Report: Some NFL teams considering game-day travel in 2020
Multiple NFL teams intend to fly to and from the sites of their road games on the day of the contest during the 2020 season, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a league source.
The reported plan is intended to minimize health risks amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL already canceled this season's international games due to the health crisis, and each club is scheduled to play two home games and two road games over its first four contests of the campaign in case of further disruptions.
NFL players took to Twitter to criticize the idea shortly after Florio's report surfaced. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay were among those who voiced their disapproval:
Hell Nah. https://t.co/HBe0gRQGV0
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) June 30, 2020
— Allen Robinson II (@AllenRobinson) June 30, 2020
That’s not go work!!! https://t.co/CnjOXTKy6Y
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) June 30, 2020
Whole team gone be on IR! 🥴 https://t.co/OLLI8bPO44
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) June 30, 2020
😂 never https://t.co/a400hxqGs4
— Adrian Amos (@_SmashAmos31) June 30, 2020
Wtf ! 😖😖 https://t.co/hNiHXUcUYy
— Donovan Smith (@DSmith_76) June 30, 2020
— James White (@SweetFeet_White) July 1, 2020
The Seattle Seahawks have 28,982 miles of regular-season travel in 2020, the most in the NFL. AFC North teams will face the least travel, with the Baltimore Ravens set for a league-low 6,420 miles.
Though OTAs and minicamps were called off, the NFL is operating with the expectation that the 2020 season will kick off as planned on Sept. 10. Club facilities have been reopened to head coaches but not yet to players, who are expected to report for training camp in late July.