DeMarcus Lawrence non-committal on attending Cowboys training camp amid COVID-19 concerns

DeMarcus Lawrence is concerned about NFL safety precautions ahead of Cowboys training camp

With Training Camp just weeks away, NFL players have taken a stand about the NFL’s lack of safety protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, the league still plans on playing two preseason contests, which seems a bit odd given the current rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide and the fact that these games do not count.

With star players around the NFL now taking notice and voicing their opposition, the owners are forced to meet them halfway, hopefully enacting safety protocol that keeps those who play the game professionally for our entertainment in a secure mindset. Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is one of those players currently on the fence.

DeMarcus Lawrence is concerned about the safety of his family

“I’m taking it one time at a time, talking with my team and trying to figure out as many details as possible before I make a decision and have it set in stone,” Lawrence told Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter for ESPN. “Shoot, I love to ride with my brothers and play the game of football. When I have to take that away from myself, it’s hard and I don’t want to make a decision like that. But I also have to make sure I’m taking care of my family. Family is No. 1. After the game of football is done, that’s the only thing I have to depend on, so I’ve got to take care of them.”

Lawrence speaks for many NFL players in similar situations, while perhaps not as dire. Going to and from work is difficult for any of us nowadays as it opens us up to potential infection. As an NFL player, that risk is tenfold due to the added travel involved once the regular season starts.

Asking players to take on that risk without any assurance or proper safety protocol is ludicrous, though not necessarily surprising coming from NFL owners.