NFL stars take to social media to voice concerns over lack of safety protocols

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VIDEO SHOWS: TWEETS AND FILE VIDEO OF NFL PLAYERS PATRICK MAHOMES, RUSSELL WILSON, AND DREW BREES

SHOWS:

INTERNET (JULY 19, 2020) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

1. STILL IMAGE FROM KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QUARTERBACK PATRICK MAHOMES' TWITTER PAGE, SAYING:

"Getting ready to report this week hoping the @NFL will come to agreement with the safe and right protocols so we can feel protected playing the sport we love #WeWantToPlay"

2. STILL IMAGE FROM SEATTLE SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK RUSSELL WILSON'S TWITTER PAGE, SAYING:

"I am concerned. My wife is pregnant. @NFL Training camp is about to start. And there's still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones. #WeWantToPlay"

3. STILL IMAGE FROM NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QUARTERBACK DREW BREES' TWITTER PAGE, SAYING:

"We need football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL's unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn't do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It's that simple. Get it done @NFL"

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (FILE - FEBRUARY 3, 2020) (DISNEY - Broadcasters: FOR NEWS USE ONLY. NO RESALES Digital: FOR NEWS USE ONLY. NO RESALES)

4. MAHOMES SPEAKING TO CROWD ON FLOAT AT DISNEY WORLD AFTER WINNING SUPER BOWL

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JULY 13, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. WILSON AND WIFE CIARA ON THE RED CARPET AT 2016 ESPY AWARDS

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - SEPTEMBER 27, 2017) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. BREES SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT TRAINING SESSION BEFORE PLAYING NFL IN LONDON

STORY: Some of National Football League's biggest names took to social media on Sunday (July 19) to express their concerns and anger over the lack of COVID-19 safety protocols in place as teams prepare to open training camps this week.

Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson along with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes were among those expressing their frustration at the NFL ignoring advice from its own medical experts.

"We need Football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL's unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn't do their part to keep players healthy there is no football in 2020. It's that simple. Get it done @NFL," tweeted Brees.

Wilson's main concern centered around his wife's pregnancy and how the NFL plans to protect family members.

"I am concerned. My wife is pregnant. @NFL Training camp is about to start... And there's still No Clear Plan on Player Health & Family Safety. We want to play football but we also want to protect our loved ones," tweeted Wilson.

Mahomes, the defending Super Bowl champ who recently signed a 10-year contract with the Chiefs worth up to $500 million, also made clear the need for a deal to be reached.

"Getting ready to report this week hoping the @NFL will come to agreement with the safe and right protocols so we can feel protected playing the sport we love #WeWantToPlay," Mahomes posted to his Twitter page.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, also took to Twitter to highlight a list of issues that need to be addressed before camps open on Tuesday.

Some of those outstanding issues include information about how often players will be tested and what will happen if someone does test positive for the coronavirus.

Watt also noted that an opt-out clause "for those at higher risk or those with family members at higher risk" had still not been agreed upon.

There is also a debate over the number of pre-season games teams will play, with the league planning for two and the NFL Players Association wanting none.

(Production: David Grip)