NFLPA CEO DeMaurice Smith said it was the union’s position that it was in the players’ best interest not to participate in off-season voluntary training.
“I think a lot of the players said they heard from their coaches that they have to show up,” Smith told SportsCenter on Saturday. “We have known for years that this is a voluntary training in which a lot of coaches put their finger on the scale and, although they call it volunteers, they expect the players to appear.
“I think what you see now is for the first time the players exercising their voice … to say ‘no’. And, honestly, it’s probably one of the few times coaches have ever heard players say “no.” And for some players, this is probably the first time they say “no” to their coach.
Smith’s comments come as players from nearly half of the league’s 32 teams have announced they will not be volunteering outside of the season.
On Wednesday, the league issued a note to all 32 teams, announcing that the first four weeks of the volunteer program will be virtual before moving to staff at the respective training facilities of the teams. Last year, the off-season programs were practically carried out and the training camp was rejected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smith said the net positives seen last year outweigh the return to the status quo.
“This is a negotiated, negotiated volunteer workout, if someone came to you or me and said,‘ I have a way to reduce contusions by 30% and I know a way to reduce the time lost to 23% injuries ”He would think that almost everyone would embrace with all his heart, whether he was a volunteer or not. “
While players from 15 teams have announced through the NFLPA that they will not participate in voluntary training, those decisions have not been unanimous. More than 200 players have clauses in their contracts related to participation in team training.
Smith mentioned that neither he nor the union have problems with the players who show up for training, which should start next week at the team’s facilities.
“I think it’s important for players to make their own decisions, not just as professionals, not just as a way to take care of their own healthcare, but also to make their own decisions as a man,” Smith said.