Some teams may cut roster sizes before training camp
Jun
17
6/17/2020 1:48:43 PM
|More
The roster limit for NFL teams in training camp is 90 but some teams may opt to take fewer than than that to make social distancing and other options intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 easier according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.com.
There seems to be no magic number but Florio speculates that teams could limit their rosters to 80 players or even 75. The reality of the modifications needed seem to be finally sinking in the coaching staffs, as practices and traditions forged by many years of preparing their players for the regular season aremno longer feasible. That message has been brought home even clearer in recent days with several Cowboys and Texans players testing positive for the virus and numerous big-name college teams dealing with outbreaks just in unofficial workout.
So with fewer players even participating in training camp, how do teams decide who to jettison before they even start the process? It's a good bet that draft picks will all attend and superstars like Tom Brady and Saquon Barkley have complete job security. Undrafted free agents would seem to be the most vulnerable but middle-tier veterans are also likely concerned. Teams concerned with cutting costs in the face of a season possibly played without fans may choose cheap youth over higher-paid experience. And if those moves don't work out, they can always bring back a more expensive player but sign them for less than they would have made on their original contracts.
Jun
17
6/17/2020 1:48:43 PM
|More
The roster limit for NFL teams in training camp is 90 but some teams may opt to take fewer than than that to make social distancing and other options intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 easier according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.com.
There seems to be no magic number but Florio speculates that teams could limit their rosters to 80 players or even 75. The reality of the modifications needed seem to be finally sinking in the coaching staffs, as practices and traditions forged by many years of preparing their players for the regular season aremno longer feasible. That message has been brought home even clearer in recent days with several Cowboys and Texans players testing positive for the virus and numerous big-name college teams dealing with outbreaks just in unofficial workout.
So with fewer players even participating in training camp, how do teams decide who to jettison before they even start the process? It's a good bet that draft picks will all attend and superstars like Tom Brady and Saquon Barkley have complete job security. Undrafted free agents would seem to be the most vulnerable but middle-tier veterans are also likely concerned. Teams concerned with cutting costs in the face of a season possibly played without fans may choose cheap youth over higher-paid experience. And if those moves don't work out, they can always bring back a more expensive player but sign them for less than they would have made on their original contracts.
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