Training Camp Green Lit With Some Caveats, Another Deadline

The NFL announced that in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, teams are allowed to proceed with training camp.

NFL clubs just received this email with reporting dates.

Training camp is on. pic.twitter.com/lya1JtxW4o
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 18, 2020

For the Cleveland Browns, the first important date is July 21st when rookies can report. But it's not full steam ahead. The Browns are allowed to have 20 players in the facility at a time. Presumably, they will have all their draft picks report plus some other undrafted rookies.

Then the NFL is on a clock. They will have a week to get an agreement with the NFLPA to sign off on the infectious disease emergency response plans.

As of now, only 20 players would be allowed in the facility at a time, until the NFLPA signs off on infectious disease emergency response plans for each club. If protocols aren't met, a grievance could follow. But clubs have the right to set reporting dates within CBA rules.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 18, 2020

If the league can't come to agreement with the players, they might have to shut back down temporarily until they can come to terms as to avoid grievances filed by players. Realistically, the NFL is under the gun to get this worked out to avoid losing momentum toward getting to a season.

At this point, there is no policy agreed upon as to what happens if players test positive for COVID-19. The limited number of players coming to the facility will help when it comes to socially distancing when they aren't on the field, but the issue is going to be as it relates to players coming to the facility potentially already infected.

If teams are trying to bring more than 20 rookies, they would have to have them effectively work in shifts as to avoid going over having 20 in the facility at a time. It remains to be seen how many teams would go to those lengths to evaluate additional players, since there are reports that teams are considering bringing less than the maximum number of players to camp.

On one hand, this could allow teams to try to get a quick evaluation on a number of rookies to see who they'd want to bring to camp. Obviously, the other increases the risk for infection or just having a positive test. The NFL is expecting players to test players to test positive, but what happens after that fact is still a negotiation.

At least for now, the Browns will finally get their hands on Jedrick Wills, Grant Delpit and the rest of their draft class, whom they have not seen in person since the NFL scouting combine.