:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67078632/usa_today_9719277.0.jpg)
The NFL recently reiterated that training camps are officially scheduled to fully begin next week but the league’s players clearly aren’t 100% on board. The NFL Players Association launched a #WeWantToPlay social media movement on Sunday morning with some of the world’s biggest football stars calling to settle unresolved issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unresolved issues between NFL and NFLPA include testing frequency, length of preseason, structure of training camps, opt-out rules, face shields, economics. Rookies for the Chiefs and Texans are scheduled to report to camps Monday.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) July 19, 2020
Carson Wentz was among Philadelphia Eagles players who chimed in on Twitter. He was joined by several other key starters:
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
Why isn’t the NFL listening to the recommendation from their own joint committee? If we want to have a full season it will have to look different. @NFL make the necessary changes. #WeWantToPlay
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) July 19, 2020
Playing football and feeling safe at work SHOULD NOT be mutually exclusive! Time is running down and we need answers #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/YPboNL47Mf
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) July 19, 2020
— Desean Jackson (@DeSeanJackson10) 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! https://t.co/Q3iQITn72f
— Desean Jackson (@DeSeanJackson10) July 19, 2020
Players are the game of football
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) July 19, 2020
If we aren’t healthy you can’t watch football this year @nfl needs to do their part so we can all enjoy the best sport in the world. #wewanttoplay
PHILLY, you want to watch football this year? Us players need to remain healthy in order to make that happen. The NFL needs to do their part in order to bring football back safely in 2020. #wewanttoplay https://t.co/ysdWmounIS
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) July 19, 2020
If Adam Silver can respect and protect his NBA players why can’t @NFL do the same or us? Listen to your players! #WeWanttoPlay
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) July 19, 2020
Its crazy to hear that the NFL has yet to address major health issues with training camp being a couple days away. We ready to play football. Make it happen @NFL Keep us Safe! #WeWantToPlay
— Brandon Graham (@brandongraham55) July 19, 2020
Listen to us!!! #WeWantToPlay
— Miles Sanders (@BoobieMilesXXIV) July 19, 2020
C'mon @NFL. #WeWantToPlay
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) July 19, 2020
#WeWanttoPlay that simple just protect us and our families
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) July 19, 2020
— rasul (@rd32_era) July 19, 2020
Earlier this month, Malik Jackson posted a message saying that it’s “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.” A number of Eagles and NFL players endorsed Jackson’s message by liking on his Instagram post.
Speaking of endorsements, the following NFL players were retweeted by various members of the Eagles earlier today. Lots of key names in this group:
It blows my mind that the NFL is unwilling to follow the recommendations of their own experts regarding player health and safety. If we want to have a FULL season this year we need the NFL to listen to their experts! #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/q55RpqRzPu
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) July 19, 2020
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. The NFL needs to listen to our union and adopt the experts' recommendations #wewanttoplay
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) 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
I am concerned.
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020
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
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
It’s a shame that the @nfl doesn’t care about doing their part to keep players healthy and safe. They need to make sure football can come back the right way. We have to look out for ourselves as well as our families. #WeWantToPlay
— AD_99 (@AaronDonald97) July 19, 2020
It’s not about money it’s about health & safety. Do the right thing @nfl
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) July 19, 2020
Do y’all want to see this??
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 19, 2020
Before players can go back to work the @NFL needs to address the health and safety concerns from their own experts so we can remain healthy. If you want the @AZCardinals to have a full season this year help us by telling the @NFL! #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/CErsyZJb1A
If Adam Silver can respect the voices and protect his NBA players why can’t @NFLcommish do the same? Listen to your players.
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) 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
I want to play ball this year! But we are going to need the @NFL to make sure they are listening to everyone and taking the steps for the players and their families to be safe! #WeWantToPlay
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) July 19, 2020
We want to play no doubt but the @nfl needs to create a safe workspace for us to return to work. Without a safe workspace we are putting our families and loved ones at risk don’t feel it’s fair.
— Derwin James Jr (@DerwinJames) July 19, 2020
The @NFL has disregarded the recommendations of their OWN health & safety committees. We have continued asking questions and have YET to receive any definitive answers. #WeWantToPlay but we also want to keep our families safe.
— Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) July 19, 2020
The NFL needs to do their part by putting the right safety protocols in place before we begin to play, in order for us to protect ourselves and our families if we want to have a full season #WeWanttoPlay
— James White (@SweetFeet_White) 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
— Micah Hyde (@micah_hyde) July 19, 2020
The NFL and NFLPA have work to do as the clock is ticking.