NFL gives guidance for teams to begin reopening process

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before the roll out of the 2020 NFL season schedule Wednesday, ESPN reportedthat the NFL reached out to all 32 teams, laying out certain protocols to be followed, as the league prepares to slowly reopen team facilities.

Team facilities have been closed due to the coronavirus since March, but since the beginning of May, state and local governments have started gradually reopening communities. In response to the slow return to normal, the NFL wants teams prepared and ready to begin phase one of reopening. However, according to the commissioner's memo, teams must first receive consent from the state and local governments first.

Teams are expected to be prepared to reopen under these certain guidelines by May 15th according to ESPN who obtained the memo sent out by commissioner Roger Goodell. ESPN's Senior NFL Insider, Adam Schefter shared the memo on his twitter as well. The memo outlines the first phase of rules to be followed as team facilities cautiously resume their normal day to day. It does not outline any other phases, but does mention next steps will be coming fairly soon.

According to the memo, it will be a slow process beginning with select staff members being allowed in followed by eventually players.

ESPN stated, "The first group of staff allowed back in would included no more than 50% of non-player staff and up to a total of 75 per day, the only players able to return will be those who were already rehabbing injuries before the facilities closed."

As for when the rest of the players will be allowed to return to the facility, the commissioner had this to say as quoted from the memo, "We are actively working with the NFLPA on the protocols that would apply to player access to facilities."

Hopefully phase one is a safe step in the right direction as the world of sports longs for any type of normality they can get.