With a rookie head coach in Arthur Smith looking to install his program, the Falcons players voted to opt out of the team’s voluntary offseason program Thursday.
Smith was not immediately made available for comment.
The players, who had a Zoom meeting Tuesday, issued a statement through the union. The NFLPA has concerns about player health related to on-field play and to COVID-19.
Five other NFL teams also voted not to attend “voluntary” offseason programs, while the NFL elected to push back and restructure the offseason programs, the 32 teams were informed via a memo from the league office Wednesday.
Union executive director Demaurice Smith and president J.C. Tretter point to a 23% decrease in missed time injuries from not having an offseason program last season.
Teams held their minicamps virtually during the coronavirus pandemic, and the union would like to continue that practice.
“The quickest way for a player to lose his job is to miss time,” Tretter wrote in a letter to the membership. “So we are highly motivated to reduce the risk of injuries that result in players being unable to participate in practices and/or games.
Over the past five years, the average number of missed-time injuries annually for all NFL teams was 3,524. For the 2020 season, the number of missed-time injuries decreased to 2,716.”
The union is advocating for player health and safety concerns in the face of the NFL adding a 17th game for next season.
The full statement from the NFLPA:
“Many of our players will decide to exercise their right to not attend the voluntary offseason program. That right is afforded to every player through our CBA. While our team is not unanimous, we respect the decisions of every player across the league and will remain professional in our approach to the game. Injury data and game performance from last year show that a virtual offseason is beneficial to player health and safety. In addition, many of our players feel unsafe entering the facility as COVID protocols remain unclear.”
A total of 27 Falcons were on the Zoom call.
The Falcons joined players from Denver, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Detroit and New England in voting not to attend “voluntary” workouts because of safety concerns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Falcons were set to start their offseason program April 6, but with the pandemic still going on, they were set to stay virtual.
This week, the NFL informed clubs that the offseason programs would be pushed back with very little in-person activity. The Falcons can have only 10 players in the weight room at a time.
The league stated that Phase 1 would be extended for four weeks starting Monday, with no on-field work until Phase 2, which will start May 15. The first two phases will be held virtually.
A normal Phase 3 with four weeks of practice will be held May 24 through June 18, followed by a mandatory minicamp.
The NFL plans to follow the COVID-19 protocols that were in place last season and players who have been vaccinated may not be required to submit to daily testing.
Rookie minicamps for draft picks, undrafted rookies and eligible non-rookies and tryout players will be held during Phase 2.
Arthur Smith, who was hired to replace Dan Quinn, has to install new schemes on offense, defense and special teams. He held over only two coaches from the previous staff.
In a recent appearance on the Bow Tie Chronicles podcast, he discuss the perils of this offseason while getting ready for the coming draft.
“We obviously hope that we get players in here at some point,” Smith said. “Like I said, if last year taught you anything, you have to do a lot of contingency plans. We have calendar. It is set.”
That calendar must be alter now with “many” players not opting out of voluntary workouts.
“If we have to adapt it virtually, here’s our plan or for anything else that is thrown our way,” Smith said. “If it’s some kind of combination, we have a plan for that.”
Smith seemed to have anticipated a bumpy offseason.
“You can’t lose sleep over what you can’t control,” Smith said. “We’ll prepare for whatever the rules are they give us, they still … are working through that. ... If it gets to the point where we don’t see them until training camp, we’ll have to adapt to that, which we did last year and my first year in Tennessee (2011) during the lockout year.”
Falcons’ 2021 draft position: Here are the top 10 picks in D. Led’s Mock Draft 4.0:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, (QB, BYU)
3. San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)
4. Atlanta Falcons: Penei Sewell (OT, Oregon)
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
6. Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
7. Detroit Lions: DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
8. Carolina Panthers: Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
9. Denver Broncos: Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain (CB, Alabama)
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