SOME OWNERS WANT TO PUSH BACK WEEK 1
ALBERT BREER
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/06/22/five-coaches-debrief-virtual-offseason-joe-burrow
The very latest public comment we’ve gotten from either the NFL or NFLPA on the handling of COVID-19 going forward (as of publish time early Monday) was this, on Saturday, from the NFLPA’s medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer:
“Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts,” Mayer said in the statement. “Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.”
That could affect the best laid plans of many of the NFL’s quarterbacks. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan ran what amounted to a full offseason program for his teammates in Georgia and California, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady has staged workouts in Florida (plenty more than just the one you saw pictures of), Colts QB Philip Rivers held a camp for teammates at Grand Park near Indy last week, Bills QB Josh Allen had his guys together in lorida in May, and Washington QB Dwayne Haskins has been throwing with Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon all offseason.
And these are just a few examples. Many of these guys, by the way, have been planning on reconvening their groups before training camp in July to tune up. All of which underscores the uncertainty, as did the rash of cases at Texas, Clemson and LSU, as players from those major college programs returned to campus.
So what do we know now, after all that, about NFL training camps? Not enough, and the league and union slow-playing finalizing plans is a pretty good indication of it.
Last week, the NFL had a series of calls to discuss expanding the league’s existing contagious disease policy—and maybe establish a COVID-19 reserve list (that seems like it’d be a no-brainer), to help teams manage cases on their rosters—and altering the size of practice squads, to allow teams to have more players that know their system and have been through testing on hand.
None of that had been presented to the union, as of the end of the work week, and that’s mainly because that league and union haven’t even cemented a plan for training camp yet, as far as reporting dates and the possible cancellation of preseason games.
Here’s one thing I will say: Teams that have wanted the start of the season pushed back aren’t going to get quiet about it in light of all that’s happened over the last few weeks.
“That’s the first place you have to start,” said one team exec. “I’m big on pushing back.”
“We need to push back the start,” said another.
The reasons why it’d make sense are pretty obvious, but I’ll lay them out here.
1) It would give the NFL an opportunity to study the final results in European soccer, and evolving data in baseball, basketball and hockey. And, importantly, identify some of the potholes those sports may drive into in the coming weeks and months.
2) The league would also then be able to study what happens in college football, with NCAA coaches allowed to work with players starting in mid-July, and fall camp set to open for schools in early August.
3) A vaccine probably isn’t coming this quick, but it would buy time for more and more reliable testing, and the development of therapeutics.
4) It would give the league flexibility to build a full-on acclimation period into the calendar, while preserving the preseason (that’d mean preserving some revenue in a year when you know there’s going to be a shortfall, which would help with the 2021 cap issue).
5) The league has the flexibility to move the Super Bowl back in February, so starting the season in early October would still allow for a full slate.
I’d add here that the league office has been resolute on starting on time with its teams. But it sure seems to me like at least considering this alternative would be smart.
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Agamemnon
