Coronavirus: NFL Annual League Meeting Cancelled

Despite not being in season, the NFL is taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

The first of which has been to cancel the annual league meeting, which was scheduled for March 29 in Florida. 

Potential new rules and other business matters were on the agenda for the annual NFL league meeting. Those topics will now be dealt with at the Spring meeting, which will take place from May 19 – 20. 

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy clarified the matter in a statement. 

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“There will be a full consideration and votes on any open football issues, including playing rules, bylaws, and resolutions, as well as other business matters that were on the agenda for the Annual Meeting, at the Spring meeting scheduled for May 19-20. Most of the first day will be dedicated to football-related issues. Head coaches and general managers will participate in the meeting.”

The league will communicate with team owners and executives remotely on the dates of the cancelled league meeting. The MMQB’s Albert Breer says that they may even vote on a few issues this way.

“NFL plans to hold calls with team owners and execs on March 29 and 30 (days set aside for the Annual Meeting) in lieu of the in-person summit”, said Breer. 

“They’ll at least advance some of the discussions planned, and may vote on a few, per an NFL memo. So business (remotely) moves forward.”

Read: NFL Plans Las Vegas Draft Without Fans In Attendance

The NBA, NHL and MLS have all suspended play indefinitely over the coronavirus. NCAA basketball will still go ahead, but behind closed doors. As of now there are 124,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide. Of these, just under 5,000 people have died as a result of it. The U.S has suspended all inbound flights from Europe, apart from Ireland and the U.K.