Despite the ongoing warnings about spreading the coronavirus, one NFL executive went on record saying the plan is still to play a full season.
Right now, it feels like there are more questions than answers concerning health, the economy, and any level of normality due to measures being implemented to contain the spread of the coronavirus all over the globe. However, in the face of those questions, NFL Vice President Jeff Pash recently went on record on Tuesday saying the league is expecting to play out a full season—one that would actually also start on time.
Pash, who is the league’s Executive VP and oversees labor relations and security among other measures, also stated that the NFL’s schedule should be revealed no later than May 9, per reporter Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Much of the NFL’s offseason has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, including the complete shutdown of pre-draft activities like pro days at scores of schools and universities as well as team workouts, personal interviews, and player physicals.
Despite the lack of typical preparation for the draft, the NFL has decided to proceed with the draft as scheduled over the final full weekend in April. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, the planned pomp and circumstance won’t be accompanying the event as there won’t even be an audience at all, nor representatives for the teams, nor players in the green room. Instead the entire affair will be an experiment in remote video.
Also this offseason, the NFL has cancelled owner meetings and free agency has been stalled a bit as players cannot yet take physicals with their new teams. Some deals have been reached on the typical schedule, but some contracts might be voided while other players who need a clean bill of health to a attract suitors have been forced to wait.
It also is worth mentioning that nothing was decided yet about training camps, preseason schedules, offseason training activities, rookie minicamps and the like.
While nothing is official, it’s good to know the NFL believes that even with all warnings in place and measures that will have to be taken, the actual playing of games over the course of a full season is still within view.