Sports fans are hopeful that the NFL season can occur on time despite the coronavirus worries. The draft was able to happen, season scheduled, now the offseason is beginning for the players and coaches.
The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a virtual offseason that will extend to May 15. In this time, they are able to have workouts and non-football related educational sessions through video conferencing. This can happen four days a week, no more than four hours a day.
The NFL is giving teams permission to send their players up to $1,500 worth of equipment such as medicine balls, apple watches, kettlebells, and resistance bands. Strength and conditioning coaches can then implement their workouts.
A video conference between the Seattle Seahawks was shown after actor Will Ferrell crashed their meeting, pretending to be Greg Olsen.
After May 15
The goal is that there will be more relaxed policies on gatherings after May 15. Then teams will be able to look at opening back up their facilities. This can only happen if federal and local policies will allow all 32 teams to re-open.
If these facilities remain closed due to COVID-19, this virtual preseason could continue until June 26. All of these preseason workouts are not mandatory for the players. However, teams are permitted to hold one mandatory minicamp.
Rookies
One of the biggest concerns that people have is how well the rookies are going to respond. This is not a perfect scenario to prepare first-year players for the season, especially if they are going to be large contributors.
Washington Redskins coach Ron Rivera even said that the decision around their starting quarterback might rely on the time the team can be together. Dwayne Haskins Jr. is reported to be the starter, but Kyle Allen has previous experience with the offensive coordinator.
“If we were told, ‘Hey, you’ve got two weeks to go,’ I would feel very comfortable with Kyle,” Rivera said. “Because here’s a guy that knows the system, has been in the system, and could handle it for us for a period of time.”
Transition From Virtual To Reality
Coaches are concerned about the transition these players will have from workouts from their phones to workouts at the facilities.
Eagles safety Rodney McLeod has turned his garage into a full gym, including weights, medicine balls, and hurdles. He even used a beer cooler to assist in his squats.
“It’s difficult,” McLeod said, “because you don’t have your gyms that you’ve had access to and what I’m accustomed to, getting with my trainer and being able to work out and work on the things I need to do to be a better player this year. But I’ve been around for a while; this isn’t my first rodeo working out.”
Trainers are finding a way to keep things competitive and even talk some smack over the phone. They continue to become more and more creative with the way that they work out and get through this awkward time.betting.