Broncos Given Green Light to Hold Training Camp by State Health Department

Earlier this week, we learned that the Denver Broncos had pushed back their rookie reporting date for training camp by two days, moving from July 21 to July 23. That decision was likely influenced by the ongoing negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA on the key issues surrounding safety and other contingencies for the 2020 season.

The Broncos' decision to have the rookies report for camp two days later could also have had something to do with the team's ongoing effort to revamp its facilities to mitigate the safety risks associated with the coronavirus. This effort, led by Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Brittany Bowlen, was being executed to not only satisfy the NFL but also the Colorado Department of Health.

With the pandemic still raging on, if the state wanted to squash the Broncos' ability to hold training camp at their UC Health Training Center out of safety concerns, the team would really find itself in a pickle. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of Bowlen, the Broncos received the green light to open camp to players and coaches, according to KUSA's Mike Klis.

"While many teams are dealing w/local virus procedural challenges, [the] Broncos are full speed ahead for camp. Yesterday Colorado Department of Health informed [the] team its plan for conducting camp has been approved. As always, subject to change. Bronco rookies report Thursday," Klis tweeted Friday afternoon.

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While I never truly doubted that Colorado would put the kybosh to the Broncos' training camp plans, this calendar year has been so whacky, it wouldn't have been completely surprising to see an extreme reaction by the state, especially considering how the pandemic has resulted in government overreach from various states around the country. However, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has done well at striking a balance between being cautious with the state's coronavirus safety protocols and also encouraging to local business.

The Broncos mean everything to the denizens of Colorado and are always the hottest ticket in town. Ask anyone in sports media and they'll tell you; the Broncos are king in the Mile High City.

Kudos to Polis and the Department of Health for seeing the forest for the trees, and also to Bowlen and the Broncos for going the extra mile to overhaul the team's facilities and make the environment as safe as possible for football to take place.

The truth is, this country needs sports to return. Sports are America's healthiest and most wholesome form of entertainment and escape.

We need football back this summer and fall — both college and the NFL. While several obstacles remain, the momentum seems to be on the side of football returning, even if it comes with heretofore unseen conditions, like no fans at training camp, limited capacity at stadiums, and other restrictions and contingencies to maximize safety and hedge against unforeseen pitfalls of the virus.

Vic Fangio and the coaches have already returned to UC Health Training Center. The rookies are scheduled to report next Thursday, with the veterans following not far being them. The Broncos' plan to kick off training camp on July 28 remains on track.

All that's left are the negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. I was on the PFWA's conference call with NFLPA President JC Tretter (Cleveland Browns center) and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith on Friday and while the ongoing safety concerns of the players union were made apparent, what was also made clear is the players' determination and desire to actually have a season.

Both the owners and the players want to play football, the two sides just have a few points of demarcation on the best ways to safely do that amid a pandemic. One issue that's paramount to the players, especially in the wake of an entirely canceled Offseason Training Program, include the union's demand to have the first 21 days of camp be focused on conditioning, with the players being eased into the collisions and sudden cuts and explosions that are intrinsic to football.

The problem the owners have with that is that a 21-day conditioning period would make having any preseason games all but impossible. Without actually practicing football, teams couldn't feasibly take the field of battle even for an exhibition game.

If acquiescing to the players' demand for the conditioning period meant preserving and guaranteeing a full 2020 regular season, sacrificing the preseason might be a small price to pay. These aren't the only points of contention between the owners and players but where there's a will, there's way.

Coming out of the 90-minute call, I was more optimistic about the two sides striking an accord sooner than later than I was beforehand. Keep your fingers crossed, Broncos Country. The clock is ticking but there's still more than enough sand in the hourglass for the league and the players union to get on the same page.

When two sides share a common interest or goal, it's usually a harbinger of an imminent agreement. We can only hope that'll hold true in this case.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.