:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66663294/508599962.jpg.0.jpg)
The NFL, which continues to show optimism surrounding the 2020 season, plans on still releasing the full NFL schedule by May 9th, per ESPN’s Chris Mortenson. Those schedules can be adjusted according to Mortenson, so whatever contingency plan that may be needed, could still be based on those schedules.
The NFL is currently looking into multiple contingency plans and “the schedule is being done in such a way that builds in that flexibility,” according to Mark Maske and Dave Sheinin in their recent Washington Post article.
The Post’s source goes on to say that the NFL will likely follow the lead of the other major sports leagues, notably the NBA, NHL and MLB, as their seasons have been put on hold while the NFL doesn’t kickoff until early September.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes that the NBA, NHL and MLB could start their season’s back up contingent on a stark regiment of testing and keeping fans away from games.
Advancements in testing are still needed and players would need to buy into the plan since they would need to be isolated away from their families. The Post included comments from Angels star Mike Trout, who doesn’t sound too excited about the prospect:
“I obviously want to play as fast as we can, but [being self-isolated] would be difficult for some guys. What are you going to do with family members? My wife is pregnant. What am I going to do if she goes into labor. Am I going to have to go into quarantine for two weeks after I come back? Because obviously I can’t miss the birth of our first child.”
There would likely be multiple players with the same type of concerns in every sport, which would make it tougher to get everyone on board. And there are obstacles around where teams play, especially in states where large gatherings are illegal. Right now, all we have are multiple ideas to get sports back up and running, but we don’t have the actual structure to get those ideas off the ground, yet.