NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Russell Wilson recently made waves by practicing ahead of the 2020 season with teammates, even after NFLPA Medical Director Dr. Thom Mayer’s advice that players should refrain from group workouts due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Wilson posted a video to Twitter that displayed him practicing with wide receiver DK Metcalf in spite of Mayer’s warnings.
In response, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith stated that the players participating in workouts with each other are being reckless by ignoring social distancing guidelines.
“Those practices are not in the best interest of our players’ safety,” Smith told USA TODAY. “They’re not in the best interest of protecting our players heading into training camp, and I don’t think they are in the best interest of us getting through an entire season.”
“All of the things that players may want to do during the offseason have a direct impact on how well we can negotiate protections for them once the season starts,” Smith said.
The Seattle Seahawks would do well to take heed of the risk of working out with teammates at this point in time and follow social distancing guidelines to the best of their ability.
