Dr. Fauci says he's 'absolutely not' trying to shut down football season

Dr. Anthony Fauci recently made headlines when he said that playing football may not be possible unless the NFL embraces a bubble approach. But after facing criticism for his statement, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the face of the White House COVID-19 task force clarified that he has no intention of stopping football from happening.

"I haven’t set any strict conditions or other directions for the football league," Fauci said in an interview. "They have come to me and asked me from a medical standpoint a bunch of questions about risks. They are a very competent group of people and they will make up their own minds."

One of the biggest objectors to Fauci's original statement was President Trump, who tweeted that Fauci has "nothing to do with football." Fauci seems to feel his comments were misrepresented and tried to make it clear that he is not against football being played.

"It’s unfortunate that it’s been somehow spun that I’m the person in the way of a football season," he said. "Absolutely not."

Several NFL coaches and personnel have already complained about the "impossible" safety precautions that the league has put in place as they head towards the season. But others are worried that even with these protocols in place, the idea of the NFL season actually being played is completely unrealistic, with several teams reportedly wanting the season to be pushed back amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We need to push back the start," one executive told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.