NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Is for him or the whole team? It would double the order if it was for the team

 

Just him

 

When will it be safe for sports to start back up again? That’s something many millions of fans want to know, and it will be addressed as part of President Trump’s agenda today.

A call with the commissioners of the professional sports leagues has been scheduled for today. The noon entry on Saturday’s official White House schedule says, “The President participates in a phone call with Major League Commissioners.”

The entry does not say which commissioners will be on the call, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would presumably take part.

So far the NFL has been the least-affected of America’s pro sports by the coronavirus pandemic, simply because the nationwide shutdown is taking place during the NFL’s offseason. But NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills acknowledged this week that the NFL regular season may not be able to go on as planned.

Realistically, America probably still has a significant wait before team sports can be played, for the simple reason that Dr. Sills noted this week: The current protocols say that if one person tests positive, everyone who has been in contact with that one person should self-isolate. And that means it would only take one player, coach or other team personnel to test positive for an entire team — and any teams that have recently played against that team — to have to go into isolation. It’s just not feasible for a sports league to re-start its schedule right now, knowing that at any moment one person’s positive test would require whole teams to stop playing and practicing.

And however long it takes until the sports leagues can start playing again, it’s going to take even longer before they can play in a stadium full of fans. It would be reckless and irresponsible for any organization to even consider cramming tens of thousands of people into a stadium right now.

So it’s hard to imagine that there’s going to be much upbeat news coming out of the president’s discussion with commissioners today. The sports leagues may be able to discuss the best public safety protocols for when games are played again, but no one should expect that to happen soon.

NBC

 

President Trump believes NFL season should start on time

The President conducted a conference call with sports commissioners on Saturday, and as to one sport in particular he expressed an opinion.

Via ESPN.com, Donald Trump said that he believes the NFL’s regular season should begin on time in September.

Trump also added that he hopes to have fans in stadiums and arenas by August and September. However, it’s hard to imagine packed stands until scientists develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. A vaccine isn’t expected until the middle of 2021, at the earliest.

The NFL has said it’s planning for a full season. More recently, NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills expressed a more pragmatic viewpoint, one that acknowledges the many unknowns and factors that will influence a final decision.

Ultimately, scientists and other skilled experts will determine if, when, and how football will return. It’s currently hard to envision any type of sporting event resuming any time soon. However, as quickly as things changed to shut the world down, things possibly could change quickly to open the world up again.

NBC

 

I have finally found a way to live in the presence of the lord

 

Blind Faith

 

I know I don’t have much to give
But I can open any door

 

She don’t light

 

Only four days ago came word that Tom Dempsey had recovered from COVID-19. The good news was short lived.

The former NFL kicker died late Saturday of complications from the coronavirus, the Times-Picayne reports. Dempsey was 73.

Dempsey had battled Alzheimer’s disease and dementia since 2012. He was one of several residents of a senior living facility in New Orleans to contract COVID-19, testing positive March 25.

At least 15 residents at the Lambeth House retirement home in Uptown New Orleans have died from the coronavirus, according to the Times-Picayune.

Dempsey becomes at least the second former NFL player to die after contracting COVID-19. Orlando McDaniel, who played three games for the Broncos in 1982, died last week. McDaniel was 59.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and fingers on his right hand, signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1969. He is best remembered for his record-setting 63-yard field goal in 1969.

The small flat shoe he kicked with is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Although Dempsey played for the Eagles, Rams, Oilers and Bills after leaving the Saints, he retired to New Orleans.

NBC

 

Derek Wolfe: Ravens can “for sure” have best DL in league



Derek Wolfe wasn’t the Ravens’ first choice as a free agent addition to their defensive line, but they turned his way after a deal with Michael Brockers fell through.

Wolfe doesn’t think that change is going to have a negative impact on the performance of the unit. They’ve also added Calais Campbell in a trade to go with holdovers Brandon Williams and Jihad Ward in a group that Wolfe believes is going to be better than any other in the NFL.

“I think we can have the best defensive line in the league, for sure, and we could break records. We could break the rushing record — yards per rush, stuff like that,” Wolfe said, via NBCSportsWashington.com.

The 2000 Ravens set that record for the Super Bowl era by allowing 2.69 yards per rush. The 2019 Ravens gave up 4.4 yards per carry, so the addition of Wolfe and Campbell would have to have a major impact in order for the team to make that kind of improvement.

If they do or even if they come close, the team’s chances of repeating the 2000 squad’s postseason success will look pretty good.

NBC

________
_______________

The Bears might argue.

 

I’d give anything to stop the hsnds of time and stay with you here tonight

 

NFL teams reportedly bracing to do draft from home, alone

The draft is 18 days away, and ESPN reported on Saturday that “multiple” teams are preparing to conduct the draft exclusively from home.

Those that aren’t should be.

As explained the other day, the April 2 memo sent to all NFL franchises makes it clear that teams will be permitted to draft from their facilities or remotely, one or the other, and that the league currently is determining which approach will be more feasible. Obviously, remote, from-home drafting is the only thing that will be feasible, given the clear “stay at home” orders in place in nearly every state where the NFL does business. (Of the states that host NFL teams, only Missouri hasn’t issued a “stay at home” order.)

The April 2 memo likely represented a face-saver for the NFL, since only two days earlier the league had said teams would be allowed to gather in off-site “small war rooms” of up to 10, without acknowledging the obvious conflict between that approach and the various “stay at home” orders. By Thursday of last week, someone apparently realized that the “stay at home” orders could be an issue — especially if the league’s position will continue to be that the same rules must apply to all teams.

If only one state says to the league, “Sorry, but you’re not getting a dispensation to have a meeting in the office because you’re no different than any other business that has to conduct its meetings from home,” then everyone will be drafting from home.

And even if there’s a way the league can somehow thread the needle in every state except Missouri between now and April 23, the smart move is to assume that it won’t happen, and to prepare for conducting the draft from home.

NBC

 

Here's an interesting question for everyone:

Do you think drafting from home will affect the outcome of the draft, and if so, how?

I'm really, really interested to see how teams go about solving this problem. No doubt there'll be many answers to it, and I can't wait to see how they all play out.

Also, the lack of personal workouts has to have been a major blow for most teams' approaches, already.

This'll probably more fun than most drafts. Can't wait!

 

It’s definitely going to be interesting. I think you could see less trades than normal and fewer small school kids getting drafted as well.

 

It’s going to be hard to trade if you have to talk to your other members of your staff on the phone while you talk to other teams reps on the phone. Are they going to set up video conferencing? This almost seems to make more sense that they push it back. There seems to be too many hurdles to jump.

 

David Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins still haven’t passed physicals



The biggest trade of the 2020 offseason still isn’t finalized, nearly three weeks after the deal was preliminary done.

Per multiple sources, neither receiver DeAndre Hopkins nor running back David Johnson have passed their physicals. As a result, Hopkins still isn’t officially a Cardinal, and Johnson still isn’t officially a Texan.

So what happens if Johnson or Hopkins fail their physicals? That question was posed by a reader for Sunday’s mailbag, and it justified its own response.

As one source explained it to PFT, Johnson has had a preliminary physical performed on his wrist, which was injured in Week One of the 2017 season. He passed that portion of the physical, despite reduced range of motion that initially caused the doctor (not an NFL doctor) to hesitate. Johnson still has to take a physical as to the rest of his body.

Put simply, if Johnson or Hopkins fail their physicals, the trade will be off. As a practical matter, that gives both the Texans and the Cardinals an out, if they want to avoid the deal — and if they can persuade their doctors to give either guy an “F” on his physical.

For now, there’s no reason to think the Cardinals or the Texans would want to renege. But what if during the draft the Texans have a great running back tumble into their laps in, for example, round three or what if, for example, the Cardinals stumble into a great receiver who would be much cheaper than $22 million per year?

Then there’s the bigger question of what happens with the second-round pick that the Cardinals will be sending to the Texans and the fourth-round pick that the Texans will be sending to the Cardinals? If the physicals aren’t done and the trade isn’t done, how can the 2020 draft picks that were part of the deal change hands?

As one source explained it to PFT, the 2020 draft picks mean that the physicals will have to be done by the start of the draft, or the two sides will have to come up with other terms.

For Johnson, none of it matters; his $10.2 million salary is fully guaranteed regardless of whether the Cardinals or Texans pay it. (He also has another $2 million in fully-guaranteed salary for 2021.)

So the situation gives rises to plenty of questions, and answers in the form of completed physicals or alternative trade terms need to come within the next 19 days.

NBC

 

Physicals are a big obstacle for this time of Coronavirus. Maybe they should have put this stuff on hold

 

I would think teams would have a video conference set up for all members of the team involved in the draft.

 

This 2020 Draft should be interesting, to say the least. NFL Network and ESPN will make it fun, but it probably wont have all the hoopla and spectacles like in the past.

I believe there is plenty of technologies to pull this off... teams will definitely need the allotted time to get things straight, but this is doable , in my opinion.

With all the scouting and film, I don't forsee a problem with knowing an athlete. I think there is enough evidence on certain players to make a good projection on their ability... hell we do pretty good on assessments (Tim and the gang) right here.

As for the logistics, if this is well planned, there is no reason to believe anything will be in question, or im certain the League would have delayed this thing. With teleconferencing, cell phones, film, Skype and sattlelights and a already known knowledge base, this ought to roll just fine. Just all an opinion on my part, but you can bet the NFL is banking on this being a success.

 

NFL, EA Sports to create virtual 2020 draft moments

The 2020 NFL Draft will take place near the end of this month, and it's going to look different than usual.

Instead of the actual players being selected by prospective teams, we'll be treated to virtual crossings of the stage, courtesy of the folks over at EA Sports. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the video game developer known for creating the Madden NFL series is working on creating a virtual moment of the prospect walking out on stage meeting Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Instead of waiting for the newest version of Madden to release in August, these rookies will get to see the video game version of themselves on draft night. Each prospect will also get to choose a high school to receive a $2,500 grant toward their football program, Rapoport reported.

It will be interesting to see what EA Sports whips up for these video sequences. Anyone familiar with the "QB1: Face of the Franchise" career mode introduced in the most recent game will know the company can put together a dramatic cinematic moment or two. Plus, as NFL Network's Mike Garafolo tweeted, they'll be able to safely hug Goodell in the virtual world.

NFL.com