Will we have a 2020 NFL Season?

[Pokerbrat2000]

How could the NFL institute a "bubble"? Could there be 2 - one for each conference?

They could try, but how many players will be willing to go into "quarantine" for 4-5 months? Could they find 2 sites that could each host 16 teams? That is a lot of people to house, feed, etc. A site for each conference would mean 8 games/site per week. Would be doable, 4 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday, but I think too ambitious to coordinate. Practice sessions, locker rooms, etc. would be tricky at best for 16 teams in one spot.

I think the more plausible "bubble scenario", is a shortened season and 8 separate sites. One for each division. Each team plays 6 games, 2 against each team in their division. So each of the 8 sites would have 2 games per week for 6 weeks. The winner of each division (8 total teams) take a week off and head to preselected NFC/AFC sites for 2 weeks and 3 total games at each site to determine the NFC and the AFC champs. Those Two teams would emerge from that to play in the Super Covid Bowl.

They could delay the start of the season until November. This would give the 8 chosen sites plenty of time to coordinate things and the NFL more time to monitor the situation and finalize plans to actually have some kind of season.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

They could try, but how many players will be willing to go into "quarantine" for 4-5 months? Could they find 2 sites that could each host 16 teams? That is a lot of people to house, feed, etc. A site for each conference would mean 8 games/site per week. Would be doable, 4 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday, but I think too ambitious to coordinate. Practice sessions, locker rooms, etc. would be tricky at best for 16 teams in one spot.

I think the more plausible "bubble scenario", is a shortened season and 8 separate sites. One for each division. Each team plays 6 games, 2 against each team in their division. So each of the 8 sites would have 2 games per week for 6 weeks. The winner of each division (8 total teams) take a week off and head to preselected NFC/AFC sites for 2 weeks and 3 total games at each site to determine the NFC and the AFC champs. Those Two teams would emerge from that to play in the Super Covid Bowl.

They could delay the start of the season until November. This would give the 8 chosen sites plenty of time to coordinate things and the NFL more time to monitor the situation and finalize plans to actually have some kind of season.

I would prefer the NFL to cancel the season compared to the scenario you suggested.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I would prefer the NFL to cancel the season compared to the scenario you suggested.

I would prefer my scenario over starting a season and having it shut down prematurely due to COVID. I will continue to say it and I really hope I am wrong, but I do not see how the NFL is going to pull off a full season under the currently proposed format. I think them thinking that they can is over ambitious, as well as a bit arrogant given the circumstances and what other Sports have decided to do.

Another interesting topic of conversation now is the 2021 Draft. If the rest of the college divisions postpone their seasons but are able to play in the Spring, the NFL will no doubt need to delay the draft until the conclusion of that season. If there is no Spring Football, the draft gets very interesting. The uncertainty of draft picks in a normal year will spike tremendously in a 2021 draft with no new player data. NFL teams will be making their decisions on how players looked in 2019. Players like Joe Burrow, who were not much of anything the year before he was drafted #1 will probably be available all over the board. I remember looking at the "projected draft" one year out, before the college season even started, talking about a crap shoot!

If I am Gute, I am thinking about the uncertainty of those draft picks in 2021 and possibly thinking that using them to obtain proven players right now for, might be better value than most years.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The NFL has released an advanced look at new equipment that they are experimenting with to have a season.

You must be logged in to see this image or video!

 

[rmontro]

The NFL has released an advanced look at new equipment that they are experimenting with to have a season.

Should cut down on concussions.

 

[PikeBadger]

I don’t see a problem of scaling back to a 12 or 14 game season or even teams playing an uneven amount of games if circumstances require a brief shutdown/quarantine for a few teams. I’m certain the NFL is/has developing contingency plans for different scenarios. Too much money at stake not to imo. As long as other professional sports are staying active, the pressure will be intense to carry on as well.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I said that the MLB teams have scheduled games nearly every day, not that they have been able to play close to all games. I'm well aware they had to postpone a significant amount of games.

The NFL could postpone games by either one or up to four days (with teams already playing on Thursdays anyway) if a player tests positive without having to find a possible make up date. The MLB doesn't have that chance as they would have to cancel a minimum of four games over that span.

I hadn’t thought of that when comparing MLB to the NFL and it could make an NFL season possible. Along with Poker’s idea for a shortened season, with the playoffs taking place in a bubble (sort of) at fewer sites, it could work.

Or we could trash the whole idea and take the year off and wait for a vaccine. I realize that won’t happen because of the $$$ involved. I’d sure as hell miss football though. I can live without baseball and basketball, but no football? That hurts.

 

[Heyjoe4]

They could try, but how many players will be willing to go into "quarantine" for 4-5 months? Could they find 2 sites that could each host 16 teams? That is a lot of people to house, feed, etc. A site for each conference would mean 8 games/site per week. Would be doable, 4 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday, but I think too ambitious to coordinate. Practice sessions, locker rooms, etc. would be tricky at best for 16 teams in one spot.

I think the more plausible "bubble scenario", is a shortened season and 8 separate sites. One for each division. Each team plays 6 games, 2 against each team in their division. So each of the 8 sites would have 2 games per week for 6 weeks. The winner of each division (8 total teams) take a week off and head to preselected NFC/AFC sites for 2 weeks and 3 total games at each site to determine the NFC and the AFC champs. Those Two teams would emerge from that to play in the Super Covid Bowl.

They could delay the start of the season until November. This would give the 8 chosen sites plenty of time to coordinate things and the NFL more time to monitor the situation and finalize plans to actually have some kind of season.

I like everything about this except the shortness of the season. Yeah baseball is doing it but still with 60 games. Anyway this is the best idea I’ve seen to salvage the season.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

I like everything about this except the shortness of the season. Yeah baseball is doing it but still with 60 games. Anyway this is the best idea I’ve seen to salvage the season.

The health experts have all said that a bubble is really the only safe way to try and have sports, the NBA is cited as a good example. However, it's expensive and there's no way NFL owners are ponying up the amount of money that would be needed to create a bubble for the number of players in the NFL. Plus, I'm pretty sure that it would be tough to count on hundreds of guys actually staying in a bubble for 4-5 months.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The health experts have all said that a bubble is really the only safe way to try and have sports, the NBA is cited as a good example. However, it's expensive and there's no way NFL owners are ponying up the amount of money that would be needed to create a bubble for the number of players in the NFL. Plus, I'm pretty sure that it would be tough to count on hundreds of guys actually staying in a bubble for 4-5 months.

Agreed

I just don't see a full NFL season happening. Look how fast it has spread on a few teams in baseball. There will be way too many cancelled games and players being put in 14 day quarantines, etc.

Cities like Detroit, Indy, Atlanta, etc. are plenty big to each host 4 teams for 6 weeks of inter-division games. However as you said, how expensive is that for the owners and with no in seat paid ticket fans, would they be better off financially to just roll the dice on the current plan or shut down completely?

Owners need to slow their roll, circle the wagons and come up with a much better plan IMO.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I would prefer my scenario over starting a season and having it shut down prematurely due to COVID. I will continue to say it and I really hope I am wrong, but I do not see how the NFL is going to pull off a full season under the currently proposed format. I think them thinking that they can is over ambitious, as well as a bit arrogant given the circumstances and what other Sports have decided to do.

Once again, it has worked for various leagues in Europe without having to put players into a bubble. There have been a limited number of positive tests within teams as well but they were able to prevent it from spreading in the locker room because of strict testing.

I don't understand why there's no way that could work in the NFL as well.

Another interesting topic of conversation now is the 2021 Draft. If the rest of the college divisions postpone their seasons but are able to play in the Spring, the NFL will no doubt need to delay the draft until the conclusion of that season. If there is no Spring Football, the draft gets very interesting. The uncertainty of draft picks in a normal year will spike tremendously in a 2021 draft with no new player data. NFL teams will be making their decisions on how players looked in 2019. Players like Joe Burrow, who were not much of anything the year before he was drafted #1 will probably be available all over the board.

Another thing to consider about the 2021 draft class is that college football would most likely play games at least into the summer if the season starts in spring.

That would mean that a lot of prospects wouldn't be able to participate in offseason programs or camp and most likely wouldn't be ready to play in week 1 of the NFL season.

Therefore I expect a majority of them to opt out of the 2020 college season to enter the draft.

If I am Gute, I am thinking about the uncertainty of those draft picks in 2021 and possibly thinking that using them to obtain proven players right now for, might be better value than most years.

Unfortunately the Packers don't have the cap space to make it work.

I don’t see a problem of scaling back to a 12 or 14 game season or even teams playing an uneven amount of games if circumstances require a brief shutdown/quarantine for a few teams.

I definitely don't like the idea but it might be necessary.

Along with Poker’s idea for a shortened season, with the playoffs taking place in a bubble (sort of) at fewer sites, it could work.

If the NFL is able to play the regular season as scheduled there's no reason to create a bubble for the playoffs.

The health experts have all said that a bubble is really the only safe way to try and have sports, the NBA is cited as a good example. However, it's expensive and there's no way NFL owners are ponying up the amount of money that would be needed to create a bubble for the number of players in the NFL. Plus, I'm pretty sure that it would be tough to count on hundreds of guys actually staying in a bubble for 4-5 months.

European soccer leagues prove that a bubble is currently not the only safe way to have sports.

In addition it might be impossible to create one for more than 2,000 players as well as all the staff needed for an NFL season.

 

[PackerDNA]

With no bubble, and teams three to four times larger than other sports, I'm guessing it'll be a 12 game season.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

European soccer leagues prove that a bubble is currently not the only safe way to have sports.

In addition it might be impossible to create one for more than 2,000 players as well as all the staff needed for an NFL season.

Why do people keep bringing up Europe when the situation in America is VASTLY different?!

New Covid-19 cases over the last 14 days (as of August 13th):

U.S. - 770,166
Germany (Bundesliga) - 12,136
Spain (La Liga) - 44,354
UK (English Premier League) - 12,343
Italy (Serie A) - 4,937
France (Ligue 1) - 21,500
Portugal (Primeira Liga) - 2,610


I mean, the difference is pretty freaking obvious. Btw, I stopped where I did because the combined population of the countries I've listed is a little larger than the population of America (to hopefully head off all the silly "America has more because America is bigger" arguments).

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Once again, it has worked for various leagues in Europe without having to put players into a bubble. There have been a limited number of positive tests within teams as well but they were able to prevent it from spreading in the locker room because of strict testing.

I don't understand why there's no way that could work in the NFL as well.

While I appreciate your optimism and hope you are right, I don't think comparing the European Soccer league and the NFL are apples to apples. Just the sheer number of players, coaches, etc. are vastly different and even more importantly, the countries involved. I might compare the Europe Soccer league to MLB in terms of player contact and interaction, as well as the the size of the teams. MLB in the United States has been struggling to stay Covid free.

As a few posters have pointed out, the situation in the U.S. is much different than in Europe, so being outside a bubble, is going to have a much large chance of complications in the U.S. Also, I don't know what the mentality of European Soccer players is, but I am guessing keeping them to practice safe social distancing, hand washing, etc. is a lot easier than it will be with the NFL and its players.

Finally, I don't think you have really thought about the ramifications of having to shut down an entire NFL team due to Covid. That is at least 2 teams missing at least 1 game, if not 2. That is what is happening in Baseball, but at least in Baseball, they can schedule double headers to attempt to make those up, the NFL doesn't have that option.

Hell, this just hit the news as I was finishing typing this post ....

"Seattle cut Siverand, an undrafted free agent, after he was caught on video trying to sneak a female visitor into the team hotel, per sources informed of the situation. The woman was wearing Seahawks gear in an attempt to disguise her as a player"

https://www.nfl.com/news/seahawks-c...er-cb-caught-sneaking-visitor-into-team-hotel

 

[Heyjoe4]

The health experts have all said that a bubble is really the only safe way to try and have sports, the NBA is cited as a good example. However, it's expensive and there's no way NFL owners are ponying up the amount of money that would be needed to create a bubble for the number of players in the NFL. Plus, I'm pretty sure that it would be tough to count on hundreds of guys actually staying in a bubble for 4-5 months.

Yeah I think the phrase going around is “too many needles to thread.” I just don’t see how the NFL can have a meaningful season until Covid is brought under better control, meaning less than 5,000 new infections/day. We’re currently around 50,000.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This is starting to remind me of the "lets open the schools" debate. Lots of optimistic enthusiasm for the option that we all want....school/football!. However, until you put pen to paper and figure out the 1000+ "what if this happens" scenarios, it is easier said than done. Also, while I think Pro Football Players are adults and understand mask wearing, social distancing, etc. a bit better than a 2nd grader, I would probably have more faith in those 2nd graders actually following instructions.

 

[Conan Troutman]

If I am Gute, I am thinking about the uncertainty of those draft picks in 2021 and possibly thinking that using them to obtain proven players right now for, might be better value than most years.

I agree with captainWIMM here, the Packers have absolutely no cap space to bring in a proven vet and they can't really trade anyone prior to next offseason to make room either. If anything, I can see Gute trying to load up on 2021 picks if other teams are trying that strategy.

Why do people keep bringing up Europe when the situation in America is VASTLY different?!

New Covid-19 cases over the last 14 days (as of August 13th):

U.S. - 770,166
Germany (Bundesliga) - 12,136
Spain (La Liga) - 44,354
UK (English Premier League) - 12,343
Italy (Serie A) - 4,937
France (Ligue 1) - 21,500
Portugal (Primeira Liga) - 2,610


I mean, the difference is pretty freaking obvious. Btw, I stopped where I did because the combined population of the countries I've listed is a little larger than the population of America (to hopefully head off all the silly "America has more because America is bigger" arguments).

Because of those numbers you'd really expect the NFL to postpone the season a couple of months until vaccines are available. How could a team possibly expose its star players to serious long term health risks that could potentially render them unable to play? Just imagine Mahomes gets sick and developes chronic heart or lung problems - the Chiefs would still owe him the portion of his half a billion $ contract that's guaranteed against injury even if he could never play a down again, as Covid-19 counts as a football injury. Not to mention the $100m revenue loss due to empty stadiums. Starting the season on time seems complety bonkers, but then again - if the owners are fine with it, it's not my money they're gambling with.

 

[rmontro]

Because of those numbers you'd really expect the NFL to postpone the season a couple of months until vaccines are available..

I don't know if pinning all our hopes on a vaccine is a good idea, especially since 30% say they won't even take it.

 

[gopkrs]

I don't know if pinning all our hopes on a vaccine is a good idea, especially since 30% say they won't even take it.

Had a college roomate who had polio. His father was a (what?) Jehovah Witness? And would not let him take the sugar cube.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Why do people keep bringing up Europe when the situation in America is VASTLY different?!

New Covid-19 cases over the last 14 days (as of August 13th):

U.S. - 770,166
Germany (Bundesliga) - 12,136
Spain (La Liga) - 44,354
UK (English Premier League) - 12,343
Italy (Serie A) - 4,937
France (Ligue 1) - 21,500
Portugal (Primeira Liga) - 2,610


I mean, the difference is pretty freaking obvious. Btw, I stopped where I did because the combined population of the countries I've listed is a little larger than the population of America (to hopefully head off all the silly "America has more because America is bigger" arguments).

I understand the numbers are far worse in the United States than in Europe but you're fooling yourself if you don't believe a majority of NFL players already live in some kind of a bubble to begon with, especially during the season.

The NFL and its players association set a threshold of below 5% positivity rate that would suggest that the virus is under control within team facilities. They are currently at 0.81%, causing optimism as that number should be able to be kept even lower during the season with teams being able to have some input on players activities.

I might compare the Europe Soccer league to MLB in terms of player contact and interaction, as well as the the size of the teams.

Finally, I don't think you have really thought about the ramifications of having to shut down an entire NFL team due to Covid. That is at least 2 teams missing at least 1 game, if not 2.

Once again, it seems you don't understand the goal of conducting daily tests on players is to not allow an infected one to get anywhere close to the field. Therefore football featuring significantly more contact than other sports shouldn't matter.

I agree that if they can't prevent the virus from spreading in a locker room resulting in games having to be canceled there's no way to reschedule those contests.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

I understand the numbers are far worse in the United States than in Europe but you're fooling yourself if you don't believe a majority of NFL players already live in some kind of a bubble to begon with, especially during the season.

The NFL and its players association set a threshold of below 5% positivity rate that would suggest that the virus is under control within team facilities. They are currently at 0.81%, causing optimism as that number should be able to be kept even lower during the season with teams being able to have some input on players activities.

Why do you believe that a bunch of 23-25 year old males who just made a TON of money suddenly cut themselves off from all their friends and family after being drafted? Yeah, Aaron Rodgers is probably living in a bubble but I think we also know that a LOT of other players (Gronk, Kelce, etc.) are not exactly introverts.

I mean, I'd point to the Seahawks player trying to sneak a woman into camp but that would be a little too on point.

 

[rmontro]

Had a college roomate who had polio. His father was a (what?) Jehovah Witness? And would not let him take the sugar cube.

That sounds tragic. I'm guessing more people today are opposed to vaccines for conspiratorial rather than religious reasons. And suspicion of the government. Seeing how the experts have been all over the place on this, I'm not sure "trusting science" is that good of an idea either. Although you have to act on the best information that you have at the time. Which sometimes changes over time.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

That sounds tragic. I'm guessing more people today are opposed to vaccines for conspiratorial rather than religious reasons. And suspicion of the government. Seeing how the experts have been all over the place on this, I'm not sure "trusting science" is that good of an idea either. Although you have to act on the best information that you have at the time. Which sometimes changes over time.

I'm not sure the experts are all over the place on this. They've been pretty consistent on vaccinations being good for humanity.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Why do you believe that a bunch of 23-25 year old males who just made a TON of money suddenly cut themselves off from all their friends and family after being drafted? Yeah, Aaron Rodgers is probably living in a bubble but I think we also know that a LOT of other players (Gronk, Kelce, etc.) are not exactly introverts.

Once again I have to mention European soccer leagues. Those players make a lot of money and are young as well but someone teams are able to make it work. There's no reason the same shouldn't be able with the NFL.

 

[Conan Troutman]

I don't know if pinning all our hopes on a vaccine is a good idea, especially since 30% say they won't even take it.

70% seems like a fine start. We'll see about the other 30%, most of them will think long and hard about not taking it if that means no pay.