As the NFL is currently in their offseason, they have been less affected by the cancellations and postponements as a result of preventing the spread of COVID-19 compared to other sports. Apart from moving the Draft away from Las Vegas, not much has changed but that might be changing.
Team GM’s have recommended that the Draft be delayed, though as of now the Draft is going on as planned. In addition, Roger Goodell notified teams to close their facilities for two weeks starting on March 25. Teams are seeing that the situation is going to get worse before it gets better and more and more teams are facing the realization that the regular season may not start on time.
According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, he received word from multiple coaches and executives that after speaking with WHO officials, some believe it’ll be “nearly impossible” to start the regular season on time and believe training camp will start in the fall. Nothing is official and as of now any potential delays are just speculation, some are seeing the writing on the wall and it’s getting more and more difficult to start on time.
One thing to pass along: I’m increasingly hearing from coaches and front office executives that they believe it will be nearly impossible for the season to start on time. Some believe training camp will start in the fall.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
One dynamic in play is that some coaches are having blunt conversations with team doctors. The doctors are telling them the truth. That the pandemic could last months. There’s been no sugarcoating or lying.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
On more of the ground level of the NFL, with coaches and team execs, there’s more of a blunt realization of where we are. This is exemplified by @AdamSchefter reporting on how GMs want draft postponement. But league office is pushing for as much normalcy as possible.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
Coaches are quoting me data from the World Health Organization. Again, team doctors are giving them the honest info.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
Also, keep in mind, the pandemic isn’t hitting the country evenly. It’s a disaster in NY area, California and stare of Washington. Now creeping heavily into Louisiana. Teams in those states are impacted differently than places where the virus hasn’t hit hard yet.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
No one is saying the season will be postponed, it’s just that some in the NFL aren’t trying to fool themselves. They see the same data we do.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 25, 2020
The NFL doesn’t necessarily need to make a decision on the regular season right now but it’s smart to have a plan in place in case things don’t turn around on time. One thing to keep in mind is that even if we flatten the curve and we’re all back to normal by Week 1 in September, that’s not the measuring stick to determine postponing the regular season. A form of training camp and preseason is still needed and that starts in July so if that gets delayed, it’s probably going to push everything else back. This temporary setback will never stop people from betting on sports when things resume back to normalcy later this year, so make sure you find the daily price boost offers. You can bet on not only who’s going to in the NFL this season, but every other sport as well.
In addition, the NFL has to be cognizant of every market when it comes to hosting games. If every market but one has everything under control, it’s still irresponsible to have games with tens of thousands of fans in the one market who doesn’t. And considering July’s Olympics have been postponed, it’s getting real for the NFL to make some of these decisions other leagues have already faced.
Can deal with MLB, NBA,Olympics,NASCAR going the way of the dinosaurs, but not **The Shield**same with the Indy500 being postponed, not going to be the same Memorial Day weekend,boohoo