NFL teams can talk to prospective free agents about the cost of joining their side Monday morning and start signing them on Wednesday afternoon. Then it’s on, with teams committing serious cash to talented veterans in hopes of creating a championship-worthy squad.
That timetable suggests routine. The start of this NFL league year will be anything but ordinary.
The global coronavirus pandemic has forced most NFL teams to prohibit business-related travel, including football operations. It has profoundly impacted American life in general, forcing President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency.
The process of signing and wooing free agents will be altered significantly, and that goes from the big stars to the lesser-known additions that fill out a depth chart.