Friday evening typically serves as a time for bad news dumps in the NFL world but here’s a positive development to kick off your weekend: training camp is set to start on time. The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to Collective Bargaining Agreement changes relating to financial, healthy, and safety issues amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: The NFLPA player reps approve the NFL’s proposal on their conference call. The deal is done. Let’s play football.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 24, 2020
So, what does this mean for the Philadelphia Eagles?
The full team will report to the NovaCare Complex — as previously scheduled — this Tuesday, July 28. The team will NOT begin practicing right away like they usually do. Instead, they will undergo COVID testing while gradually ramping up with what’s essentially a very abbreviated version of OTAs. Actual training camp practices will begin in mid-August.
Per sources, camp timeline in the NFL's proposal ...
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2020
Day 1: Testing/virtual meetings.
Days 2-3: Virtual meetings.
Day 4: Testing/virtual meetings.
Days 5-6: Physicals.
Days 7-15: Strength and conditioning (with a day off.)
Day 16: Practice starts.
Day 21: First padded practice.
Training camp practice notes — of which I hope to be providing you with — will be more important than ever this year since preseason games have been officially cancelled. Teams are currently scheduled to go right from practicing to playing actual games when Week 1 fully begins on Sunday, September 13.
One must obviously recognize that this structure is fragile. It remains to be seen what happens if/when COVID outbreak(s) occur. But, for now, the NFL is forging forward. Here’s hoping everything works out!
Other noteworthy changes:
Teams have two options for training camp rosters:
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) July 24, 2020
1) Cut to 80 before veterans report
2) Cut to 80 by Aug. 16
Practice squads will increase to 16 players; 6 of those players can have unlimited number of accrued seasons.
In reference to "no play, no pay" that means if games are canceled players won't get paid. The NFL-NFLPA leadership have allowed for opt-outs, with a stipend. Players will have to decide within next 10 days.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) July 24, 2020
Part of today’s deal between the NFL and the NFLPA is there will be no impact to the 2020 salary cap – it remains at $198 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2020
The cap cannot go lower than $175 million next year, but can go higher if revenues come in better than expected.
Details on two types of opt-outs, which are irrevocable and due 7 days from NFL-NFLPA deal being finalized:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 24, 2020
- High risk: $350,000 stipend with no offset, accrued/credited season
- Voluntary: $150,000 salary advance, no accrued/credited season
Either way, contract tolls.