Football in the age of COVID-19
Let’s face facts. There is really one overarching story this preseason that will overshadow the rest of them: How can football work in an age of COVID-19?
We all want to see football in the fall and we all pray for the health and safety of the players, coaches, training staff, stadium staff, and their families. But the impact of this global pandemic has crossed into every aspect of life, and football is no different. What protocols are teams putting into place for testing, and what happens when a positive test is returned? How can training camp take place with so many players in one place for extended periods of time? Are teams going to implement bubbles, or something similar, to prevent any outbreaks?
Beyond these issues, what about the impact of these protocols and the virus itself on the teams, and the game? How will coaches prepare their teams for a season without preseason games? How will players on roster bubbles make a case for themselves without preseason games? Are the players going to be in shape for camp, or will this resemble the training camps of the 60s, with players using this time to get back into shape? What will the level of play be like during Week 1?
Looking into the future, what happens when a big name player has a positive test late in the season, prior to a contest with playoff implications?
In years past, the previous ten storylines would be dominating headlines. But 2020 is unlike any year we have seen in recent history, and until things change, this story is the story.