After much deliberation, it seems the NFL league year will start on time.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the suspension of nearly every major professional sports league in North America, not to mention cancellations in Europe.
However, the NFL will indeed begin with the official opening of the league year on Wednesday (the start of free agency), with the legal tampering and franchise tag deadline still slated for Monday (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk):
According to multiple reports, team officials are operating on the assumption that the league year will start on time, which means the “legal tampering” period will start as planned at noon ET on Monday, and free agency will begin on Wednesday.
From the league’s perspective, the idea may be that free agency can be conducted remotely: Team personnel executives can communicate with players and agents on the phone and online, contracts can be sent electronically and by fax, and there’s not a risk of spreading the coronavirus by opening free agency as planned.
Some NFL executives feared it would be impossible for the league schedule to start on time, given the general nature of proceedings whereby free agents fly to meet with representatives and vice-versa.
Although the NFL believes business can be conducted remotely, Smith also iterated the importance of logistical details like player physicals, which would demand travel.
Moreover, the CDC recently announced it is recommending no more gatherings of 50 or more persons for the next eight weeks, which would directly conflict with the NFL Draft in April.
There seem to be complications involved with the NFL operating under normal pretenses, but as of now, the league year will start on schedule.
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