Numerous players have recently met for privately organized workouts. The NFLPA now urges players to refrain from doing so.

Tom Brady did. So did Jimmy Garoppolo. Or Philip Rivers. And Kyler Murray is now planning to do the same.

Privately organized workouts with teammates are quite a good way to get at least some physical practice besides the virtual meetings in times of corona crisis and closed team facilities.

To – as with Brady or Rivers – also get to know the new team colleagues, for a better understanding, both on and off the pitch. This is called teambuilding.

Nothing unusual, let alone reprehensible, on the contrary. Actually.

USA in the middle of a pandemic
The USA in particular is still in the midst of the pandemic, more than 2.3 million people are infected there and the numbers are still rising.

Also the NFL is more and more affected, there are positive tests on the staff as well as on the players. Just also by the mentioned privately organized workouts.

For example, a player from the San Francisco 49ers tested positive after a group around quarterback Garoppolo trained in Nashville.

A message to players from NFLPA Medical Director, Dr. Thom Mayer: pic.twitter.com/4IGlEBhRr9

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) June 20, 2020

That is why the NFLPA players’ union is trying to appeal to the players’ common sense.

“Please note that it is our medical consensus that, given the increase in Covid-19 cases in certain states, players should not train together privately,” said Dr. Thom Mayer, NFLPA Medical Director, in an official statement. “Our goal is to ensure that all players and their families are as healthy as possible in the coming months.”

The NFL is currently working on their Corona concept for the upcoming season. According to Commissioner Roger Goodell, this includes two or three tests a week – for every player. So far, the NFL is sticking to the planned start of the season on September 10th, with training camps scheduled to begin as early as the end of July.

“We are working on the best measures to be taken at team facilities for the training camp and the upcoming season,” Mayer continued. “We believe it is in the best interest of all players to discourage voluntary joint workouts before the training camp begins.