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UPDATE: The Redskins are also cancelling pre-draft visits with players
As an agent, it's my strong recommendation that my players don't travel for any team visits. With 12 or more games played, an All-Star game and Combine for most, teams have enough information to make an informed draft decision.
— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) March 12, 2020
Off that tweet from @MikeMcCartney7 and the earlier statement from Dan Snyder, word is the #Redskins will also be canceling their 30 pre-draft visits to their facility. Snyder and the Skins among the more active teams on this front right now.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2020
Last night was considered a tipping point for the American public's acknowledgement of the novel coronavirus pandemic currently happening worldwide. The NBA suspended their season after Utah Jazz C Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with COVID-19, and actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson also announced their positive tests. Shocking news that jolted a lot of people, and raised questions about what's coming next.
This morning it was reported that MLS will also be suspending its season, and multiple other sporting events around the world are also being cancelled or postponed.
The Redskins officially announced that the team will be suspending all travel for coaches and scouts over concerns surrounding COVID-19, becoming the first team to officially announce such a move. The Buccaneers will reportedly also discontinue travel and the Browns are limiting it. This is expected to become policy league-wide very quickly as teams look to protect employees and their families. College pro days are happening, but that could also change soon.
The NFL draft is scheduled for April 23rd-25th in Las Vegas, NV and there have already been reports that fan activities will be limited or eliminated completely. The draft itself could look drastically different if this continues through the end of April.
Stay safe out there.
Redskins coaches and scouts are not traveling now. Ron Rivera was supposed to hold a press conference in Richmond this morning during a tour of the training camp facility. That was called off last night. https://t.co/NNBFzNUQK3
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter) March 12, 2020
"Due to health and travel concerns surrounding COVID-19, we have informed all of our scouts and coaches that they must return to their home bases and travel will be suspended until further notice. The health and safety of our staff and players is our number one priority and we feel that these are the necessary precautions given the current circumstances.”
The NFL has told all staff except for operationally critical staff to work from home until further notice beginning tomorrow — “out of an abundance of caution and with the health and safety of our communities as our foremost priority."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2020