As the National Football League inches closer to the start of their 2020-2021 season, the reality of living in a coronavirus impacted world becomes more clear. In our NFL update, we talk about how the NFL is planning on having a season under the shroud of Covid-19, along with their current NFL odds.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) NFL Update – July 20th Edition
2021 Super Bowl
- When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021
- Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
2021 Super Bowl Odds
- Kansas City Chiefs +600
- Baltimore Ravens +650
- San Francisco 49ers +850
- New England Patriots +2500
- New Orleans Saints +1000
- Pittsburgh Steelers +2200
- Dallas Cowboys +1400
- A. Chargers +4000
- Green Bay Packers +2500
- Seattle Seahawks +2000
- Philadelphia Eagles +2200
- A. Rams +4000
- Cleveland Browns +2700
- Minnesota Vikings +3300
- A. Raiders +8000
- Indianapolis Colts +2200
- Tennessee Titans +2200
- Houston Texans +4000
- Chicago Bears +4000
- Atlanta Falcons +4000
- Buffalo Bills +2200
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +900
- Denver Broncos +5000
- Carolina Panthers +8000
- New York Giants +8000
- New York Jets +8000
- Detroit Lions +8000
- Arizona Cardinals +5000
- Jacksonville Jaguars +15000
- Cincinnati Bengals +10000
- Miami Dolphins +8000
- Washington +12500
NFL and players association negotiating Covid-19 protocols
Over the weekend, the league finally started discussions with the National Football League Players Association, the NFLPA, on how to go about the season under the shroud of Covid-19.
The league set out the following protocols:
- Team buses cannot be more than 50% full
- There must be at least 1 open seat between passengers on team planes
- Every person gets his or her own hotel room when playing away
- Players and team personnel cannot leave hotel rooms to dine out
- Players and team personnel can order food and order room service at hotel rooms
- Players and team personnel may not travel in an away city either via private or public transportation
- Nobody with the team may use shared hotel facilities when traveling to away games
- Players and personnel must wear face masks when going from the hotel to the stadium
The NFL also came out with protocols while at team facilities:
- Players and personnel must wear face masks
- Players and personnel must adhere to social distancing protocols,
- Players must not share towels, water bottles, clothing or food
In addition, the National Football League said that BioReference Laboratories will handle all collection and analysis of Covid-19 tests.
The league will also use Kinexon proximity recording devices. If someone tests positive for the coronavirus, teams will use the devices to contact trace.
Some NFL players considering not reporting due to coronavirus concerns
Although the NFL’s Covid-19 protocols document appears capable of mitigating the spread of the disease, some players are debating whether or not to report to camp.
Top Dallas Cowboys defensive-end Demarcus Lawrence said that he may skip this season because his wife Sasha is pregnant.
On Sunday, players like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones stressed the importance of safety protocols before they will report to training camps.
Wilson and Jones aren’t alone. Also, it makes sense that players might be concerned. The NBA and NHL worked with their players associations to put together a return to play framework that everyone agreed to.
So far, it appears as if the NFL is leaving internal protocols up to each team. That could work. It may not.
Too much money at stake to cancel the NFL Season
Although players may not like it, the NFL won’t cancel the season. There’s too much money at stake.
Not only that, but NFL owners have shown that they will use replacement players if required. The National Football League has star players, but the brand is built around teams, not players.
For example, just because Tom Brady is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, New England Patriots fans won’t suddenly root for Tampa Bay instead of rooting for New England.
That’s football’s nature. It’s about teams, not players, because no one player can totally dominate. Not when different players are on offense and defense.
So, rest assured that a 2020-2021 NFL Season will happen.
Have a great week!
