(WCCO) Eric Sugarman, vice president of training for the Minnesota Vikings, is ready for camp after spending the last three-and-a-half months learning and talking about COVID -- all day, every day.
What has he learned? That it's possible to play football during a pandemic if enough safety measures are put in place.
"We're going to do everything we can to minimize risks," Sugarman told WCCO, adding the Vikings are fortunate that they have a brand-new building that's "massive."
They're also fortunate in their coach, Mike Zimmer, who Sugarman joked is a "little bit anxious" about getting a schedule and returning to work. "You don't just show up and start a training camp, there's a lot that has to take place ... When we get the green light, we're going to be ready to go."
"We'll have no problem keeping him calm," Sugarman added of Zimmer, laughing.
U.S. Bank Stadium enough room to stay socially distanced in the locker rooms, training rooms and meetings rooms, he added. The weight room can be opened up for fresh air. Oakley has provided a visor extension that helps cut the amount of vapor that's released. There's a COVID-19 testing station in the parking lot for daily testing.
Staying healthy by following protocols and guidelines will provide a competitive advantage, he said. "Staying at least six feet apart works, so we're going to design practice with that in mind," he said. The amount of 11x11 team drills will be reduced, the same sled won't be used over and over.
And a proximity tracker the size of a iWatch will go on the wrist or on a lanyard for every single person who walks into the building to function as a high-tech contact tracing device. Users have to leave it on the entire time they're in the building, and turn it in when they leave. All users are divided into tiers, with Tier 1 for players and coaches, Tier 2 for GMs and presidents, and Tier 3 for media and support staff.
"If you're a Tier 3 individual and you come into contact with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 person -- which you're not supposed to -- If you get within 10 feet, it'll vibrate and if you get within six feet, it'll alarm."
ESPN obtained a memo that says the NFL Players Association will require daily COVID-19 testing for the first two weeks of training camp. That tapers off after unless the positivity rate hits 5% or higher at any point, when it would go back to daily testing until it comes down again.
The memo also says that when training begins, players and team employees will be required to test negative twice before being allowed in. "Basically, you show up on Day One, take a test, go home. You then must wait 72 hours before taking a second test. If both are negative, you can go into the building and get to work on Day 5," ESPN wrote.
The length of training camp and number of pre-season games are still being haggled between the players' union and the NFL.
