The NFL is "actively discussing the idea" of instituting a bubble concept "at least for conference championship games and the Super Bowl," according to Brad Biggs of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent in a teleconference yesterday indicated that Saints coach Sean Payton "introduced the idea on the last committee call." Vincent said, "Not sure if that is something we could do actually legally. ... We just have to be flexible. Is it something we are considering? All things are on the table during this fluid environment." Biggs notes the NFL overall is "pleased with where it is at right now in the first week of practice in full pads." As of Tuesday night, there were only 10 players leaguewide on the COVID-19 reserve list (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/20). Vincent said, "We didn't use the term 'bubble.' But that 'secure environment' to make sure that there is no risk from the outside as teams start making that (playoff) drive" (ESPN.com, 8/19). ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the NFL "wants to see how everything goes." Schefter: "It shows you how outside the box the league is thinking at this point in time that Sean Payton would propose and suggest a playoff bubble for teams that qualify for the postseason" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 8/19).
NAVIGATING HOT SPOTS: NFL officials indicated that the league "will not rule out moving games from COVID-19 hot spots." In Miami, Adam Beasley notes South Florida "for weeks has had the highest concentration of COVID-19 cases of all 30 NFL markets." Still, the Dolphins are "determined to play their eight home games at Hard Rock Stadium this fall, and hope to do so in front of fans." But if the public health situation here "gets markedly worse, it's possible the league will change locations" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/20). Meanwhile, Vincent confirmed that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has "formed a COVID-19 advisory board to help make some decisions during the season that normally would fall under the competition committee's purview." He explained that they "would help Goodell make decisions about potential schedule changes, postponements, cancellations and other issues that could be a conflict of interest for the competition committee's members" (ESPN.com, 8/19).
TRYING TO AVOID DISASTER: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson writes while the NFL is "happy about a COVID-19 reserve list that is amazingly nearing single digits, it is just one bad decision away from the tide turning," and that mistake "could be anything." While the league is "planning for everything that can happen right now, baseball is suggesting a parallel track that pro football should be laying down right now." Robinson: "Specifically: postseason bubble plans" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/20). Meanwhile, in Detroit, Dave Birkett writes MLB's "missteps in handling the coronavirus pandemic have provided a blueprint that the NFL hopes will help it navigate a safe and successful season this fall" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/20).
