NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sticking to business as usual
Over the last several weeks, the sports world, like the entire globe, has been a complete standstill due to concerns over the coronavirus that has continued to spread. That has led to sports leagues like the NFL taking preventative measures to limit the impact of the virus.
Despite that, the league has remained headstrong about being able to start up the 2020 season as planned. It’s a notion that commissioner Roger Goodell voiced during a recent interview with the hope that there won’t be any delay or setbacks. (H/T Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk)
“The NFL is planning to play,” Goodell said. “That’s our hope, and that’s our planning to date.”
The NFL may have the luxury at this point to have their regular-season start in September, but the virus has impacted the league. It has seen them close down all the team’s practice facilities. At the same time, the 2020 NFL draft later this month will be held virtually with many different adjustments to limit the number of people gathered at any location.
There is the hope that the offseason activities won’t be profoundly affected, but it has already bled into the early portions of the workouts. That should continue on through the next couple of months with that likely seeing training camp not be held.
The NFL is remaining quite hopeful with the situation, but the stark reality is that things will only continue to get rougher with the virus in the United States before they get better. All the league and the rest of the sports world can do is wait and abide by the suggested safety measures.