NFL Players Association president JC Tretter is calling for the large off-season cuts imposed by the pandemic to continue in the coming years.
The Cleveland Browns Center posted his thoughts Thursday on the union’s website. He cited changes to the collective agreement in early 2020 and subsequent changes to covid-19.
“COVID’S ABC has imposed significant changes and shown us how players and teams can prepare and play in the NFL successfully,” Tretter wrote. “This year has given less time to practice than ever before. We had no off-season practices, fewer training camp practices and no pre-season games. While some feared these changes would lead to a sloppy 2020 NFL season, our level of collective play has never been higher in the entire league.
“I think the changes made this season have shown that we can bring an entertaining product to the field while further reducing the wear and tear of our players’ bodies.”
Tretter stressed the need to reduce all off-season programs, which usually start in the spring and last until mid-June, including organized team activities and mandatory mini-camps.
“We are the only major sports league with an off-season program,” he added. “The most physically demanding sport is the only league that brings its players back out of season for extra exercises. The argument for these off-season practices is based on the assumption that players need repetitions during OTAs to develop and learn, while teams need the (jell) practices. However, the absence of OTA this year has shown that these theories are not proven. New and first year head coach was successful. Nine teams were successful. Rookies came in and played at a high level throughout the league.”
Tretter explains that NFL players are professionals and know how to keep fit and playbook knowledge during the offseason: “we don’t need to be brought in from April to June to train against each other-it’s just useless.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said some of the adapted procedures in 2020 would be helpful in implementing them in the future. In particular, he mentioned remote sensing during the pandemic.
“Our experience of off-season training and so practice, I think our clubs have felt comfortable with that,” Goodell said. “And I think you will see more, which, in my opinion, will be productive.’