The outbreak among the Titans has accelerated talks about a possible playoff bubbleGetty Images
Establishing the type of bubble that both the NBA and NHL created could be “something that the NFL would look into” if the league’s coronavirus outbreaks become larger, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. No one in the league “has ruled it out, but it is not expected to be something that's coming right now” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 10/4). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote putting “all teams in hotels” would be a solution to the NFL's current virus troubles. Florio: “Seal off all players, coaches, and essential personnel from the outside world." The NFL "can’t do it without the agreement" of the NFLPA, and the union "likely would want something more for the players in order to get them" on board. However, the "sooner the league and the union realize" a bubble is the best way ensure the NFL season, the "sooner steps can be taken to avoid losing games for good, and the greater the likelihood that all 256 games will be played" (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/3). In N.Y., Steve Serby noted a regular-season bubble was "never deemed practical" because roster sizes. But now the NFL "should do itself a favor and rule one in. ... Sooner rather than later" (N.Y. POST, 10/4).
PLAYOFF BUBBLE POSSIBLE: CBSSPORTS.com’s Jason La Canfora cited sources as saying that while the NFL had not delved too deeply into possible playoff bubble scenarios prior to the Titans' outbreak, such conversations are "picking up internally in the aftermath." The playoff bubble concept had "strong support within the NFL's competition committee." However, sources said that it was "not universally supported within the league office and was something that the NFLPA was not inclined to pursue during initial COVID-19 negotiations." An NFLPA source said that the league had "not formally broached the subject of playoff bubbles recently, but noted it wouldn't be shocking for the sides to discuss it at some point depending on where the numbers were trending" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/4).
