NFL Notes: Physicals, Practice Squad, Preseason, Salaries

July 20, 2020

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport says with team facilities set to open back up, team doctors will resume conducting physicals soon once safety precautions are in place.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the league is considering allowing teams to promote as many as all 16 players of their practice squad to the active roster as soon as 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a rash of positive tests for the virus.
The only limitation is that the positive diagnosis must happen after the deadline has passed for player transactions in the normal course of business.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reports the NFL’s latest proposal to the NFLPA includes just one preseason game.
The NFL previously had wanted two preseason games, while the NFLPA was pushing for zero. However, Pelissero indicates the two sides appear to be moving toward a compromise.
The proposal would have the one preseason game played in what was originally Week 3, which still would not provide time for the 21 days of acclimation the NFL’s medical team has recommended and the players are looking for.
While the NFLPA is still pushing for daily testing, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin says the NFL is worried about the cost and is still offering every other day testing.
However, Pro Football Talk reports the two sides have agreed to daily testing.
Later reports indicated frequency could potentially drop after the first few weeks if the positivity rate is under 5 percent. (Pelissero)

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes the NFL’s latest proposal tried to eliminate paying players with guaranteed base salaries for canceled games with the phrasing “skill, injury, and/or cap guarantees do not apply to require payment for canceled games.”
The league also proposed tolling contracts to 2021 if fewer than six games are played.
However, Florio points out the players hold significant leverage as the new CBA doesn’t include a force majeure clause, which essentially means the NFL can’t legally defend not paying guaranteed salaries unless the entire season is canceled.
Another NFL source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that if the owners slashed the 2021 cap, it would devalue their product right as they were trying to secure new TV rights deals, which is another chip in the players’ favor.