The NFL has mostly kept its offseason on schedule throughout the pandemic with an eye on playing in the fall. Dr. Anthony Fauci believes that’s feasible, provided that the league does not have fans in attendance.
“There’s a way of doing that,” Fauci told Snapchat’s Peter Hamby (YouTube link). “Nobody comes to the stadium. Put [players] in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled….But have them tested every single week, make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family, and just let them play the season out.”
Fauci, a devoted baseball fan, added that he “wants to see them play again.” And, in his personal opinion, he believes that fans will be eager to watch games, even if the atmosphere is lacking. Of course, the NFL has time on its side, whereas MLB does not. Already behind schedule, MLB owners and players are thinking about launching the season in Arizona for every team, with zero fans in the stands. Every league, including the NFL, will be keeping a watchful eye on baseball to inform next steps.
The Trump administration has taken a vested interest in the return of professional sports. They’ve solicited suggestions from Roger Goodell, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, MLB commish Rob Manfred, owners Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft, and many more leaders in the sports world. That list also includes WWE czar Vince McMahon, who has filed Chapter 11 on the XFL, and UFC president Dana White, who hopes to broadcast cards from “Fight Island” (Parts Unknown).
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to talk with the NCAA’s Playoff Management Committee to assess options at the amateur level (Twitter link via Kaitlan Collins of CNN).
More must-reads: