As the COVID-19 pandemic has created concern and uncertainty for the upcoming 2020 NFL season, the league and NFL Players Association remain undecided in regards to aspects of testing, preseason games and training camp structure.
On Tuesday, economics have come into focus as the NFLPA informed its board of representatives that the NFL has proposed 35% of player salaries be held in escrow to aid in managing costs during the 2020 season, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported per sources informed of the situation.
It is now one option on the table if revenue is impacted on league-wide basis due to the novel coronavirus. However, it was not received well, Pelissero reported.
Per Pelissero, NFLPA executive Don Davis told players on a conference call: "Basically, we told them to kick rocks."
The NFLPA's stance is that any escrow deal would need to be collectively bargained.
New Orleans Saints All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas appeared to reaffirm Davis' sentiments with a tweet in response to Pelissero that stated: "Lol everyone will sit out and not play until they get their stuff together before we do this."
Thomas was not the only player to let their disapproval be known via social media, as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Eagles cornerback Darius Slay and Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan were among those who responded, as well.
A day prior, team general managers and coaches were told by the league that, though no decision has been made on how training camps will be structured, the plan going forward was that camps would open as scheduled on July 28.
Currently, there has been no decision as it relates to preseason contests, with the NFLPA voting in favor of no preseason games.
All of the changes are of course due to the ongoing coronvairus pandemic, which has brought about a multitude of new protocols for when players do return to team facilities and team practices.
