Chiefs Players Advised Not To Show Up At Arrowhead Today

by Joel Thorman on Apr 26, 2011 10:00 AM CDT

This is turning into one of the most bizarre days we've ever seen while following the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL lockout has been lifted -- for now -- but the league will request that it stays in place. There won't be a resolution today so we're in this weird grey area right now.

Some players around the league are showing up to the team facilities while the lockout is lifted. It's their right to show up so they can do that if they want.

Asked for clarification on whether the Chiefs players were going to show up to Arrowhead today, Chiefs' Rudy Niswanger had this to say via email:

Our suggestion was to wait until some of this is cleared up. We wanted to give the Chiefs time to decide how the situation would be handled before we showed up and put a trainer, manager, or coach in an awkward situation they were not prepared for. Guys have a right by court order to enter the facility so it us up to them as individuals what they do. I don't know if anyone will show up, but our recommendation was to give it some time.

Multiple reporters are staked out at Arrowhead this morning and there hasn't been any word of a player showing up. As Niswanger said, they can show up if they want to. Others players around the league have gone into their facilities, even if for a few minutes.

Niswanger says via Twitter that, if they can't work out or rehab, he's not sure what the point of showing up is. One reason may be that some agents believe their clients need to show up in order to potentially collect offseason workout bonuses. Others aren't sure that's the case.

Basically, no one is really certain what's going to happen next.

(H/T tomahawk44)

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A reasonable,

well though-out response from the players. Well done.

by NJ Chiefs Fan on Apr 26, 2011 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Apr 26, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought rehab was an exception to the lockout.

Niswanger says via Twitter that, if they can’t work out or rehab, he’s not sure what the point of showing up is.

when the players were first locked out, I thought any injured player currently in the process of rehab was allowed to continue.

by grid_iron on Apr 26, 2011 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

Lemme check

But I believe they rehab on their own and in certain situations the team doctors can consult with them or their own doctors.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Apr 26, 2011 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

It seems to me that the team holds a liability to any injured players...

If not this would be really really bad PR especially where the players are stating that injuries greatly limit their careers(in court)

Go Chiefs!!!!

by ravenhawk on Apr 26, 2011 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Looks like the facilities were not used in the continuation of rehab...............

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said players have permission to see team doctors off-site despite not being allowed to step foot on their team’s campus. The doctor can correspond with a team trainer about the injury. Teams are required to pay for the rehabilitation of injuries suffered in the performance of an NFL player’s contract.

Link

by grid_iron on Apr 26, 2011 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions

This is good to hear

Players stepping up for the coaches and trainers. Free agents however, need to start calling GMs and get the collusion case rolling. I am sure agents are on the ball with this one.

by bonesjackson on Apr 26, 2011 11:23 AM CDT reply actions

I thought maybe the GM/Head Coach would have a plan set for this situation

Since the offseason started I figured they would have a plan or list of priorities of things to prepare for to bring all the players up to speed or things to take care of.

example being a study material or instructions that can be given for their team captains in case the lockout comes back

What i’m getting at is I thought the trainers, manager, and coach would have already been prepared for this situation.

by worc on Apr 26, 2011 11:43 AM CDT reply actions