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  6. article_body => "<p>The NFL is still operating as if the 2020 season will go on as scheduled.<\/p>\n<p>But players are skeptical -- and that might be an understatement.<\/p>\n<p>New England Patriots defensive backs and twin brother Devin and Jason McCourty <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/jason-devin-mccourty-put-pressure-nfl-over-uncertain-2020-season?b\" target=\"_blank\">wrote a guest column Monday<\/a> for Sports Illustrated's \"The MMQB\" expressing safety concerns about playing football amid a global pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wysiwyg-center\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb76e2c06579?site_id=Dig_RSN_Bos&amp;creative_id=nbcsbos1972&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=boston&amp;cp_2=alerts&amp;cp_3=nbcsbos1972\" target=\"_blank\">Download the MyTeams app<\/a>&nbsp;for the latest Patriots news and analysis<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, their teammates chimed in on Twitter to address the elephant in the room about football in the era of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I don\u2019t know who needs to hear this but you can\u2019t social distance football...<\/p>&mdash; J Jones (@Jonathan_Jones2) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jonathan_Jones2\/status\/1282996766464446464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ain\u2019t no way<\/p>&mdash; Dont&#39;a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zeus30hightower\/status\/1283012661551214593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not a damn shot. They are trippin <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QJ3MffN1iC\">https:\/\/t.co\/QJ3MffN1iC<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Patrick Chung (@PatrickChung23) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PatrickChung23\/status\/1283014796279975937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>That's Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung, who apparently believes the NFL is \"trippin'\" about the 2020 season going off without a hitch.<\/p>\n<p>This trio has&nbsp;a point: Football is built on contact, with players hitting each other on literally every play and lineman spending entire games face-to-face in the trenches. (Six feet between the offensive and defensive lines? Try six inches.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next Pats Podcast: Will we see NFL in 2020? Infectious disease expert weighs in&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/link.chtbl.com\/nextpatspod\" target=\"_blank\">Listen &amp; subscribe<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/k6jnu9w4Q9w\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/next-pats\/episodes\/ce30d513-3a6f-449c-8da1-2acdce570681\/embed?theme=light-custom\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p>The NFL is attempting to implement some on-field safety measures -- the league <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\/nfl-reveals-football-helmet-mouth-shields-prevent-covid-19-spread\" target=\"_blank\">unveiled a new helmet with a face shield<\/a>&nbsp;and is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/nfl-players-rip-leagues-postgame-jersey-swap-policy-next-season?b\" target=\"_blank\">banning postgame jersey swaps<\/a> -- but many players clearly think those attempts are futile.<\/p>\n<p>NFL training camps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/mccourty-twins-say-patriots-still-havent-been-given-training-camp-dates?b\" target=\"_blank\">(supposedly) begin in about two weeks<\/a>, so we'll find out very soon if players' concerns are realized.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/nfl-smart-move-would-be-tap-brakes-2020-season?int\" target=\"_blank\">Curran: Why NFL should tap the brakes on the 2020 season<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Patriots

Patriots

The NFL is still operating as if the 2020 season will go on as scheduled.

But players are skeptical -- and that might be an understatement.

New England Patriots defensive backs and twin brother Devin and Jason McCourty wrote a guest column Monday for Sports Illustrated's "The MMQB" expressing safety concerns about playing football amid a global pandemic.

Download the MyTeams app for the latest Patriots news and analysis

On Tuesday, their teammates chimed in on Twitter to address the elephant in the room about football in the era of COVID-19.

That's Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung, who apparently believes the NFL is "trippin'" about the 2020 season going off without a hitch.

This trio has a point: Football is built on contact, with players hitting each other on literally every play and lineman spending entire games face-to-face in the trenches. (Six feet between the offensive and defensive lines? Try six inches.)

Next Pats Podcast: Will we see NFL in 2020? Infectious disease expert weighs in | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

The NFL is attempting to implement some on-field safety measures -- the league unveiled a new helmet with a face shield and is banning postgame jersey swaps -- but many players clearly think those attempts are futile.

 

NFL training camps (supposedly) begin in about two weeks, so we'll find out very soon if players' concerns are realized.