Seahawks players opt out of voluntary workouts

In a statement released on Tuesday, the NFLPA announced that Seattle Seahawks players opt out of all 2021 voluntary workouts as is their right under the new CBA agreement. This is the same agreement that allowed the NFL owners to expand the regular season to 17 games just two weeks ago.

While the NFLPA had been pushing for the cancellation of all voluntary workouts in 2021 owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Seahawks players are the first to entirely opt-out.

WHAT DOES SEAHAWKS PLAYERS OPT OUT OF VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS MEAN?

While the Seahawks players opt out of voluntary workouts will likely hinder some team chemistry the NFL had no in person workouts in 2020 as the COVID-19 virus halted the vast majority of the NFL’s usual spring and summer program. So in all likelihood this will mean very little in terms of team performance on the field.

It should be noted, however, that the NFLPA and some key players have been pushing for a complete removal of all voluntary workouts as a response to the NFL’s decision to extend the season. This could be the first salvo in a long and public battle. So while the Seahawks players opt out of voluntary workouts is essentially about COVID-19 the ramifications could be much larger.