3:21pm: Hold the phone. A source tells Pelissero that the union has not yet agreed to the protocols (Twitter link). “Still a work in progress,” the source said.
1:28pm: The NFL and NFLPA are in agreement on a number of game-day protocols that are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets, those protocols were issued to all teams last night.
Included in the 11-page document is the ban of on-field fan seating, the ban of media from the locker room, and a provision requiring both teams to travel to the stadium via bus. As Pelissero reports in a separate tweet, teams will not be permitted to have post-game interactions within six feet of each other, so no handshakes and no jersey exchanges.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes that players and coaches will not be required to wear masks, though everyone else in the bench area will be so required (Twitter link). While on the bench, all personnel will be required to stay six feet apart to the extent possible (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe), anyone with bench access will be screened before entering the stadium, and anyone who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or who has been exposed to the virus will not be allowed inside (Twitter link via Rapoport).
This comes on the heels of yesterday’s agreement on a club facility protocol for training camp. So while there is still much to be hashed out between the league and the union, they have at least been able to check some items off of their extensive list.
But that doesn’t mean all players are thrilled. Outspoken 49ers CB Richard Sherman took to Twitter to point out the irony of allowing players to participate in a full contact sport while disallowing jersey exchanges, and Texans QB Deshaun Watson took a similar position (Twitter links). Still, the union agreed to the protocol, and plenty of players were concerned about how masks would impact their ability to breathe during games, so the agreement will at least appeal to those players.
As Pelissero details, the protocols will be in effect for any preseason games as well as regular season contests (Twitter link). Volin believes the agreement means that there will definitely be two preseason games, but that sounds like speculation at this point (Twitter link).
So in a sport with constant contact, they have to social distance on the bench?
It’s about as ridiculous as trying to enforce social distancing on couples having sex.
Bff
All these stories tht are locked are because of burrow he’s not here any more but it’s like letting the terrorist win
Whoever even suggested that it was possible to play NFL football while wearing a mask should be fired immediately.
So they’re going to play 4 quarters of football, smashing into each other who knows how many times… But they can’t get within 6 ft of each other on the bench, or after the game? Um… You can’t put spilled milk back in the carton.
I’m skeptical this whole thing works. It’s a sport built on contact. I don’t know how they’re going to pull this off in a sport where anywhere from 44-106 guys are going to be anything but social distanced on the field during the game.