In one of the first steps back towards normalcy after the coronavirus pandemic shut down operations for months, the NFL is allowing teams to reopen their facilities on May 19th, as long as local laws allow it. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the league sent out a memo on Friday detailing the plans for reopening facilities, which will put certain limits on the personnel allowed.
From the NFL to owners and presidents regarding the potential reopening of facilities amid the Coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/YKpyDQaGvq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 15, 2020
According to NFL.com’s Judy Battista, local laws currently would allow 22 of the 32 teams to reopen on Tuesday:
On NFL facilities starting to open next week, approximately 22 of the 32 teams would be able to open under current local rules.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 15, 2020
The main restriction for the plan is that no members of the coaching staff can return to the facility. The league’s rationale is that, until all 32 teams can have their coaches back, it would be unfair to allow some to return. However, all other members of the team, from medical staff and football operations personnel, will be allowed to return to the facilities.
The other caveat regards the number of employees that can be in attendance: a maximum of 50 percent of staff can be at the facilities, and no more than 75 people total. Players are, as of now, still barred from returning to training, but they may be in the facilities if they are “currently undergoing medical treatment or rehabilitation.”
Of the main sports leagues in the United States, the NFL has been leading the way in acting like everything is going to remain as scheduled. While the NBA and NHL had to pause their seasons indefinitely, and MLB had to postpone Opening Day, the NFL held its draft virtually last month and continues to put out messaging that the regular season will go on as planned. Opening the team facilities back up is another step towards that goal.
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