SPORTS DESK (GNB) – Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks players became the first groups to announce they won’t attend voluntary offseason workouts amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Tuesday statement sent from the NFL Players Association, Broncos players said they would skip offseason workouts until the COVID-19 pandemic is better controlled.
“Playing in the NFL is a dream of our players who work tirelessly year-round to perform in America’s greatest game,” the statement read. “With offseason programs starting in less than a week and without adequate protocols in place in order for us players to return safely, we will be exercising our right to not participate in voluntary offseason workouts. COVID-19 remains a serious threat to our families and to our communities, and it makes no sense for us as players to put ourselves at risk during this dead period. Positivity rates in our city are higher than they were at this time last year and we know players have been infected at club facilities in recent weeks. Despite having a completely virtual offseason last year, the quality of play across the NFL was better than ever by almost every measure. We hope players across the NFL work with our union as we did to get all of the facts so every player can make an informed decision.”
Seattle Seahawks players later issued a similar statement, via the NFLPA, explaining their decision to not attend workouts.
“After considering all the facts, we as a team have decided to make a decision that is uncomfortable but necessary,” Seahawks players said. “For the protection of everyone’s safety, we the Seattle Seahawks are deciding to exercise our CBA right to not participate in voluntary in-person workouts. While many states in this country are still seeing rising COVID-19 numbers, we believe that a virtual offseason is best for everyone’s protection.
“Our hope is that we will see a positive shift in the COVID-19 data that will allow for a safe return for players when mandatory workouts are set to begin.”
The statements were released shortly before NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and president JC Tretter issued a letter to players encouraging them to not attend voluntary workouts amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The NFL has not yet commented on the statements from the Broncos and Seahawks players.
Voluntary workouts for NFL teams are set to begin next Monday.
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