By Kenia Caballero — Reporter
The NFL is set to start off-season virtual training on April 20 as a way to warm up their player for the upcoming season.
The virtual offseason program will include classroom instructions as well as workouts.
The virtual training is set to run only during the pandemic and once the stay at home order is removed. The players will have the chance to resume their normal facility training.
This means that the players will have the chance to return to their on-field activities and continue their season normally.
The NFL is prioritizing fairness and is not allowing any team without restrictions to train in their facilities since the pandemic severity ranges differently across the country. Many other leagues and sports have just postponed most activities until further notice.
Each team is capped at $1,500 for equipment per player and although offseason training is not mandatory, any player who participates will receive their respective bonuses specified in their contracts for their virtual training.
This pandemic has held back a lot of sports and training in general, with most athletes doing home training either virtually or through private personal trainers. This might have to be the route that the league takes for the entirety of the offseason if the virus is not controlled before September when the NFL season officially starts.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, has officially stated that he doubts that the league will start on time if proper virus testing has not become widespread.
The NFL vice president, Jeff Pash, has stated that no contingency has been discussed if team facilities do not open in time for the training camp to begin. It can be concluded that they also have not discussed any solutions if the quarantine is not lifted by September.
For now, virtual training may be the only thing the NFL players have going for them. After that, they will mirror the rest of the world and stay home.
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