Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League opted to go forward with the start of the new league year and free agency last week as scheduled.
Although many deals were announced, many more are yet to be finalized as physicals and visits have been on hold due to travel constraints in the name of safety.
The NFL Network had been continuing to broadcast throughout the week, however, as a result of California’s order to shut down all non-essential businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19, live shows have ground down to a halt.
“It is certainly a unique time at NFL Media, as it is for the rest of the industry and the world. At the forefront of every decision is our commitment to the health and safety of our employees and communities,” an NFL Network spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports in an email.
I know quite a few people at @NFLMedia, so many of them exceptional professionals + some I consider friends. They're attacking a new challenge and continuing to work hard even as #coronavirus forces #NFLNetwork to temporarily suspend its live programs: https://t.co/nzpup1m4t6
— Nate Davis (@ByNateDavis) March 23, 2020
“In light of the latest updates and the directive from the Governor of California, we have now shifted our coverage to a digital first approach which we can do remotely. We will continue to take advantage of our experts and insiders in the field who are staying on top of all the news and can file video reports using home cameras.”
The NFL Network is continuing to air classic games for fans to enjoy and is offering free access to NFL Game Pass.
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