The NFL has no immediate plans to switch to a bubble concept in response to the news that at least 13 members of the MLB Miami Marlins have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Instead, according to NFL medical director Allen Sills, the league will continue to focus on quickly and efficiently handling positive tests as part of what the league now calls the “virtual soccer bubble.”
“We have said all along that we expected positive cases between players and staff,” Sills said in a phone interview with ESPN on Monday. “And there may be a number on each computer. As long as this virus is endemic in society, we will continue to see new cases.”
“What we think is important is that we have established protocols that can identify those cases as quickly as possible, and make sure that once we identify them, we take the right action, which is to isolate the individual from the team, get them the right treatment and then follow up on the contact. “
The NBA, WNBA, MLS, and NWSL implemented bubble structures that allow essential personnel to enter only after prolonged isolation and multiple negative tests.
Like MLB, the NFL considered doing the same for its 2020 season. But the NFL decided instead on a series of protocols that limit movement and contact in team facilities, during travel and in games, while It gives teams the option to discipline players or other employees who take risky actions when they are off the premises.
“We landed in the place where everyone was most comfortable,” Sills said, “in terms of balanced security against the pragmatic aspects.”
Options to move forward have not been ruled out, Sills said, but said current NFL protocols amount to a “virtual” bubble around each team.
“When you talk about a ‘bubble,'” he said, “people define that term differently. Some people define it one way and others define it differently. We would say we already have a virtual soccer bubble, Because as we said before, everyone in our team environment shares the same risk, but shares the same responsibility with each other. At the facility, they share responsibility for what they are doing, but they also share a responsibility when they are away from the facility.
“It is not just about players. They are the coaches, the staff and their families. We want them to make good decisions, in the same way that we do with the whole society. We want them to wear masks, practice good hygiene, stay away from sick people and big gatherings. All of those things will be critical to the success of our season, and that’s why we spend so much time on education and making sure everyone hears that message and is on the same page. “
Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson expressed similar sentiments Monday while speaking to reporters at the team’s NovaCare Complex.
“I feel extremely safe,” said Pederson. “This is our bubble here at NovaCare. I can’t control everything, we can’t control everything. There will probably be some things that will come up in the future, but right now I feel extremely safe and this is a great environment for our players to be successful.” .
Most of the NFL players will perform at training camp on Tuesday. According to protocols updated late last week by the league, players must produce three negative results in a four-day period. If so, they would start the daily tests on the fifth day and be admitted to the team’s facilities. Previous versions of the protocol required only two negative tests before entering the facility.
ESPN writer Tim McManus contributed to this story.
.
