those are the questions we want answers (to) are how safe is it to begin back up a football season at this moment with areas in this nation where teams are situated going through giant spikes of this infection, and that has to be something thats looked at as we make any decision. The health and safety aspect has to be taken care of for the gamers first and foremost.”.
Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia listens to speakers as protesters collect before they march on the MacArthur Bridge throughout the Detroit River to Belle Isle during a rally in Detroit, Friday, June 5, 2020, opposing police brutality and the death of George Floyd. ( Photo: Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press).
NFL Players Association president J.C. Tretter said in a video conference Friday that players have reservations about playing football in Miami as things stand now.
[NFL stars take to social networks to demand clarity on COVID-19 procedures] … Those are the concerns we desire answers (to) are how safe is it to begin back up a football season at this moment with places in this nation where teams are situated going through giant spikes of this virus, and that has to be something thats looked at as we make any decision. The health and security element has to be taken care of for the players first and foremost.”.
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