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As this debate rages on, let’s look at it from a Jets perspective.
The NFLPA is pushing players to not attend NFL off-season workout programs. The union chief, DeMaurice Smith, and Player President J.C. Tretter (Cleveland Browns center), sent a letter to players.
“It is the recommendation of the NFLPA based on our medical experts’ advice that if the voluntary offseason program is in person, players should not attend,” Smith and Tretter said in their letter to players. “Therefore, as teams host calls to discuss these issues we urge that all players consider their own health and safety, make a personal decision about attending voluntary workouts and take into consideration the unanimous recommendation of the NFLPA COVID committee that we have an entirely virtual offseason.”
However, the union isn’t pushing players with spring workout bonuses.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the union won’t be pushing teams that have a significant number of players with workout bonuses to join in the effort,” wrote Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “The source specifically mentioned the Packers and Bills. According to overthecap.com, the Bills have 28 players with workout bonuses totaling $3.172 million. The Packers have 19 players with workout bonuses, but the total value (the highest in the league) is $5.065 million.”
That might seem like a somewhat strange position to some. If you a concerned with the health of the players, why doesn’t that apply to players who have workout bonuses? Some might argue this workout bonus position is a bad look for the union.
Nine teams have reportedly voted to not attend. including the New York Giants, who, like the Jets, practice in New Jersey.
As I went to press with this story, Some Jets players, I have no idea who they are, issued a statement that many will not participate. It’s unclear how many have agreed to skip the workouts, and how many will attend.
The Jets need these workouts. Zoom meetings are limited in their impact. The Jets have a new head coach and a mostly new staff. They are installing all new schemes on offense and defense. They have a lot of new players. These spring workouts are a great chance for Robert Saleh and his staff to teach the new players, not just the schemes, but their culture.
And remember, the Jets also have an entirely new strength and conditioning staff ,who are changing the organizations approach in this area. A big part of the spring workouts is strength and conditioning.
Remember, that most of the union reps pushing the union’s agenda are older players. Most older players want nothing to do with off-season workouts, COVID or no COVID. A lot of them don’t live in the city they play. Many of them have families. They want to report to teams when camp starts.
Tretter is 30-years-old, Ivy League educated, and has played eight years in the league. He probably doesn’t need the off-season.
But most of the younger players do. They need to on-field work for their maturation and learning process. How much technique can you teach a player on Zoom?
A guy like Mekhi Becton, who needs to lose weight and learn a new scheme (a scheme that requires lighter linemen, so that is why he must lose weight). He needs a spring working with new Jets offensive line coach, John Benton, and his assistant, Jake Moreland.
And this idea that the off-seasons programs aren’t going to be safe. First of all, a lot of players will get vaccinated. Secondly, we are talking about a league that jumped through hoops last year with protocols to play the season. It was strict as hell. Does the union really think that isn’t going to continue in the spring with every precaution being considered?
The bottom line is this – if I’m a young player, who isn’t established, who needs to develop and learn and get in better shape, I’m ignoring the union and I’m going to workout with my team.
If some older players, who are at the top of their growth curve, want to skip these workouts, that is fine.
But those older union reps, should not push their agenda, on younger guys. Younger players have different needs than Tretter and company.
And once again, the NFL teams will spend millions to make sure these workouts are safe, and get players vaccinated, if they so chose.
I’m not promoting any kind of recklessness. Just saying the Jets are a team that needs safe spring work with a new program being installed.
April 16, 2021
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