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Jul 11, 2020
6:43:04pm
Michael McQuain All-American
Very interesting piece about what is known/unknown about NFL season right now...


Came out yesterday on ESPN. It's a long read...but definitely interesting. Here are a few excerpts...

What we KNOW:

*In the event of a positive test, the NFL has contracted with IQVIA — a third-party firm that also analyzes league injury data — for contact tracing to determine whom the person has been in close contact with during the incubation period. If there is a fear of in-game exposure, the NFL will make use of radio-frequency identification tracking devices embedded in each player's shoulder pads to determine whom that player was within 6 feet of during the game. Anyone who engages in team activities will be required to wear a Kinexon proximity recording tracking device, which would allow contact tracers to find the close contacts of someone who tested positive.

*Teams have been asked to retrofit their facilities as much as possible to account for 6 feet of physical distancing. Details will vary based on facility design, but in general, it will mean rearranging and/or expanding locker rooms into temporary areas. The league also has provided instructions on creating one-way traffic through hallways. It has mandated individual appointments with athletic trainers and limited weight room workouts to 15 or fewer players. Virtual meetings are encouraged, and in-person meetings are limited to 20 people. All players and staff must wear a mask when inside the facility, although players are not required to wear them during workouts.

What we DON'T KNOW:

*As of now, there are no financial accommodations for players or other team employees who want to opt out of the season, either because of preexisting conditions or reticence with the safety protocols. Would they lose their jobs? Be placed on unpaid leave? Could they be paid a reduced salary? Otherwise, many people in the NFL would be left to choose between their health and being paid.

*Details aren't clear on how the NFL will account for what could be significant roster churn based on infections and isolation time. Expanded active rosters and bigger practice squads are both in play. The league might also need to devise a new reserve classification so that players who are infected or in isolation (1) don't count against roster limits or (2) are not subject to the three-player limit for activations from injured reserve.

*The NFL will allow each team to determine its policy for allowing fans into stadiums for games. But all that is known for sure is that the first eight rows of every stadium will be tarped off for distancing purposes. Because state and local guidelines have changed several times this summer, plans for fans remain in flux.
Michael McQuain
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Michael McQuain
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