NFL closes in on zero preseason games for 2020

With training camp fast approaching, the NFL and the NFLPA continue to negotiate. The two sides are trying to come together in regards to player safety and all the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the sports world. One big change this summer will be the preseason or in other terms, no preseason.

On Monday, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on new safety measures in regards to player testing this summer. According to multiple reports, the league went into the meeting [...]

With training camp fast approaching, the NFL and the NFLPA continue to negotiate. The two sides are trying to come together in regards to player safety and all the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the sports world. One big change this summer will be the preseason or in other terms, no preseason.

On Monday, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on new safety measures in regards to player testing this summer. According to multiple reports, the league went into the meeting offering players one preseason game after originally offering two this summer. However, after negotiating, the league is offering no preseason games whatsoever.

On Monday night, George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs, confirmed the news on Twitter.

"Precise points on the discussions between the NFL and NFLPA: 1. NFL didn’t offer or give up preseason games for us. They had the right to set those (or not) under the CBA already," Atallah wrote. "2. NFL didn’t "concede" on health and safety issues. We implemented the best protocols together."

"Of course our union had to advocate hard for all of these protections because everyone wants to start and - most importantly - finish a full season, but the fact is we all conceded to a virus that is still rampant in our country. Crassly put: no protections, no games, no (money)."

The news was a big development that will have ramifications all over the league. That includes Foxboro. Although preseason games seem like a mere formality, there are always a handful of young or unknown players who earn jobs on these nights.

Preseason games are the reason why the Patriots felt good about rookie quarterbacks such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Jarrett Stidham. Last summer, Stidham completed 67.8% of his passes for 731 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in four preseason games. Those performances were a reason why he beat out veteran Brian Hoyer for the backup quarterback job. It was similar in 2014 when Garoppolo beat out Ryan Mallett.

It was in the preseason last summer when unknown undrafted receiver Gunner Olszewski opened up eyes in the punt return game. He average 13.1 yards per punt return and made the incredible leap from D-II Bemidji State to the Patriots 53-man roster. Does that happen if there’s no preseason?

Probably not. The Patriots originally planned on cutting Olszewski and even informed him he was being let go. However, they knew they wouldn’t be able to pass him through waivers and get him on the practice squad. Olszewski’s film from the summer was good enough that another team would claim him so the Patriots backtracked and added him to the 53-man roster at the last minute.

Stories like that are made from the summer.

It was similar with undrafted receiver Jakobi Meyers last year. He led the Patriots with 20 receptions for 253 yards and two scores in four preseason games. At the end of the preseason, everyone knew Meyers was making the team.

Of course, for everyone preseason start that makes the roster, you have a laundry list of summer standouts who fizzle out. Last summer, Nick Brossette the Patriots in rushing. In 2017, Austin Carr led the Patriots in receiving and D.J. Foster led the squad in rushing. In 2016, the leading rusher was Tony Gaffney and the leading receiver was A.J. Derby.

However, preseason games give us a glimpse of football no matter how far from the ‘real thing’ it truly is. This year, we won’t get to see Cam Newton or Stidham throw in a game until the regular season starts. We won’t get an idea of how the 2020 rookie class really looks.

Of course, it’s understandable why the players don’t want to play this summer. More travel means more chances of player being exposed to a deadly virus that has killed over 100,000 people in this country. The risk far outweighs the reward.

Instead, there will be a great emphasis on training camp and the competition between players every day. At the end of the summer, if the NFL can pull off a season, it’ll create a nice distraction for everyone – even if the lack of a preseason costs some unknown players roster spots.

Covid-19 has brought a new normal to this world. That’s certainly the case for the Patriots and the NFL.

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ