Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

NFL doc: Season start time contingent on testing

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Thursday, 02 April 2020 20:31

Although the NFL remains hopeful of starting its regular season on time and in front of packed stadiums, its chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said Thursday that certain prerequisites -- including widespread testing for the coronavirus -- must be met for that to happen.

Sills' comments to NFL.com came two days after the league's general counsel, Jeff Pash, told reporters on a conference call that the "expectation" is to begin the regular season as scheduled in September.

Sills acknowledged that outcome is just one of many given the fluidity of the pandemic's effect and how the country continues to try to deal with it.

"I think what was implied there [by Pash] was to say we are not at a point where we are saying that is absolutely not going to happen so we should continue our planning and preparations as if we're going to be able to do that," Sills told NFL.com. "But obviously we're going to have to evaluate that along the way. And follow what the recommendations are from public health officials and from our infectious-disease experts and others."

Among the conditions Sills noted must be met for the NFL to begin practices and games on time is the availability of point-of-care coronavirus tests -- which yield quick results and can be done off-site from hospitals, for example -- and the removal of gathering restrictions due to the pandemic.

"As long as we're still in a place where when a single individual tests positive for the virus that you have to quarantine every single person who was in contact with them in any shape, form or fashion, then I don't think you can begin to think about reopening a team sport," Sills told NFL.com. "Because we're going to have positive cases for a very long time."

Football has been the one major sport whose calendar has been unaffected by the coronavirus due to the fact that it takes place in the fall. Others such as basketball, baseball and hockey have been put on hold for the immediate future.

Sills said the NFL won't act in a vacuum when it decides on how it will handle playing games and noted there's no current timeline for when that decision must be made.

"We will make those decisions in consultation with our experts at the time," Sills said. "That decision will not be made in isolation. The NFL will not be charting a course different than other professional sports, other parts of society -- college sports, universities, businesses."

Read 2261 times

Soccer

Hojlund, Garnacho lead United rout of Leicester

Hojlund, Garnacho lead United rout of Leicester

Manchester United's Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho ended goal droughts and Bruno Fernandes sc...

Howe amazed as Newcastle 'legends' end drought

Howe amazed as Newcastle 'legends' end drought

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNewcastle United manager Eddie Howe challenged his players to win m...

Slot: 'Hunger' not the issue in Liverpool cup loss

Slot: 'Hunger' not the issue in Liverpool cup loss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool head coach Arne Slot dismissed the idea Newcastle United'...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Magic end Cavaliers' winning streak at 16 games

Magic end Cavaliers' winning streak at 16 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22...

Kerr passes Attles as Warriors' winningest coach

Kerr passes Attles as Warriors' winningest coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- One game after Stephen Curry reached 4,000 3-point...

Baseball

Valdez gets 4th straight Astros Opening Day start

Valdez gets 4th straight Astros Opening Day start

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLeft-hander Framber Valdez was named the Houston Astros' Opening Da...

Twins' Lewis leaves game with hamstring injury

Twins' Lewis leaves game with hamstring injury

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFORT MYERS, Fla. -- Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis left...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated