The NFL’s new league will start on time and at 4:00 pm, New York time, free agency will officially start and players will be free to sign their name in ink.
Due to the global pandemic, the coronavirus (COVID-19) presents, the league has altered its draft plans. There will be no public participation or fan zones and instead the 2020 NFL Draft will be a televised event with very limited attendees.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that a memo was sent to the league indicating the coronavirus will affect free agency, as it might delay the official signings and trades pending physicals.
Teams will now be forced to rely on neutral doctors instead of their own physicians to evaluate players they want to sign in free agency after the NFL banned in-person meetings.
“Don’t expect a flood of official signing announcements at 4 p.m. tomorrow,” wrote Pelissero.
“The memo says teams may not announce a player has agreed to terms pending a physical-only if they have executed a contract with the player.”
Players are also prohibited from entering club facilities through March 31 and although teams can contact a physician near the player’s home, they may not be comfortable with that setting.
NFL executives also let teams know that they “should consider including contingency language in trade agreements to account for a scenario where a player is unable to take and pass a physical …” because of special rules regarding the coronavirus.
Deals agreed to can’t become official on Wednesday at 4 p.m., the start of the NFL free agency period, without players passing physicals.
That could altar trades or have some voided if teams can’t come to an agreement on physicals and exams.