Just a note: I cannot stress the word "rumor" enough in this headline since nothing official is yet known.
With all of the uncertainty and concern surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, you had to wonder what the NFL planned to do about next month's draft in Las Vegas. The executive editor at Pro Football Weekly, Hub Arkush, reported on Saturday night that the event has already been canceled. The NFL just hasn't announced it yet.
BREAKING: Sources tell @Hub_Arkush that the league already knows #NFLDraft2020 in Vegas is off and will announce after the CBA vote that event is postponed until at least late May https://t.co/2phwN1ctmd
— Pro Football Weekly (@PFWeekly) March 15, 2020
Arkush wrote the following:
As for the Draft, according to my sources, Las Vegas is already canceled — it just hasn't been announced yet — and the league will announce the Draft is being postponed until late May at least — as soon as the NFLPA's decision on the new CBA is announced.
The sports world has essentially shut down. The NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, XFL, and MLS have all suspended operations in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, eliminating the large gatherings that come with sporting events.
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The NFL, until now, hasn't officially announced plans to change course, aside from canceling school pro days and pre-draft visits. Many NFL teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, have already closed their team facilities and home stadiums. Coaches and most staff are working remotely, as the league still appears set to start its new year and free agency this week.
It was reported on Sunday morning that the majority player vote has approved a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which will run through the 2030 season.
For now, the draft remains scheduled for April 23-25. Of course, as we have all learned over the past week, things can quickly change.