NFLPA Strikes Back with #WeWantToPlay Movement

The players have responded in force to the NFL’s mandate that training camps around the country will go on as scheduled

The talking points were disseminated and the players have responded in force to the NFL’s mandate that training camps around the country will go on as scheduled despite renewed concerns over spikes in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several Eagles players joined in a choreographed social-media blitz using the hashtag #WeWantToPlay on Sunday in wake of the league moving forward despite many unanswered questions from the players in regard to health and safety protocols.

Carson Wentz, Zach Ertz, Miles Sanders, Brandon Graham, and Darius Slay were some of the Eagles joining in with league superstars like J.J. Watt, Russell Wilson, and Drew Brees criticizing the league’s plan after a memo was sent to teams Saturday giving the all-clear for training camps to begin this week.

The Eagles’ rookies are scheduled to report to the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday and the full team is expected a week later.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith explained the process last week in a video conference call with reporters.

“Remember the league is management," Smith assessed. "They have the exclusive right, just like somebody who owns a plant, when does it open, when does it close, what our hours are.

"… The CBA dictates when players report and the collective bargaining agreement dictates what players need to do to be in compliance with their contracts, and we have never minced words with our players about that. Our job is to hold the league accountable to provide as safe a workplace as possible.”

And the NFLPA plans to do exactly that.

“The priority is still on the health and safety issues that we face,” union president J.C. Tretter, the starting center of the Cleveland Browns, said. “The economics will be taken care of, but we can’t get into the economics until we make sure that our players will be protected this year.”

Wentz was the first Eagles player to join in the movement Sunday.

We all want to play this season, but we need to stay safe in order to actually have a season! It’s time for the @NFL to step up and do their part so that us players can be safe at work and go play the game we love! #WeWantToPlay

— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) July 19, 2020

Wentz's teammate Zach Ertz made his voice heard on social media as well:

Playing football and feeling safe at work SHOULD NOT be mutually exclusive! Time is running down and we need answers #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/YPboNL47Mf

— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) July 19, 2020

In addition to Wentz, other high-profile quarterbacks Dres Brees of New Orleans and Russell Wilson on Seattle also took to social media to voice their concerns.

We need Football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL’s unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. Get it done @NFL

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) July 19, 2020

I am concerned.
My wife is pregnant.@NFL Training camp is about to start..

And there’s still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. 🤷🏾

We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 19, 2020

The others stayed on point with similar thoughts as sentiment grows for a pushback of camp while protocols are more clearly defined.

The sticking points per NFL Media are a joint NFL/NFLPA medical committee recommendation for a 21-day acclimation period, one in which the league asked players to show up early to accommodate as well as the wrangling over two preseason games versus no exhibitions, potential opt-out language and COVID-19 testing frequency.

Under the recently ratified CBA management has the right to set reporting dates and the union could in turn file a grievance over unsafe work environments which is certainly being foreshadowed,

Stay tuned.

-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's EagleMaven and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John every Monday and Friday on SIRIUSXM’s Tony Bruno Show with Harry Mayes, and every Tuesday and Thursday with Eytan Shander on SBNation Radio. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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