NFL Cancels 2020 Preseason

[George II]

Source: NFL (via Seattle Seahawks)*

The Seahawks and the 31 other NFL teams are reporting to training camp this week following an offseason that was anything but business as usual.

Teams didn't have the benefit of offseason workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to account for the longer time players will need to get ready for game action, the NFL announced Monday it is canceling the 2020 preseason.

Seahawks season ticket holders will be refunded or receive a credit towards their 2021 season ticket renewal for the two scheduled home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers. Seattle had also been scheduled to play at Minnesota and at Houston during the preseason. Instead the Seahawks will spend the next six weeks preparing for their regular-season opener at Atlanta.

"The NFL in 2020 will not look like other years," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to fans. Players and coaches will be tested for the virus regularly, including every day for a while. Preseason games have been canceled. Everyone in the team environment must follow rigorous health and safety protocols to keep themselves and each other safe. When there is a positive test, strict regulations will be enforced to isolate and care for that individual and to contain the virus before it spreads. Even the sideline will look different. And, state and local health guidelines will help determine whether fans will attend the games. These adjustments are necessary to reduce the risk for everyone involved."

Read more: https://www.seahawks.com/news/nfl-cancels-2020-preseason

---

*Note - every team just release a similar statement regarding the cancellation.

[rpannier]

1. This may not end well

Given what has happened with the Marlins, in a sport that has some chance for safe distancing, I think it's wise to be cautious about the season
Also, given that there will be new players on each roster, losing those pre-season games could be a problem

[Iliyah]

2. If baseball is any indication . . .

And there is no curve, peak, plateau or control in sight I can't see the NFL nor basketball opening.

[calguy]

3. I'm not hopeful for a football season

They're going to try their best to pull it off, but in the end, I think the virus wins the Super Bowl this year.

[underpants]

4. Yeah. I don't see this happens.

You have too many young guys with a lot of money who want to have fun. They aren’t the sitting at home type.

[Initech]

6. Yeah we are not getting anything nice this year.

And probably not next year until we start taking this damn thing seriously. Better get used to the virtual world because we won't be seeing the real one for a while.

[George II]

7. Based on the baseball test results the last day or two, I think they and the NFL and NBA will all...

...probably cancel.

The NHL's "bubble" is in Canada, where the virus is well under control. But that's an all-contact sport.

[Steelrolled]

14. They will play though it.

[TeamPooka]

5. Regular season is next. They are delaying because they are trying to find a way to collect the TV

money which is all that matters to the owners.

[calguy]

11. I wonder if they've thought about ....

televising Madden video games. Have the actual NFL players working the controls on the Madden game. This might be our best hope.

[TeamPooka]

17. That's a whole differnet license needed

[Jimbo S]

20. Tour de France

A couple of weeks back on NBCSN I saw where they some of the top cyclists on stationary bikes on their own which was hooked up to a virtual stage of TdF.

[Tom Traubert]

22. Zwift.

It’s a virtual reality “game” to be used with indoor bicycle trainers. It’s a pretty fun way to train in the winter, but this time of year, you need to be outside.

https://www.zwift.com/virtual-tour-de-france

[brooklynite]

8. We need to bring back sports that don't involve proximity...

...like croquet...

...or mini golf.

[George II]

10. Thoroughbred and harness racing have been operating for a couple of months now....

....with virtually no positives. No fans though.

Tennis would work.

[calguy]

13. No fans No sports

Fans make the games what they are.

[PJMcK]

9. This is just stupid

Pro sports are finished for the next 2 years.

Sorry but show me how it works without vaccines and treatments.

[calguy]

12. I've been really enjoying watching old classic games on youtube.

Poor picture quality on many, but nastalgically very entertaining. Especially watching the commercials we watched back then.

[Crowman2009]

15. Corporate America: Screw your health measures, give me my money!

[Yavin4]

16. There's no way that you can have 50+ players and coaches in a locker room or

in a practice facility and not have virus outbreaks.

We still have not grasp the severity of this crisis. We're still trying to fit "normal" into a pandemic.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Exactly!

One of our Philly paper's articles had a couple tweets from former and current NFL players who noted--

Link to tweet

TEXT

Geoff Schwartz
@geoffschwartz
A NFL bubble is impossible. I’m not sure ppl realize how big the operation is. When we travel, we have 5 buses. There’s so many people who are vital to the operation running smoothly. You’d have to bubble 200+ people per team. For 6 months

seth ranson
@sethranson89
Replying to @geoffschwartz
wonder if the practice faculty/hotel bubble will be possible for a whole season. maybe some teams can have a bubble at their camp site.
10:17 AM · Jul 27, 2020

Link to tweet

TEXT

NFL on ESPN
@ESPNNFL
Jason McCourty expressed concern about whether the NFL will be able to complete a 2020 season.

"... I've seen guys posting a video in a nightclub, and it's just like, 'Yo, we're attempting to play football. That's not going to be OK.'"
Pats' Jason McCourty voices concern for season
Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty said the prospect of playing a season amid the pandemic is "nerve-wracking."
espn.com
12:56 PM · Jul 27, 2020

These guys train hard, play hard, and party hard.

[pstokely]

18. at least STHs won't have to pay for those meaningless games

and won't have to pay for parking also

[Aristus]

21. Leading to uncounted deaths.

As every 'futbawl' fan in the country commits suicide...

[greenjar_01]

23. There's not going to be football this year

Not high school.

Not college.

Not NFL.

None.