NFLP President and Browns center JC Tretter refuted a report that NFL minicamps would open mid-to-late June. (forbes.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from the NFL minicamp season that never came …
1.When will the Browns take the field for the first time under the auspices of coach Kevin Stefanski?
Nobody knows. Still.
A report by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports that minicamps conceivably could be held as early as June 15 or as late as June 27 was quashed by Browns center JC Tretter, president of the NFL Players Association.
Per Robinson, the optimistic report hinges on California Gov. Gavin Newsome lifting stay-at-home orders and reopening team facilities in his state.
The NFL has said no team activities can resume until all 32 teams have restrictions lifted in their states.
But Tretter poured cold water on the report.
Using Twitter as his platform to NFL players, Tretter tweeted:
“Players: our union has not agreed to any reopening plan. Any reports about coming back to work are hypothetical. You will hear from the NFLPA when there are new developments.”
Further, Tretter pointed out the NFLPA and the NFL previously agreed that all offseason programs will end on June 26.
“There is a hard stop date for our offseason program on June 26th,” Tretter tweeted. “Your source not knowing that and saying June 27th is an option to return should show everyone that this source’s info is questionable.”
Virtual offseason programs are slated to end on May 29.
2.At least 12 NFL teams have reopened their facilities according to the guidelines set forth by the league on May 15. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North to not reopen.
A source said the Browns are gearing up for a reopening next week.
Phase 1 of reopening includes no more than 75 employees, mostly business and administrative personnel, and support staff such as medical, equipment, nutritionists and sports science.
Coaches and players can return to facilities only when all 32 teams have been cleared to return by their states.
On a Zoom call last week, Tretter said it was still too soon to speculate when teams may take the field again.
"I do not think we are there at this point,” he said. “I think we continually just keep looking at what new information comes out. In the end, we just have to make good decisions and safe decisions. Again, this is constantly changing.
“We have the, I guess what you could call an advantage of we still have time before our season is projected to start. A lot of the other leagues are trying to figure this our right now and trying to piece it together, and we still have time. I would not say we are at the point where we need to make an agreement. We are going to keep sitting back and making sure we make the right decisions for our players.”
3.Baker Mayfield is scheduled for a Zoom call on Wednesday. The quarterback has not been interviewed since Super Bowl week.
Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods will conduct a Zoom call on Thursday.