Report: COVID-19 diagnosis sticking point in NFL talks

The NFLPA reportedly is against classifying a COVID-19 diagnosis as a
"non-football injury." The concern is that teams are not required to pay
players on the non-football injury list.

A hypothetical scenario presented in the report is that a player could
contract the virus during practice or a game and then be placed on the NFI.
That designation would mean the team is not required to pay the player.

While the non-football injury designation is the most pressing concern, the
report also said the NFLPA has made other requests of the NFL, such as daily
virus testing, the elimination of preseason games and compensation for players
who opt out of the upcoming season for COVID-19-related reasons. The NFLPA
also wants assurances that the 2021 salary cap will not be reduced because of
potential lost revenue in 2020.

The two sides do not have any meetings scheduled, but are expected to meet
soon, according to the report. The NFLPA was expected to conduct a planning
call Wednesday to discuss the NFL's latest proposal for returning to the
field.

--Field Level Media