NFL Announces Virtual Draft as Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Orders Continue – IOTW Report

NFL Announces Virtual Draft as Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Orders Continue

PJM:

On Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a memo to all 32 teams announcing plans for the league to hold a virtual draft. The NFL had scheduled its live, in-person player selection draft for Las Vegas April 23-25. The response to the coronavirus pandemic has forced the league to change its plans.

CBS reports:

Goodell cited the “stay-at-home” orders issued by the government as a reason for the facilities to remain closed, which include every NFL team’s community. The league announced it will reopen facilities “when it is safe to do so” based on medical and public health advice, and in compliance with government mandates. It was decided last month that the 2020 NFL Draft would not be held in Las Vegas.

“Our staff will carry out its responsibilities in the same way, operating in several locations outside of our offices,” he said. “We cannot identify an alternative that is preferable from a medical or public health perspective, given the various needs of clubs, the need properly to screen participants, and the unique risk factors that individual club employees may face.”

The league announced that its Manhattan offices would close on March 13, and that all off-season activities would take a hiatus starting March 26. The pandemic has thrown professional and collegiate sports into varying degrees of uncertainty as leaders around the globe debate when to return to normal societal function. more

8 Comments on NFL Announces Virtual Draft as Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Orders Continue

  1. …they should make Buttgieg the NFL Commissioner. He needs a gig, and since he has a LOT of knowledge on who the best kneelers are and that’s the MAIN criteria for playahs in today’s NFL, seems like a good fit…

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  2. I accidentally saw some “virtual” NASCAR racing on the weekend.

    What a Disgrace.

    Grown men playing video games with Jeff Gordon & others calling the “Action”

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  3. While virtually kneeling?

    OK, I guess a lot of people enjoy the NFL. It goes on during big game and bird hunting season, I don’t know much about it. I did watch the Pittsburg play the Seattle team for the world championship about ten years ago and Portland Wrestling has nothing on football. Even though I know next to nothing about the game, had no dog in that fight, or had any money on the outcome… If the Black Sox Scandal was about fixing a world championship, the outcome of that game had to be just as preordained.

  4. @Brown Eyed Girl – “…LOL! What could possibly go wrong?…”

    Yeah, can you imagine a General Manager’s horror to find out that he drafted a digital CGI defensive end?

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