The NFL Cardinals yesterday "found a new way to introduce one of their latest additions," organizing a "live video conference on Zoom" with newly-signed LB Devon Kennard, according to Bob McManaman of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The NFL has "mandated that all players stay away from team facilities" amid the coronavirus pandemic, "essentially putting an end to the regular interview sessions that typically follow a free-agent signing or trade acquisition." The Cardinals are the "first team to use video conferencing to conduct such an interview session." Cardinals Senior VP/Media Relations Mark Dalton said that the team "might be conducting similar interviews with other new additions," including WR DeAndre Hopkins (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/24).
IMPACT ON AGENCIES: In Atlanta, Eric Jackson wrote sports agencies nationwide are "doing what they can to work around the challenges" presented by the coronavirus pandemic. NFL agents are "doing their best to guide their newest class of rookies, many of whom are scrambling looking for places to train ahead of the draft with their school facilities shut down." STL Sports Management President & CEO Safarrah Lawson said that Draft prospects from "smaller, lesser-known programs will likely be impacted the most from the fallout." Lawson said that he made a "large investment to send some clients to a training center for eight weeks but his efforts were stymied as the players never got chance to shine in front of evaluators." Travel restrictions "have also hurt." While many rookies "struggle to get an adequate pre-draft evaluation, offseason deals from Atlanta-based agencies have continued on despite uncertainty surrounding team physicals." Packers WR Allen Lazard has a "relatively straightforward deal," though like others, it has been "complicated because he can't sign the paperwork until he gets up to Green Bay and passes a physical exam" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/23).
