NFL players vote to recommend skipping the preseason

Last week, it was reported that the NFL was going to cut the league’s preseason schedule in half with teams playing two instead of four exhibition games in August. The plan was for teams to play their second and third preseason games which would give players a longer time to get ready while trying to be safe with the coronavirus health pandemic.

As it turns out, the entire preseason slate might be canceled. Last week, the NFL players association voted in favor of not playing [...]

Last week, it was reported that the NFL was going to cut the league’s preseason schedule in half with teams playing two instead of four exhibition games in August. The plan was for teams to play their second and third preseason games which would give players a longer time to get ready while trying to be safe with the coronavirus health pandemic.

As it turns out, the entire preseason slate might be canceled. Last week, the NFL players association voted in favor of not playing any preseason games this summer. The vote came on a conference call and all 32 player reps voted the same. This issue will be handled by the league, but it’ll be interesting to see if the players’ voices are heard.

On Sunday night, Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty talked about the potential of not playing any preseason games on their Double Coverage podcast.

"For me, just assuming things are flowing, any time you reduce preseason games, I know for some people you look at it and it's like, 'Hey, no one goes to those games, they're not as important, blah, blah, blah.' But, at the same time, some of your favorite players now were guys that had to go out there and make a name for themselves in those preseason games," Jason McCourty said. "So whenever you see those types of games taken away it hurts because that's the way guys make the team that they're on. They make other teams."

The Patriots veteran cornerback makes a good point. The preseason is when bubble players shine and earn roster spots. It’s when we’ve noticed people like Malcolm Butler stick out and earn their keep. Last summer, the punt returning ability of Gunner Olszewski stuck out and that earned the Division II undrafted free agent a spot on the 53-man roster.

Without preseason games, it’s also fair to wonder if players would see an uptick in injuries come the regular season. Of course, you also have to balance player safety with the virus health concerns. Does it really make sense for teams to travel to other stadiums in August? Would it be safer for teams to just stay at their own stadiums and reduce the chance of an outbreak?

"Does it matter?" Devin McCourty said. "We have to figure out, 'How do we get back in the locker room?' When we go back, are we straight to training camp? What is that procedure? ... For us as players, we still want to know, 'How is everything going to function and work?' Don't get be wrong, everybody is working towards that and building. There's calls and everything. But I think that is more important than whether there's four preseason games, two preseason games, no preseason games. All that stuff will work itself out. All that stuff matters if the first phase of us being back in training camp is going well. If that doesn't go well, then there is no anything.

"For me, that has been more my focus. I haven't really cared what the preseason games look like."

Added Jason McCourty: "But like you said, at this point, it's just like what is the safest way to get back on the field and to actually have a season? If that means we're reducing preseason, whatever the case is, obviously we have to do what we need to do."

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ