[jwplayer vYKNT1P3-ThvAeFxT]
The NFL issued a four-part memo to all 32 teams on Monday laying out guidelines for the reopening of team facilities, closed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but the New Orleans Saints aren’t in a hurry to regroup at their Metairie headquarters.
Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said as much in a Monday conference call with local media, explaining that head coach Sean Payton had told his staff they would wait for a return in time for training camp later this summer.
“We’re handling everything that we can remotely,” Allen told Nola.com’s Luke Johnson. “At this time of year, if the players were in, I think it would be maybe a little bit different story. But I think we can get a lot of things accomplished being able to work remotely.”
While the Saints chose to not hold a formal virtual offseason — Payton told his players to focus on their families, and to show up at training camp in the best shape of their lives — the team has been scheduling teleconference calls, sometimes with guest speakers. NBA great Shaquille O’Neal was in on one such meeting.
So far, more than a dozen NFL teams have sent members of the coaching staff back to their facilities. But with state and local guidelines differing wildly in which businesses may reopen and when, it could take a while for everyone to get back on a level playing field.
It’s not clear just yet when the Saints will open their training camp. That’s likely going to happen at the NFL’s discretion (in accordance with local rulings), but dates are usually announced in mid-June. Last year, Saints rookies reported for work on July 18. Veteran players joined them a week later.
In the meantime, the Saints will continue to work from home and organize meetings as best as they can. With such an experienced roster to work with and a largely-unchanged coaching staff at the wheel, they should be able to resume work quickly once the time comes.
[vertical-gallery id=35147]