Players aren’t ready to accept mandatory face shields

Posted by Mike Florio on July 4, 2020, 10:41 AM EDT
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One of the open issues as the NFL and NFL Players Association prepare for pandemic football relates to face shields.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the question of whether face shields will be mandatory for players has not been resolved. The league wants it. The players are willing to encourage player use during training camp, with reevaluation based on field testing and player feedback.

It’s unclear whether the league is considering modified face masks with N95 materials or an extension of the clear visors that some players currently use as eye protection.

Regardless, the players don’t want a mandate to use the shields. It’s just one of the various issues that need to be resolved before training camps can open.

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33 responses to “Players aren’t ready to accept mandatory face shields”

  1. There’s not going to be a season. Why don’t they just decide that and move on? Look at MLB, players opting out, contracting the virus, etc. teams are already being decimated before they even begin.

    The NFL and the other majors don’t want to give up the TV money. Understandable but what kind of product will they put out? What quality? NFL games will likely resemble the Pro Bowl.

  2. That is a completely unrealistic piece of equipment for sport purposes. And these are supposed to be serious people proposing this?

  3. I’m not sure why players would oppose wearing a shield, it would only be a minor inconvenience for most. Maybe WR’s would have issue tracking the ball through it…

  4. N95 masks will restrict oxygen intake so it is probably not suitable for football, but a plastic face shield would block the exhaled air coming from other players and directs it downward to the ground, so it would be a good thing to wear, since it does not affect oxygen intake. Many people have apparently contracted the virus by going to bars and breathing in the exhaled air from infected people when they talk to each other.

  5. This is a league where players are arrested for breaking the law so frequently that this site once had a days without arrest counter. You really think these all of these guys are abiding by social distancing guidelines?

  7. I wear N95 masks when shopping.
    In air conditioned stores they are fine.
    But in the heat, at Home Depot, they DO restrict breathing, and it was unpleasant.
    Now try the exertion of profoolball and I don’t see how they can work.

  8. The NFL is so greedy, the commish will have the players in diving suits with oxygen tanks to provide air before he’s going to cancel the season.

    On a serious note, it’s looking more and more to me like this season is going to be toast given the hysteria about the current rise in Covid cases.

  9. Come on NFL, admit that there won’t be an NFL season this year.

    We all want it, but until Americans can ALL follow the rules, wear masks, keep distances and isolate when exposed, this mess is just getting started.

    Infections are now higher than ever before and increasing. The hospitals in Texas, Florida and Arizona are overflowing.

    It’s time time face reality and admit that America’s response to this pandemic has been pathetic. There was no leadership at the top, and there still is none. Canada, all the EU countries, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea…are all doing well because they have leaders taht galvanized their countries into doing what was needed.

  10. NFL’s next move is to require shotgun so the QB doesn’t have to touch the center.

  11. As others are saying, N95 masks restrict airflow to the point were one can easily be oxygen-deprived…and that’s wile not doing much. Exercise in an N95 mask is almost impossible.

  12. Back in the 60’s a lot of QB’s and WR’s had facemasks with only one bar across the middle. Actually it was farther down, around mouth level. Don Maynard, Lance Alworth era. Then I remember Joe Namath wore a face mask with many more bars. How could he possibly see or play with all those bars across his face? Then he won the super bowl, and everyone seemed to start wearing more protection. Somehow, miraculously, the game survived. The players probably don’t miss the broken noses and fractured face bones. I’m sure there were a handful who refused to wear the added protection at first, but eventually everyone figured out it was for their own good. Then there were seat belt laws, and then helmet laws, etc., and we’ve all adapted. We used to dine in crowded restaurants, and they had ash trays on every table. As soon as dinner was over, everyone lit up their after-dinner cigarettes and smoked them right there in the restaurant. Now there isn’t smoke in restaurants, and we’ve all survived. Actually probably a lot healthier too. They won’t even let us burn trash in our back yards anymore. Back in the day, few people lived into their 80’s. Then we started listening to all those crazy scientists, and I see a lot of 80 year old’s with a pretty good golf game.

  13. Obvious that there are too many obstacles to playing this season I hope I’m wrong, I love the NFL.

  14. Given that most of these players barely have a high school level education, it is not surprising!

  17. What on earth is it with these players? Is there nothing they’ll go along with?

  18. Most of the draft picks haven’t been signed yet. So the signing bonuses haven’t been received yet. I’m guessing that would deserve a night on the town? There will be major outbreaks in the locker rooms.These young men in peak physical condition wont even show any symptoms. Spread like a brush fire.

  22. Why test them daily if you are going to suffocate them while playing with and against other tested players?

  24. If they can find a way to make a full-length plastic face shield, like a visor that goes to the base of the facemask, that doesn’t fog up, that seems like a no-brainer and the least they could do.

    But the reality is that holding a game will have to feel a lot different than it does now for any of this to actually happen. No one would play an NFL game today. And there’s only a couple months to go. With the U.S. case and death rate rocketing up, I doubt anything will feel different enough by September.

  25. nfloracle says:
    July 4, 2020 at 11:43 am
    The NFL is so greedy, the commish will have the players in diving suits with oxygen tanks to provide air before he’s going to cancel the season.

    On a serious note, it’s looking more and more to me like this season is going to be toast given the hysteria about the current rise in Covid cases.
    ========================================================

    There’s been ANYTHING BUT “hysteria” over the current rise in US. In fact the only country with less concern (ahem ‘hysteria’) over covid has been Brazil; ie the only country with worse numbers than the US. Meanwhile every country’s covid numbers are directly reflective of how serious (hysteria?) they took it. Countries with serious efforts to social distance & wear protection SERIOUSLY (Hong Kong So Korea etc) have barely needed any lockdown and the covid outbreaks are few and their economy is fine. But in US somehow, despite 200 years of medical people wearing masks PPE etc to eliminate near 90% of infection transfer – somehow in the LAST THREE MONTHS — an idiot “leader” has convinced “his” Americans that the masks are actually a form of “control” by another political party – and the devil! And so these fools are out daring a virus to “oppose” the other political party!!!

    Now lets stand for our national anthem;
    which will be changed to “Hail to the Chief” any day now!

  26. Just cancel the season, make the virus sheep happy since they want to be a socialist county

  27. Ditkasanger
    So the last 3 months only Trump supporters are responsible for Covid increases? Uh, millions in the streets for protests and riots had no impact there guy? Give me a break

  28. notaloon says:
    July 4, 2020 at 6:15 pm
    Ditkasanger
    So the last 3 months only Trump supporters are responsible for Covid increases? Uh, millions in the streets for protests and riots had no impact there guy? Give me a break
    =====================================================

    There are those of us who see ANY political party to be what is the REAL enemy. They make followers out of ALL who see themselves as part of the “good” – vs the others “bad”. Once we are lead into this human weakness, ie a need to be a part of a GROUP (vs the “evil” group) … then we repeat history (divide & conquer) and buy in to this FALSE need for “party”, when we only really needed to discuss/disagree a SPECIFIC issue at a time.

    So yes of course I agree those who chose to protest at the most inopportune time (pandemic) did not help the situation (when you can break the mental chains of “needing” to pick a group gang party etc, you can see issues and actions clearly.

    However, I must say its allot easier accepting those who “reacted” to seeing a man slowly executed in a way that those protesting have long feared.. and then they “tried” (weakly) to still protect themselves by at least wearing a mask (stupidly lowering it “just to talk”) albeit a failed attempt — as ridiculous as that might seem, those who now INTENTIONALLY chose to not wear protection for the PURPOSE of NOT wearing protection, and because the masks are really a “plot” — make the others look like geniuses!

    But5 if you’re one of the hypnotised who actually believe in the evil party and the “only hope” party – ie if your “in” ANY party – you are all (Dems and Repubs) the SAME. Fighting the “bad people” – and NOT solving SPECIFIC issues. But you wont do that – so go vote for one of the 2 “leaders” to save you from the bad people.

  29. ditkasanger says:
    July 4, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    There are those of us who see ANY political party to be what is the REAL enemy. They make followers out of ALL who see themselves as part of the “good” – vs the others “bad”. Once we are lead into this human weakness, ie a need to be a part of a GROUP (vs the “evil” group) … then we repeat history (divide & conquer) and buy in to this FALSE need for “party”, when we only really needed to discuss/disagree a SPECIFIC issue at a time.

    So yes of course I agree those who chose to protest at the most inopportune time (pandemic) did not help the situation (when you can break the mental chains of “needing” to pick a group gang party etc, you can see issues and actions clearly.

    However, I must say its allot easier accepting those who “reacted” to seeing a man slowly executed in a way that those protesting have long feared.. and then they “tried” (weakly) to still protect themselves by at least wearing a mask (stupidly lowering it “just to talk”) albeit a failed attempt — as ridiculous as that might seem, those who now INTENTIONALLY chose to not wear protection for the PURPOSE of NOT wearing protection, and because the masks are really a “plot” — make the others look like geniuses!

    But5 if you’re one of the hypnotised who actually believe in the evil party and the “only hope” party – ie if your “in” ANY party – you are all (Dems and Repubs) the SAME. Fighting the “bad people” – and NOT solving SPECIFIC issues. But you wont do that – so go vote for one of the 2 “leaders” to save you from the bad people.
    ________________________

    Brilliant post. So true, without “parties” we’d just be trying to solve problems. You are right, we’ve allowed ourselves to be convinced we need to join a party to fight vs the evil people.

    Look what it’s doing to us all.

  30. You guys are missing the point. They didn’t say players will wear N95 masks that conform around the face. This will be on the face mask bars of the helmet, so there’s at least a few inches between your mouth and the shield. Breathing will not be a problem

  31. Theyre so scared of the virus that they don’t want to practice 11 on 11.

    But theyre not do scared that they’d wear some protection on the field.

    Got it. Even clearer the not practicing has nothing to do with the virus and everything to do with putting in less work.

  33. If the English premier league are able to play games now without fans in their stadiums I can’t see why the nfl can’t play

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