NFLPA President JC Tretter Warns Players Not to Trust the NFL or Their Own Teams About Returning to Work

This past week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that all 32 coaching staffs can return to their respective team's facilities as long as they comply with state and local governments. On Monday, Goodell sent a memo to teams outlining the protocol for players' eventual returns.

After reading the memo, NFL Players Association president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter sent out a tweet to warn union members to be wary about trusting what the league or individual teams advise about returning amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, he's urging them to speak to him directly, or to their union representatives.

It's important to note that there's no specific date set for players to report for training camp. However, the NFL did have some interesting guidelines on how to go about business this summer.

In locker rooms, players must be kept six feet apart from each other to prevent a potential outbreak of COVID-19. That will become a challenge, especially since teams carry as many as 90 players for training camp.

Additional protocols include masks being worn at all times (with the exception being when players perform "athletic activities"), all helmets and pads must be disinfected following each game, and all meetings must be done virtually until further notice.

While the official start to training camp is still to be determined, the league and union are discussing the possibility of allowing rookies and free agency additions to step foot in facilities sometime before June 26.

Neither side is close to reaching an official agreement to return to normalcy. Until then, Tretter wants all players to consult the union with any questions they may have.