Sean Payton tells Saints players no offseason program amid coronavirus pandemic
Less than 48 hours before the start of the 2020 NFL Draft that will be a virtual experience with general managers and other executives making picks from their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is already putting the safety of his players ahead of any other goals.
On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that Payton has informed his team that he'll conduct no offseason workout regardless of any changes to NFL rules during the virus outbreak.
As ESPN's Mike Triplett explained later in the day, the league and NFL Players Association had already agreed upon a different kind of offseason workout program that could include "classroom instruction and virtual workouts for an indeterminate period."
A memo from the league shared by ESPN earlier this month also states that if the coronavirus situation forces one team's facility to remain closed, all other franchises must also keep their facilities closed.
In mid-March, Payton became the first NFL personality confirmed to test positive for coronavirus. The one-time Super Bowl coach took to social media on March 19 to explain he was recovering:
On April 20, Amie Just of Nola.com reported Payton had donated plasma to attempt to assist others who've been infected with the coronavirus.
"Until there's a vaccine for it, this allows us to do something we think can help," Payton told reporters.
Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen and Denver Broncos superstar Von Miller have also tested positive this offseason.
More must-reads: