Still seems unlikely that the full season would get canceled, and a decision is still a ways off. Even so, I was thinking about potential implications:
- What would happen to player contracts, are they paused or would a year just expire or would this have to be negotiated between the union and the owners? Thinking in particular about Barkley and Jones here, two cornerstone players on their rookie deals. It would be unfortunate to lose a cost controlled year (matters a lot more for Jones than Barkley, who is already making upper-end RB money). Obviously it would also unfortunate to lose a prime Barkley year and a critical development year for Jones but that may be unavoidable.
- Assuming contracts were just put on "pause" and rolled over to 2021, do you think we'd see mass holdouts? Barkley for example is scheduled to enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2021 and would likely want (and would get) a new contract under normal circumstances. Isn't it likely he'd still want the new deal? He's still another year older and running backs don't last very long.
- Would it have any impact on the 2020 draft class? If 2020 contracts are put on hold could players have the option to re-enter the draft in 2021? What about a 2020 draft pick who holds out into training camp only to have the season canceled? Also how would they determine the 2021 draft order?
I assume this will impact sports at all levels. College recruiting would be difficult if high school sports are canceled nationwide.
I know there are more important things going on right now but just thinking about the impact on sports in general and the NFL in particular.
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but the attendance for the upcoming season will be at an all time low.
Meanwhile, if the NFL was smart, they would air older historic games constantly on Thursday and Sunday nights. People need something to do and I think the ratings may do well.
but the attendance for the upcoming season will be at an all time low.
Meanwhile, if the NFL was smart, they would air older historic games constantly on Thursday and Sunday nights. People need something to do and I think the ratings may do well.
^^^ I mean NOW, not this fall
I strongly suspect given the fact that flu season starts again in November and most likely there will not be a vaccine for Covid 19 until early 2021, games will be played with no fans in attendance.
Baseball and the NBA have hinted as much for their seasons.
I strongly suspect given the fact that flu season starts again in November and most likely there will not be a vaccine for Covid 19 until early 2021, games will be played with no fans in attendance.
Baseball and the NBA have hinted as much for their seasons.
this! They are not cancelling the season but there might not be fans in the stands
I hate to think about it, but I have a bad feeling there won't be a season.
Curious how this affects contracts and team control. I think career length will be the same amount of years, but with a year gap if they don't play. A year off to heal might even extend the careers of some vets.
In reality, if this whole thing is still going on by training camp, they are more than likely going to find a way to run the league, just without fans at games.
Whoever the first sport back is, their TV ratings are going to be crazy.
I have no idea what will happen with contracts and the like.
Think about it.
Between players, coaches, med staff, ball boys, etc. each team would have a minimum of 80 people (probably more) in close-quarter contact with each other, five days a week.
Each NFL team would be like their own mini-cruise ship, where if one or two players get the coronavirus, then a significant number of those 80 people would get it too.
And with 32 NFL teams that means the minimum potential number of infected people is 2,560. (80 x 32 = 2,560)
Of course all of those people are not going to be quarantined for the season. They will go home to their families, friends and neighbors and they still have to shop for groceries, get gas for their cars, etc.
The number of people infected by the original 2,560 potential cases ALSO have family, friends and neighbors that would now be put at risk.
And for what? So that America can have football?
I miss sports as much as the next guy, but I don't see sports coming back in any form until there is a vaccine.
I hope it doesn't come to this but NFL people have to be thinking this to some degree.
There'll likely be no pre-season so teams should be allowed to start the season, whenever that is, with a much expanded roster, maybe the full 90.
Think about it.
Between players, coaches, med staff, ball boys, etc. each team would have a minimum of 80 people (probably more) in close-quarter contact with each other, five days a week.
Each NFL team would be like their own mini-cruise ship, where if one or two players get the coronavirus, then a significant number of those 80 people would get it too.
And with 32 NFL teams that means the minimum potential number of infected people is 2,560. (80 x 32 = 2,560)
Of course all of those people are not going to be quarantined for the season. They will go home to their families, friends and neighbors and they still have to shop for groceries, get gas for their cars, etc.
The number of people infected by the original 2,560 potential cases ALSO have family, friends and neighbors that would now be put at risk.
And for what? So that America can have football?
I miss sports as much as the next guy, but I don't see sports coming back in any form until there is a vaccine.
Testing should be available and able to accommodate that level of interaction by then.
There'll likely be no pre-season so teams should be allowed to start the season, whenever that is, with a much expanded roster, maybe the full 90.
That all makes sense except for the expanded roster.
Less games = less bodies needed
Also less income = owners wanting to cut costs as much as possible.
I hope it doesn't come to this but NFL people have to be thinking this to some degree.
I would think that they would do some sort of NBA-style draft-position lottery, where the bad teams have a better chance of getting the top picks.
There is precedence however for the NFL to hold an additional draft based on the draft order of the previous year.
I believe that when the USFL folded (or shortly before) the NFL held a draft of USFL players not under NFL contracts... and the draft order was the same as the draft order for that year's regular NFL draft.
I think it was 1984, but I could be wrong.
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Let's say the 2020 season doesn't happen. What happens to the 2021 NFL draft? How is draft order determined? Do we get the 4th overall pick next year as well? It could change draft strategy this year IMO.
I hope it doesn't come to this but NFL people have to be thinking this to some degree.
I would think that they would do some sort of NBA-style draft-position lottery, where the bad teams have a better chance of getting the top picks.
There is precedence however for the NFL to hold an additional draft based on the draft order of the previous year.
I believe that when the USFL folded (or shortly before) the NFL held a draft of USFL players not under NFL contracts... and the draft order was the same as the draft order for that year's regular NFL draft.
I think it was 1984, but I could be wrong.
What will they do? Let's see:
Formations with each player at least six feet apart;
Hand-washing after each play;
Surgical face masks worn behind the helmet face mask;
10 yard penalty for sneezing;
Soap & water dunk instead of a Gatorade dunk. (Grin)
It's hard to accept the reality of it. Social Distancing has to last until the vaccine is released, until then it is ridiculous to think we should be filling 70,000 seat stadiums and having full contact football games.
They could recover revenue by televising and staggering all the games to maximize TV ad-revenue.
Just a thought but I can't imagine any other way of moving forward besides this.
So I will take the financial hit for the season tickets . Plus I will not put them up for sale because I wouldn't want to be responsible for somebody else getting sick even if it was their decision to take the chance.
Having said that, after listening to the health experts almost guarantee the virus will have a resurgence in the fall attending a football game seems ludicrous. I love my Giants but the NFL can not be so morally and ethically bankrupt to allow a season to go in pursuit of the almighty buck. NFL please listen to the health experts and make their recommendations guide you on the fate of the upcoming season.