NFL extends its virtual offseason
According to an ESPN report, the NFL will be operating virtually for a bit longer than expected. The NFL is extending its virtual offseason through the end of May. Originally, the virtual offseason was scheduled to end on May 15.
The NFL has had its virtual offseason in place since April 13, due to the coronavirus outbreak that has a majority of the nation on lockdown. At this point, virtual offseason really just means that teams are having group calls to make sure everyone is on the same page as far as playbooks and general organization go. Teams have the option to host virtual workouts, but most of them haven't followed through with that and let the players workout on their own.
The decision comes one day after the California State University system announced it was shutting down through the fall semester and the Los Angeles Times reported that Los Angeles County was going to extend its stay-at-home orders through the end of July.
Other states like Georgia and South Carolina will reopen fully in the next few weeks. That may impact when the NFL starts in different states, but as of now the season is slated to start on time with training camps scheduled to open in about eight weeks.
TUA TAKING OFF
Miami Dolphins newcomer Tua Tagovailoa is starting to connect with his receivers. And for now, veteran wideout Albert Wilson said, longdistance hookups with the rookie quarterback will have to do.
The night Tagovailoa was drafted last month, he pledged to begin reaching out to his new teammates by phone. He has done just that.
“He sent me a text,” Wilson said Wednesday. “He hit me up right after he got drafted, saying how excited he was to get down here and be part of the team.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wilson and his veteran teammates haven't had a chance to meet Tagovailoa, much less work out with him.
“It's kind of frustrating,” Wilson said. “You want to get out there and work on things. But the whole world is on pause, and it's not a disadvantage. You just have to wait until things get going.”
Wilson has been taking part in the Dolphins' virtual offseason program and staying in shape with workouts in his backyard in South Florida. He also has been active with his foundation, which has undertaken a crisis relief campaign to provide foster care youngsters and caretakers with meals and job opportunities.
“For the pandemic to put everything on hold, the people the foster kids were depending on haven't been able to help,” Wilson said. “For us to step in and provide meals is a great opportunity for us and a great thing we're doing.”