JC Tretter took off his hat as the starting center for the Cleveland Browns and donned his cap as the NFLPA president on Friday. In a conference call with media that also included NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and assistant George Atallah, Tretter talked frankly about the lingering issues still holding up the negotiations between the NFL and the players before they report to training camps later this month.
One thing was made crystal clear, consistently reiterated throughout the call: player safety is the only issue that really matters to the NFLPA. Without ensuring player safety, nothing else matters.
Tretter noted that many players have expressed concern over flying from “safer areas” into noted hotspots, including Miami and Houston, to begin training camp. Tretter cited the serious concerns from family members guiding the players’ trepidation.
Later, he added a personal spin on his own concerns of playing center, in very close proximity with many other players.
“My job has gotten more dangerous. This is going to be a battle of risk mitigation and try to stay as safe as possible,” Tretter stated. “We are all at risk, our families are at risk.”
To reinforce the family aspect, veteran Rams LT Andrew Whitworth shared his personal story that included his own positive diagnosis for COVID-19 and how it spread to his kids and his in-laws.
He also expressed serious concern for player injuries, noting that many players have not had access to traditional offseason workouts and gyms.
