The NFL is pushing forward with its regularly scheduled programming despite the coronavirus pandemic bringing the world to a halt. Free agency and the new league year started on time, the draft will still be held on April 23-25 – albeit, in a different, fan-less setting – and the expectation is that the season will start on time.
California governor Gavin Newsom said this weekend that he doesn’t expect the season to begin on time with fans in stadiums – at least not in his state.
On his daily press briefing just now @GavinNewsom tells me flatly re #NFL starting season on time w/fans in stands in the CA stadiums: "I’m not anticipating that happening in this state." @AdamSchefter https://t.co/ejqC423Vtk
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) April 4, 2020
Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN said recently that he’d be shocked if there was football this fall, which was a strong statement from the college football analyst. President Donald Trump doesn’t seem to agree with that sentiment, though and has a more optimistic view of the situation.
He thinks the season will start on time in September.
In conference call with major league sports commissioners on Saturday, President Donald Trump said he believes the NFL season should start on time in September, sources familiar with the call told @wojespn and me. More on call coming at https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2020
Considering the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no way to be sure sports will return any time soon. The NFL isn’t currently in season like the NBA, NHL and MLB are supposed to be, but there’s still a lot that needs to be accomplished before the season can begin. OTAs and minicamps have already been canceled and training camps are supposed to take place in July and August.
Without any of that offseason work, players will be at greater risk of injury when they do eventually start playing, nor will they be in football shape.