With bootcamps starting in earnest in the NFL this week, Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed fans around the world with a letter released Monday.
After a low season devoid of activity due to the spread of the new coronavirus, soccer activities will soon resume in the NFL amidst the most unusual circumstances in our nation’s recent history. With an unprecedented environment will come football with an unprecedented appearance. Safety will be paramount to all who participate in and oversee operations throughout the league.
The game will continue and Goodell is ready to get things going. He made sure to point out one point: just like the game itself, tweaks might be necessary.
“Adaptability and flexibility will be needed for the foreseeable future,” Goodell wrote. “After all, even the best game plan changes as new challenges emerge. This year’s NFL Draft is a good example that embracing change can still bring the fun and excitement we all long for.”
“While this year will forever be defined by a heartbreaking global pandemic and a transformative social justice movement, I remember the tenacious and resilient spirit of our country, the NFL community and you, the best fans in the world. Thank you for your continued support for “.
Goodell’s full letter can be read below:
Training camps begin this week across the country and before we know it, the NFL season will be here. This is always the most optimistic time of the year for our fans and for all 32 teams. In a year that has been extraordinarily difficult for our country and the world, we hope that the energy of this moment will provide the optimism that we so badly need.
In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, we have navigated time carefully, with attention and in partnership with the NFL Players Association with the shared goal of playing a healthy and complete 2020 season. . This process has not been easy: COVID-19 will continue to present a great challenge for almost all areas of American life. Soccer is no exception.
Every step of the way, our focus has been on the safety of players, coaches, staff, fans, and our communities. Our planning has followed the leadership of medical experts and public health officials, including CDC, the White House Task Force, governors, and state health officials. As we develop our 2020 playbook for the return of soccer, safety continues to be our first priority; That commitment will continue to be paramount as players return to the field.
The NFL in 2020 will not look like other years. Players and coaches will be regularly screened for the virus, even every day for a time. The preseason games have been canceled. Everyone in the team environment must follow rigorous health and safety protocols to stay safe and protect others. When there is a positive test, strict regulations will be applied to isolate and care for that person and to contain the virus before it spreads. Even the sideline will look different. And, state and local health guidelines will help determine if fans will attend the games. These adjustments are necessary to reduce the risk for all involved.
Thanks to the collaboration of the players and the hard work of our clubs, especially their medical and training personnel, our plans are underway for the 2020 season. look inside the Rams training facility for some of these plans in action.
Adaptability and flexibility will be needed for the foreseeable future. After all, even the best game plan changes as new challenges emerge. This year’s NFL Draft is a good example that embracing change can still bring the fun and excitement we all long for.
While this year will be forever defined by a heartbreaking global pandemic and a transformative social justice movement, I remember the tenacious and resilient spirit of our country, the NFL community, and you, the best fans in the world. Thank you for your continued support.
