There will soon be activity at 76 Lou Groza Blvd. in Berea at Cleveland Browns headquarters. The NFL is prepared to allow team facilities to open as early as this Tuesday, with several restrictions. The league outlined the permitted activities in a memo sent to every team this week.
Facilities for all 32 NFL teams have been mandated to be closed since mid-March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Teams have been working remotely ever since.
From the memo distributed to clubs and made public via the AP,
“Clubs may reopen their facilities beginning on May 19 if they are permitted to do so under governing state and local regulations, are in compliance with any additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction, and have implemented the protocols that were developed by [NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills] and distributed to all clubs on May 6.”
However, there are several restrictions on who can be in the facilities. Among those limits:
- Only players who are undergoing medical treatment or injury rehab are allowed, along with strength and conditioning staff to work with them. That would permit Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and others into the building.
- No more than 50 percent of the staff may be in the facility at any time, with a cap of 75 total people.
- Coaches cannot return until all 32 teams are on equal footing and allowed to attend via local rules. That means Kevin Stefanski will not report for duty
- Front office personnel, administration staff, equipment people, medical and nutritionist staff are allowed.
Ohio’s recent easing of interpersonal contact and business restrictions should allow the Browns to comply.