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UPDATE: The league year will start as scheduled!
Now official. NFL sent memo to teams, informing them: Negotiation window noon tomorrow. League year weds. Franchise designation ends tomorrow at noon. Official.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
NFL says NFLPA would not provide consent to move league year, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
NFLPA says: No one is traveling anyway. It’s not football activity, it’s deals. Everyone is working remotely. Let’s do our business remotely. And this could get worse before it gets better. So do it now.
There has been a lot of speculation about what the NFL will do with the coronavirus pandemic that is shutting things down worldwide. There have already been rumors that the NFL draft would be postponed. Teams have pulled coaches and scouts off the road, and closed team facilities.
The NFL was discussing the idea of delaying the start of the new league year today following the passing of the new CBA. Initially it seemed like it was a good possibility they would push everything back, but Adam Schefter is reporting the show must go on. Nothing is official yet, and there are lots of things that would be different in this year's free agency due to coronavirus precautions.
Stay tuned for an official update...
Franchise tag deadline: Monday, March 16th at 11:59:59 am
Start of NFL's legal tampering period: Monday, March 16th at 12 pm
Start of new league year/free agency: Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00 pm
Reasons why this has become the expectation as day has progressed, based on conversations I've had with people familiar:
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) March 15, 2020
1. Free agency isn't a spectator event with large crowds.
2. Deals can be done without visits.
3. What if they push it back two weeks and things get worse? https://t.co/M1iVK4vuYD
Many NFL teams are making preparations as if free agency will begin on time. They have no choice; they have to be ready. The NFL and NFLPA have been in discussions today but there had been no decision reached between them as of roughly 45 minutes ago, according to one source.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 15, 2020
Reports: Team executives expect league year to start on time https://t.co/aD3FJVGQsE
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 15, 2020