How COVID-19 Has Reshaped the NFL Offseason
The NFL season is still a few months away but there still have been ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic that have taken their toll on the league. Instead of the usual pomp and circumstance that surrounds the NFL Draft, which was slated for Las Vegas this season, the draft will be held online in its entirety. While that is something that impacts the usual fan experience, there are other concerns that will have a major impact on the game itself. To put it simply, this is anything but a normal offseason for the majority of teams.
As things continue to unfold, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 by a NFL player was announced Wednesday as Rams center Brian Allen was named in reports. Allen tested positive three weeks ago and a statement released by the Rams stated that he is “feeling good” as he makes his return from the virus. He’s not the first individual in the NFL to be diagnosed with COVID-19 as Saints coach Sean Payton bounced back from the virus last month. An unidentified member of the Chargers’ organization has also tested positive. As a result, there are several key changes involved in the way that the NFL offseason will be conducted.
Earlier this week, the NFL and the NFLPA reached an agreement to hold their offseason programs virtually, beginning next Monday, April 20. Teams may do classroom training and workouts via videoconference with their players for up to four hours a day, four days a week, for three weeks. In addition, teams may send equipment for workouts to players as long as the cost for each player stays under a threshold set at $1,500. Originally, teams with new coaches were slated to begin their OTAs on April 6 while teams with returning head coaches were to kick off their offseason activity on April 20.
At the moment, teams are unable to conduct on-field activities in any form. That ruling remains in place until all 32 team facilities can reopen in accordance with federal, state and local governments. Should one or more teams be affected to the point where their facilities remain closed, all other teams will be prohibited from taking the field. This keeps everyone on a level playing field instead of certain teams getting the upper hand as the pandemic may have petered out in some areas of the country faster than in others. That is a smart move by both commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFLPA in order to keep things as even as possible at this stage of the game.
It will be interesting to see how much teams like Carolina, Washington, Dallas, the New York Giants, and Cleveland will be impacted with this. After all, you’re looking at new regimes in three-quarters of the NFC East for example. Does that push the Eagles to the forefront of the division race due to the continuity in their schemes and organization? Washington would project to be a team that really would have issues here as they are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback for starters, not to mention a myriad of other issues. Ron Rivera is a veteran coach but he’s dealing with a train wreck of an organization that needs as much help as it can get.
It’s not only teams with new coaches that could be impeded by all this uncertainty. Teams with new quarterbacks, such as the Colts and Buccaneers, are going to have to figure out a way to adapt and overcome. While the quarterbacks involved (Philip Rivers and Tom Brady) are future Hall of Famers, it can take time to adjust to a new system. In that regard, Rivers at least has some familiarity with the system as Colts coach Frank Reich was previously the offensive coordinator for the Chargers. Another team with a new quarterback that could have issues is the Patriots. After two decades with Brady under center, New England has a lot of uncertainty in their QB plans and it could be tough to get their choice up to speed.
As to how training camps may unfold, it’s unclear at this time. After all, we’re still trying to figure out the best course of action for everything. The league is already evaluating potential alternate ways to proceed during the season, whether it’s a shortened NFL season or the possibility of limiting/playing in front of no fans. Falcons owner Arthur Blank stated earlier this month that he could see training camps being shortened and players being tested consistently, in some cases potentially daily, during that time to ensure that there wasn’t an outbreak that could potentially rip through a team and create another series of issues.
How will it all unfold? It’s hard to say but at least we know that there is some sort of guidelines laid out for the future of the NFL this season.