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NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero broke the news on Wednesday that the NFL and NFLPA are currently discussing the possibility of shortening the 2020 preseason from four games to two.
At this time, Pelissero warns fans about getting their hopes up as nothing is close to certain, but “multiple team executives” who are close to the discussion believe that the opportunity to minimize the exhibition games is real.
Shortening the preseason would allow for a longer “ramp-up” period, regardless of whether players agree to report a week or two early, and provide extra time for medical experts to finalize game-day protocols for testing, etc. More at the top of the hour on @nflnetwork
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 10, 2020
Pelissero goes on to say that time spent preparing for games that do not directly affect the success of teams during the 2020 season would be better used to “ramp up” towards the regular season after this offseason was drastically altered due to the coronavirus. That extra time could be used to better prepare rookies and undrafted players after they lost the rookie mini camp that is so crucial to their foundation.
While the exhibition games are also important for those younger players, allowing first-year players who are expected to start and veterans on new teams the extra practice snaps to ground them with their new team could end up going a long way.
Rams News:
Stu Jackson previews the Rams’ tight end group for 2020 (TheRams.com)
Cameron DaSilva highlights RB Cam Akers who was named PFF’s most-elusive rookie running back (The Rams Wire)
Cameron DaSilva lays out how CB Jalen Ramsey could win NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year (The Rams Wire)
Jared Goff didn’t have a lot of words when asked about shortening the preseason (Clutch Points)
NFL News:
Ben Linsey ranks all 32 starting running backs by their elusiveness (Pro Football Focus)
The Panthers removed statue of former owner Jerry Richardson (NFL.com)
Joel Corry lists 10 players facing a make-or-break season in 2020 (CBS Sports)
The Vikings are donating $5 million to social justice causes (Bleacher Report)
Rob Goldberg reports on the uniform report dates for training camp set by the CBA (Bleacher Report)
Charean Williams discusses how QB Ryan Tannehill wishes he supported the BLM movement back in 2016 (Pro Football Talk)