Sports
Report: Roger Goodell Conducting NFL Draft from House Is ‘Worst-Case Scenario’
Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesNBC Sports’ Peter King wrote Sunday night that a “source with knowledge of draft-logistics discussions” told him the possibility of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conducting the 2020 draft from home through a remote-controlled camera in Bronxville, New York, because of the COVID-19 pandemic would be a “worst-case scenario.”However, King and NFL Network’s Rich…
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
NBC Sports' Peter King wrote Sunday night that a “source with knowledge of draft-logistics discussions” told him the possibility of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conducting the 2020 draft from home through a remote-controlled camera in Bronxville, New York, because of the COVID-19 pandemic would be a “worst-case scenario.”
However, King and NFL Network's Rich Eisen liked the idea.
“What better way to communicate the necessity to stay inside to stop the spread of the coronavirus than the commissioner of the NFL announcing the picks, alone, from his house in New York?” Eisen told King.
Goodell sent a memo to teams Thursday night confirming the draft will go on as scheduled beginning on April 23:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Goodell informed teams they “should be doing the necessary planning to conduct Draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present, and with sufficient technology resources to….communicate with other clubs and Draft headquarters.” https://t.co/iHaf5d8eJn
The draft was originally slated to take place in Las Vegas, but the Los Angeles Times‘ Sam Farmer reported on March 21 that was no longer happening.
“The NFL is not commenting publicly about what's in the works, but according to two individuals with knowledge of the discussions, the current plans call for some type of studio setting with cut-ins from the headquarters of the teams making the selection at a given time,” Farmer wrote.
That came after the league announced the cancellation of public draft events.
The predraft process has been disrupted, too. Teams pulled their respective coaches and scouts from traveling, while prospects' pro days were canceled.
The NFL offseason has been impacted in several other ways:
Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
Players are prohibited from entering club facilities through March 31 and thus can't have physical exams there. Similar to free agents, clubs can contact a physician near the players' home — but some teams aren't comfortable with that. Another unusual aspect of this offseason.
Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
Some NFL teams already had closed facilities; others had very limited personnel in the building. Now, a level playing field amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The memo says teams may continue to conduct all normal business, including signing players.
MLB and MLS, as well as the NBA and NHL—the other major American professional sports—each suspended its 2019-20 season earlier this month.
Through Sunday evening, according to CNN, the United States has over 139,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 2,425 people have died from the virus. The U.S. has the most cases of any country in the world.
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