Chiefs owner Clark Hunt admitted Wednesday that the Super Bowl champions are overdue for some much-needed upgrades to their practice facilities after the NFL Players Association issued its annual report card and graded Kansas City as the second-worst team in the league overall.

The NFL says leaders of the players' union have advised running backs to fake injuries.

The NFL Players Association is calling on six venues to change their current playing surfaces.

The NFL Players Association has urged the league to implement changes to its concussion protocol in time to protect players in this weekend’s games.

A person familiar with the decision says the NFL Players Association has fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who evaluated Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he stumbled off the field against Buffalo last Sunday.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a second frightening injury in five days when he was carted off the field Thursday, and many want to know why he was playing at all.

Two people familiar with the negotiations tell the AP that talks between the NFL and NFL Players Association on a discipline settlement for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson have progressed.

The NFL Players Association has filed a brief replying to the league’s appeal in Deshaun Watson’s discipline case.

Antonio Brown and two other NFL players have been suspended immediately for three games by the league for violating COVID-19 protocols.

NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith is planning to move on after he serves one more term with the union.

The NFL Players Association says it has sent a formal request to the league for information about Washington's practice facility being searched by federal authorities last week.

(AP Photo/David Richard, File)NFL Players Association President JC Tretter is calling for the significant reductions in offseason work forced by the pandemic to continue in future years. “The COVID CBA forced significant changes, and it has shown us another way players and teams can successfully prepare for and play in the NFL,” Tretter wrote. We had no offseason practices, fewer training camp practices and no preseason games. The argument in favor of these offseason practices is based on the assumption that players need reps during OTAs to develop and learn while teams need the practices to (jell). “And I think you’ll see more of that, which I think will be productive.”___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the NFL, the NFL Players Association nor the Titans have commented on the review. “This is not about discipline," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week when asked about potential punishment for the Titans. The Titans' facility was shut down Sept. 29 after eight positive tests. The review says the Titans cooperated fully with the “comprehensive” look into how the team had been following protocols. Titans players worked out Sept. 30 in groups including at a private Nashville high school.

The NFL reminded team personnel on the sidelines about the COVID-19 requirements for wearing face coverings. There were several games Sunday in which team members other than players did not use them. Those require all individuals with bench area access, including coaches and members of the club medical staff, to wear face coverings at all times. “Failure to adhere to this requirement will result in accountability measures being imposed against offending individuals and/or clubs,” the memo said. He hardly was the only coach or team member with a bare face during the 13 games Sunday.

Daily testing for COVID-19, except on game days, has been extended into the regular season by the NFL and the players union. With no testing on game days, the pregame coronavirus exams will be conducted on the day before the game and must be completed before a club travels. NFL Players Association President JC Tretter of the Cleveland Browns recently called for a continuation of daily testing. In the spirit of adaptability, expect the NFLPA to push for modifications or updated recommendations such as the continuation of daily testing as the season progresses and new information becomes available, Tretter posted on the union website last week. More Football NewsFive Detroit Lions headlines to watch for the 2020 seasonJim Harbaugh tells Michigan football players they could start season next monthMHSAA reinstates fall football, other high school sports in Michigan

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was on every call involving the NFL Players Association and took a significant role in putting in place the return-to-play protocols for training camp. The Super Bowl MVP took over the player representative role on the Chiefs from longtime punter Dustin Colquitt, who was let go in the offseason. Chiefs offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to voluntarily opt out Friday night. I think it surprises anyone, Mahomes said, but at the same time you respect his decision. We think we're going to put the players in a position where they're safe," he said.

(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)The NFL Players Association wants players tested daily for coronavirus, one of the outstanding points in discussions with the NFL over health and safety protocols as the start of training camp draws near. They gave their medical opinion it was safe to open training camp, and thats where we are, Smith said. If the league and union fail to reach an agreement, the NFL can implement its proposed rules, according to the CBA. The NFLPA could file a grievance to argue the league isnt providing a safe work environment under rules of the collective bargaining agreement. This isnt a normal year so weve always done it this way is not going to work this year, Tretter said.

This photo provided by Oakley shows a new face shield designed by Oakley. The NFL and the players' union agreed to several protocols in a 42-page document last week, including team travel, media and treatment response. From the start, the NFL Players Association, their medical advisers, their engineers have been engaged with us. Weve also had dialogue with players along the way trying to look at early prototypes and developments.The face shield was designed by Oakley, which already provides visors for the players. The face shield has received a better response than the mask suggestion.

The NFL Players Association came to the defense of Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams by accusing the NFL Network of using misinformation in an attempt to tarnish the player's reputation. The NFLPA posted a statement on its Twitter account backing Williams and saying it will consider taking action against the league to protect the player's rights. Without mentioning anyone specifically, the NFLPA said the "NFL's own network" was using unsourced information "designed to tarnish Trent's reputation." On Friday, former Washington general manager and current NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly said Williams was told three years ago that the growth on his head should be tested and added the player never scheduled the procedure. Williams said it got pretty serious and he was "told some scary things" by doctors that changed his outlook on life.