The NFL will not delay the beginning of its new league year, despite widespread closings and cancellations due to concerns with the coronavirus. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league sent a memo to teams stating nothing was changing with the beginning of free agency.
Now official. NFL sent memo to teams, informing them: Negotiation window noon tomorrow. League year weds. Franchise designation ends tomorrow at noon. Official.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
So, as originally scheduled, teams must decide to use the franchise tag by Monday at noon. Beginning Monday at noon, the window for “legal tampering” begins, when teams can contact the agents for pending free agents and begin negotiations.
Contracts can begin on Wednesday and the league year officially begins.
Because the start of the league year is something collectively bargained, the date could not be delayed without an agreement between the league and the players association.
According to Schefter, the NFLPA was not willing to move it.
NFL says NFLPA would not provide consent to move league year, per source.
NFLPA says: No one is traveling anyway. It’s not football activity, it’s deals. Everyone is working remotely. Let’s do our business remotely. And this could get worse before it gets better. So do it now.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
The business of negotiations and contracts can be done remotely.
So players will get contracts. Fans will get something sports-related to follow in a time of social distancing and cancellations. Football fans need this. Since it can be done safely, let it be done.
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Ep. 261
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Ep. 260
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