There has been “zero communication” between the league office and teams regarding COVID-19 procedure, according to a team source who spoke with Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). Individual teams have moved to restrict or eliminate travel, but the NFL has yet to announce any league-wide moves or changes to the offseason.
Instead, the NFL has decided to proceed with the upcoming offseason schedule in place. The league has no plans to move the start of the league year (and the beginning of free agency) on Wednesday, March 18.
Meanwhile, the rest of the sporting world has acted quickly this week to limit exposure to the pandemic. In North America:
- The NBA season has been suspended indefinitely.
- The NHL season has been suspended indefinitely.
- Major League Baseball is set to suspend spring training.
- The Major League Soccer season has been suspended, for at least 30 days.
- Multiple college basketball conference tournaments – including the Big Ten and SEC tournaments – have been cancelled.
A cancellation of March Madness also seems likely. At minimum, those games will be played without fans in attendance.
Although the NFL season doesn’t start until September, the league’s offseason is in full swing and it calls for a great deal of travel, conferences, and face-to-face interaction. The league is said to be considering adjustments to April’s NFL Draft, but many are calling for Roger Goodell to take immediate measures to protect the game’s players, executives, and prospective rookies in the interim.
As NFL would only be in spring practices (which I bet they cancel) it’s really no need RIGHT NOW for the NFL to speak on the season yet, this article is merely trying to be critical at this point.
There is no reason to believer it’s out of not being concerned that there is no immediate news – they may just be getting all the information they need for a plan of action and see what the other leagues are doing.
A lot can happen between now and August.
Well stated.
while I agree about games, what about courting players for free agency, the draft, draft player workouts? all those things should be communicated whether they are a go or not.
I think the point is the league seems to be viewing this as “our games don’t start till August” when they clearly have personnel and players still doing things NOW.
I’m sure the draft stuff is still being done by the teams. To have a grand show for the fans is the least of their concerns.
so are players flying to cities for workouts? are team Scots travelling to see players? again my comment is not about fans, it’s about all the other stuff that goes on
Either way why bent putt if shape about it. Drafts did happen decades ago without all the back and forth that’s goes on now didn’t they? I’m sure one season where things don’t go as planned is not the end
Um, if by NFL, you mean Goodell,since he’s only a minion for the owners, isn’t it up to them to decide what the league does and when?
No that’s why you elect a leader dumbass so multiple people don’t sit around arguing.
Either way this conversation is not about some moron stating who the power lies with.
they might as well play it day by day. if things are still bad close to the start of the season then they can consider holding up the season. the draft is hardly an issue – it doesn’t need to be an actual in-person event.
true but again if NO communication has taken place, then teams don’t know if the draft will only be by phone or in person. again games of course you can wait on but the league does have stuff planned and needs to send out some form of correspondance to teams.
Just because you are not an insider on draft needs does not mean the league is not in touch with teams on a daily basis.
I’m going based on the article and source above. but you are right. I don’t have my sources with their ears to the ground.
The NFL is currently in negotiations with the coronavirus. Although the virus has a long established history of a 10 day incubation period, the NFL is trying to get it down to 8 days. They are willing to soften their stance on marijuana to make this happen!
The coronavirus is also meeting with lawyers that represented Colin Kaepernick to determine if a collusion case can be brought against NFL owners.