The NFL and NFLPA announced a plan for a virtual offseason Monday, but the league may soon need to grapple with the prospect of changes being made to training camps or said camps not starting on time.
NFL general counsel Jeff Pash indicated the league has not yet discussed the possibility of altered training camps due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders certain states have put into place, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post (on Twitter). This comes after Roger Goodell said the plan remains for the season to start on time.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (via ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry, on Twitter) expressed doubt Tuesday about not only large groups gathering in his state this summer but during the next school year. With the NFL having three California teams, the league at some point in the near future will have to address this issue.
To prevent certain franchises from gaining advantages, teams cannot report to their facilities until stay-at-home orders are lifted nationwide. California’s current stay-at-home directive runs through May 15. Virginia, home to the Redskins’ training facility, has one in place through June 10.
Pash added that no discussions of the NFL moving teams out of stay-at-home states for offseason work, per Tom Rock of Newsday (on Twitter). The NFL has not given up on the prospect of some offseason activities occurring on-site, but it does not look like any such work will happen. Teams with new head coaches can begin their virtual offseason programs April 20; the ones with returning HCs must wait until April 27. Each team’s virtual offseason program must conclude by June 26.