The ”changed relationship” between the NFL and the NFLPA is a key reason that the league completed the regular season on time and without missing a game, and it is possible there would not have been a season “but for that collaboration” between the two sides, according to CBSSN’s Amy Trask. Trask said, “I had a front row seat for the change in that relationship when Gene Upshaw passed away and DeMaurice Smith took over. I’ve been very critical of that relationship. I understand and I appreciate that the players’ association has an important job to do representing and protecting the players, but not everything needs to be combative. In fact, you can often accomplish more when more collaborative. And that’s just what we’ve seen the NFL and the NFLPA do this season to surmount the challenges of this virus” (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 1/3).
JC Tretter is calling for the elimination of offseason practices, including minicamp and OTAsGetty Images
UNION BOSS WANTS CHANGES: ESPN.com's Jake Trotter reported Browns C and NFLPA President JC Tretter is "calling for the elimination of offseason practices, including minicamp and organized team activities, citing the NFL's relative quality of play" during the pandemic-influenced '20 season. Tretter in a newsletter on the NFLPA website released on New Year's Eve wrote, "There is no reason for us to ever return to the previous offseason program." Tretter noted without a traditional offseason program this year, "Our collective level of play across the league has actually never been higher" (ESPN.com, 12/31).
