CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It appears there is nothing that is going to stop the NFL.
Call it arrogance, ignorance, or wishful thinking, if the COVID-19 pandemic forces the NFL to modify the upcoming season they’re about to have a mess on their hands.
Sure, free agency and the draft went off without a hitch, the league apparently is expecting the same this fall.
As the sports world, and society worldwide, continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and ponder what life will entail going forward, the NFL doesn’t appear to be worried too much about it affecting the upcoming season.
There are states planning to extend bans on large gatherings into the fall, so if the NFL does play, they’re not going to let empty stadiums stop them based on the schedules released Thursday night.
There is no out of conference grouping to enable a shortened season.
The only way for the NFL to condense the season is to eliminate the bye week, which for the Browns comes Week 9 Nov. 8, and force everyone to play 16 games in 16 weeks.
The NFL can’t simply eliminate Week 1 or Week 17 either.
The Browns will open in Baltimore Sept. 13 and finish the season Jan 3. at home against the Steelers.
There’s limited regional scheduling built in.
The Browns open at Baltimore and host Cincinnati within four days to open the season.
From Oct. 11-25 the Browns will host the Indianapolis Colts and then travel to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
In December they’ll make consecutive trips to New York to face the Giants and Jets in Weeks 15 and 16.
Should the pandemic force the cancellation of games or shortening of the season, the league has given itself little wiggle room.
That is a surprise.
