Football facilities to remain closed indefinitely
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just informed clubs in a memo that club facilities will remain closed indefinitely and the league will conduct a “fully virtual” draft, with club personnel separately located in their homes. pic.twitter.com/28t2kNnLAI
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 6, 2020
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. — Robin Williams
I honestly don't see how games will be ready to play by Sept. I'd be surprised if there were NFL games played in Nov or Dec. I think training camps will open in the fall at the soonest.
@"HappyViking" said: I honestly don't see how games will be ready to play by Sept. I'd be surprised if there were NFL games played in Nov or Dec. I think training camps will open in the fall at the soonest.
At this point, I really don't have expectations for the season. It is nice to have a draft for a break from the negative and a bit of normalcy.
National past-time may evolve too...===========================================
Baseball could be back next month — but not at Target FieldOn one hand, you might be able to watch Twins games as early as late May. On the other, Is baseball in some alternative form better than nothing at all?
You might, dear baseball fan, have a mental and sensory image of what the sport will look and feel like when it is deemed safe for play to resume: Crowd sounds; ballpark food scents; smiling fans on a sunny day decked out in all manners of Twins jerseys at Target Field.
But the actual near-term return to the resumption of MLB games could look completely different, as outlined in a wide-ranging report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
Teams sequestered in Arizona playing neutral site games primarily at spring training sites; no fans in the stands; players possibly still practicing social distancing by sitting six feet apart in the stands instead of the dugout; electronic balls and strikes being called so that the home plate umpire isn’t too close to the catcher.
Zero ticket revenue, which reportedly makes up a whopping $10 billion every year across 30 MLB teams. But possibly expanded TV revenue if more games can be nationally televised and rights-holders are lured by the prospect of live programming.
In other words: Completely different than the picture in your head.
On one hand, you might be able to watch Twins games as early as late May or early June. On the other hand, it would always be on TV, broadcast from a sterile environment far away — perhaps for the entire 2020 season, or at least deep into it.
Is baseball in some alternative form better than nothing at all? I’m inclined to say it probably is, but this will also test the limits of what defines the experience of watching a game.
Is it primarily defined by what happens between the lines by the players? Or is the entire experience dependent on the interplay between sights, sounds and smells? How much of the tension is derived from the collective atmosphere?
If Game 7 of the 1991 World Series happened pitch-for-pitch the exact same way, but it played out in an empty Metrodome, would we still remember it the same way?
The answer is pretty obviously “no,” but then again we are in the midst of constantly shifting expectations. As inevitable as comparisons will be between games in empty neutral site stadiums and the “real thing,” maybe there will be a consensus that “the best under the circumstances” — increasingly our new normal — will suffice.
And that something abnormal in many ways will still make us feel normal.
Or … the version might feel so different and strange that we’d rather not have anything until we have the real thing.
MLB could be the test case for a fascinating experiment.
I just don't see baseball coming back next month either. That seems incredibly unrealistic. It seems risky to players and coaches.
@"Vikergirl" said: I just don't see baseball coming back next month either. That seems incredibly unrealistic. It seems risky to players and coaches.Agreed.
If sports resume in any form, my concern is what happens if any athlete passes away.
Just doesn't seem like a wise choice given today's reality.
Got tickets for the Boston series later this month, haven't even looked at rain-check/ reschedule policy, worry about that later. On the bright side this could be Buxton's healthiest season.
Once GMs have all the technology installed to draft from their basements, expect the NFL to run multiple system tests, including a “mock draft” with all 32 teams before the real draft begins.@NFLTotalAccess @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/2D3Q4qhlAa
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 7, 2020
There better be a soundtrack of booing from prior drafts.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/07/report-kevin-colbert-suggests-three-more-rounds-of-2020-draft/
@"BarrNone55" said: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/07/report-kevin-colbert-suggests-three-more-rounds-of-2020-draft/
I can see the players union having a sound answer for mr colbert
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"BarrNone55" said: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/07/report-kevin-colbert-suggests-three-more-rounds-of-2020-draft/
I can see the players union having a sound answer for mr colbert
I can see Vikings fans whining when Rick trades down to acquire additional 10th rounders...
@"BarrNone55" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"BarrNone55" said: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/07/report-kevin-colbert-suggests-three-more-rounds-of-2020-draft/
I can see the players union having a sound answer for mr colbert
I can see Vikings fans whining when Rick trades down to acquire additional 10th rounders...
whats not to love about turning 3 guys that shouldnt make the final roster into 10 guys that would most certainly not make the final roster?
Honest to goodness, if the NFL wanted to broadcast their mock draft that they will conduct as a system test, I'd watch.
"The Cincinnati Bengals select, Tim Riggins, Fullback, Friday Night Lights"
Mfers better have a sign that reads "Booooooooooo"
Seriously, I'd watch. Shelter in place or not. I used to tape NFL Europe games.
Just a question here---what would happen if we don't even get to a season played this year---how would they rank for next years draft? Same slot as this year?
@"Akvike" said: Just a question here---what would happen if we don't even get to a season played this year---how would they rank for next years draft? Same slot as this year?Probably. Be fun if they did a lottery.
@"MaroonBells" said:Minnesota sports teams dont have a strong record in sports draft lotteries. Maybe better find some other form of randomness.@"Akvike" said: Just a question here---what would happen if we don't even get to a season played this year---how would they rank for next years draft? Same slot as this year? Probably. Be fun if they did a lottery.
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