NFL Notes: 2020 Season, Testing, Quarterbacks, Pro Bowl

July 25, 2020

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reports that the NFL and NFLPA’s revised Collective Bargaining Agreement for the 2020 season prohibits players from engaging in certain activities this season including attending indoor night clubs, indoor bars except to pick up food, indoor house parties with 15 or more people, indoor concerts, professional sporting events, or indoor church services that allow attendance above 25 percent of capacity.
Florio notes that players would be fined for violating rules and not get paid for games missed should they test positive. Players would also be at risk of voiding future guarantees in their contracts.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated points out that NFL teams have two options for active rosters prior to the regular season: 1) Reduce rosters to 80 players before the veteran report date, 2) Allow rosters to remain at 90 and “split-squad” until August 16’s cut deadline, which is for veterans, rookies, and rehab players in separate groups.
According to Ian Rapoport, the NFLPA agreed to $17 million per team in deferred compensation in regards to performance-based pay and other benefits in 2020, which pushed a total of $544 million for redistribution at a future date.

Tom Pelissero reports the NFLPA told players that 12 rookies have tested positive for the virus after the initial round of screenings.
According to Pelissero, the 12 positive tests are from nine NFL teams so far, while the NFL expected cases to occur and planned to isolate those players.
Pelissero mentions that the NFL plans “robust testing, contract tracing,” and further education for players and staff.
Mark Maske also reports that NFL teams have not yet been permitted to host free agents for workouts.
Ben Volin, citing an NFL source, reports that positive tests will be considered a non-football injury during initial screenings.
Volin adds that positive tests will be considered football injuries if a player tests positive after initial tests.
The non-football injury disclosure allows teams to recoup some salary if the player is not ready by Week 1.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, citing an NFL source, reports that the notion of keeping a quarterback quarantined away from the rest of the team is beginning to gain momentum from multiple organizations.
Florio notes that one question going around in NFL circles is whether to quarantine the primary backup or the third-team quarterback.
Regarding which quarterback to isolate, Florio writes that the primary questions are what extent the primary backup will assist in game-preparation with the starting quarterback and whether the third-stringer could be trusted to step in if both quarterbacks test positive.

Mike Garafolo reports that the NFL plans to compensate players for participating in a 2020 Pro Bowl if the game is held.
Garafolo adds that Pro Bowl compensation is a part of the NFL and NFLPA’s plan for deferred compensation.