Steelers join NFL teams in opting out of voluntary in-person workouts
Apr. 16—Add the Pittsburgh Steelers to the growing number of NFL teams flexing their rights under the collective bargaining agreement to opt out of voluntary in-person workouts this spring.
Citing concerns about protections against covid-19, the Steelers announced their decision Friday via a statement released by the NFL Players' Association.
The statement said:
"We should not be made to compromise our health and safety. With the current pandemic still affecting our communities and country and the lack of clear protocols and protections regarding returning to work to full capacity, the players of the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to exercise our right to not participate in voluntary in-person activities.
"A virtual offseason helped keep us safe to not only start but finish the regular season as safely as possible, and it makes no sense for us to risk infection or injury in the spring if we don't have to. The protections we had in place last year are not fully in place now and remain unclear. We are professionals and are committed to being in the best shape possible. Our team holds each other accountable to the highest professional standards, and we will prepare as we always do to be the best for Steelers Nation."
A Steelers spokesman said the organization would not comment on the announcement.
The Steelers conduct offseason workouts at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. Voluntary workouts were held on a virtual basis last year because of the pandemic, and no formal team event was held until training camp at Heinz Field.
The Steelers became the 10th team this week to opt out of participating in the spring workouts. The NFL released its offseason workout schedule Wednesday. Workouts are scheduled to begin next Wednesday and run through June 18. The schedule includes the final four weeks being devoted to 10 organized team activities and a three-day mandatory minicamp.
The initial phase consists of virtual meetings and weight room training.
The Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the first teams to announce they were boycotting the voluntary workouts. The Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders followed suit before the Steelers' announcement.
Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward doubles as the team's union representative, and he wrote on Twitter a week ago he supports keeping all offseason workouts on a virtual basis.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe by email at jrutter@triblive.com or via Twitter .
