CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns are limiting air travel for scouts and coaches in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak the team said Thursday.
How the outbreak will impact their free agency and 30 draft prospect visits is yet to be determined, although a few agents have taken to Twitter to announce official visits have been cancelled by the NFL.
“We are taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our staff,” a team spokesman said Thursday morning.
“We will continue to monitor and heed the advice of our medical and public officials as circumstances evolve.”
The NFL announced Thursday afternoon that the league meetings scheduled at the end of this month in Florida have been cancelled as a precaution, but league business will be taken up next week.
“There will be full consideration and votes on any open football issues, including playing rules, bylaws, and resolutions, as well as other business matters that were on the agenda for the Annual Meeting, at the Spring meeting scheduled for May 19-20,” the league said.
The NFL’s legal tampering period for free agency begins Monday at noon and the new league year starts next Wednesday at 4 p.m. eastern.
Several schools have canceled pro days and agents are instructing their draft prospects and free agent clients not to travel or visit NFL facilities.
Wednesday night the NBA suspended their season after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The Cavaliers, who played the Jazz on March 2, are among the teams the league has reportedly asked to self-quarantine as a precaution.
Major League Soccer and the NHL joined the NBA in suspending their season Thursday and Major League Baseball is expected to follow suit according to multiple reports.
The Mid-American Conference men's and women's tournaments at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse were cancelled Thursday and the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournaments were suspended indefinitely.
Ohio State has cancelled its annual spring game at Ohio Stadium and head football coach Ryan Day announced that his staff is suspending recruiting visits to Columbus and abroad.
The City of Cleveland announced Wednesday the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade through downtown has been canceled and the induction ceremony for the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame slated to be held in Cleveland has also been cancelled.
Ohio governor Mike DeWine is expected to issue an order Thursday banning mass gatherings, including for sporting events, as concerns about the spread of the pandemic grow.
