Missed Opportunity for the New CBA: Introducing a "Disability List" for the NFL

[PatsFanStnfrd]

We all know about PUP (only for players who have NOT practiced from outset of TC) and IR (essentially season-ending placement for players with all sorts of injuries). Landing on either list for a player means you remain with the team while not counting against the 53 man roster and of course the players get paid. There are no limits to the number of players on PUP or IR.

What the NFL needs is create a "Disability List" -- akin to baseball but with adaptations. This would be for players who have a knee scoped or sprained ankle or severe hammy strain. To avoid the DL from being used to stockpile players, the number of players on DL could be limited to no more than three per season. DL can only be used for players who started the year on the 53 man roster. Players must come off the DL after 4 or six weeks or else they are automatically transferred to IR. DL list placement could be monitored by th League office for "abuse". In essence, the Disabilty List is an in-season PUP with strict restrictions on number and duration for each team.

Benefits to both Players and teams are obvious. It opens up opportunities for greater number of practice squad players to have opportunities. It gives teams a legitimate shot at allowing an injured player to recover when he has a "short/medium term injury from which he can recover in less than six weeks.

So, why not a Disability List for the NFL?

 

[Ron Sellers]

We all know about PUP (only for players who have NOT practiced from outset of TC) and IR (essentially season-ending placement for players with all sorts of injuries). Landing on either list for a player means you remain with the team while not counting against the 53 man roster and of course the players get paid. There are no limits to the number of players on PUP or IR.

What the NFL needs is create a "Disability List" -- akin to baseball but with adaptations. This would be for players who have a knee scoped or sprained ankle or severe hammy strain. To avoid the DL from being used to stockpile players, the number of players on DL could be limited to no more than three per season. DL can only be used for players who started the year on the 53 man roster. Players must come off the DL after 4 or six weeks or else they are automatically transferred to IR. DL list placement could be monitored by th League office for "abuse". In essence, the Disabilty List is an in-season PUP with strict restrictions on number and duration for each team.

Benefits to both Players and teams are obvious. It opens up opportunities for greater number of practice squad players to have opportunities. It gives teams a legitimate shot at allowing an injured player to recover when he has a "short/medium term injury from which he can recover in less than six weeks.

So, why not a Disability List for the NFL?

The NFL already has what is for all practical purposes a DL: it's called a 53-man roster and a 46-man game day roster.

As far as 'leaving it up to the league to monitor for abuse' - no thank you. Regardless of what the league may or may not do in that circumstance, the media and fans second guessing every move would be painful to hear and watch, and if the NFL did take any action against one team but not another, well that would be even worse.


While I do understand why on the surface this would seem to be a good idea, no thank you. Count me out.