NFLPA has no plan for Super Bowl LV postponement due to COVID-19

The NFL and National Football League Players Association are several days and one game away from completing a full season on time amid the coronavirus pandemic despite multiple teams enduring outbreaks that caused postponements and also fears that Super Bowl LV wouldn't occur at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7 due to rescheduled games. 

On Wednesday, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith was asked during an appearance on ESPN's "Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin" show if the union would considering pushing the Super Bowl back a week or two if a superstar such as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady or Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller and reigning Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes recorded a positive COVID-19 test before Sunday. 

"I don't see any scenario where we would agree with the league to move the Super Bowl," Smith explained. "I mean, look, we've had a difficult season. We've had teams in Cleveland, where I think JC Tretter, our union president, was breaking down film because they didn't have a coach; we saw the Denver Broncos head into a [game] without a number of quarterbacks. I think it wouldn't be fair to the rigor and the discipline that we've insisted that players have this year to move the Super Bowl. My hope, and certainly everybody's hope, is that our players will continue to double down, do the great job that they've done all season, and we'll get this fantastic game kicked off on time."

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after Week 17 and missed his team's wild-card Sunday victory at the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos all played without key figures during the fall because of the league's coronavirus-related protocols. 

On Monday, the Chiefs placed center Daniel Kilgore and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on the reserve/COVID-19 list after they were deemed high-risk close contacts. Both could be eligible for Super Bowl Sunday, however, if they continue to test negative for the coronavirus through the weekend.