A look behind headlines tells you what you need to know about the NFL during COVID-19

Recent headlines paint a good picture of where we are 30 days out from the projected start of NFL training camps.

As of today, the New Orleans Saints and 31 other teams are expected to report to their practice facilities no later than July 28 in preparation for the start of the regular season Sept. 10.

Of course, COVID-19 may have the last word.

Read ‘em and weep:

▪ “NFL cancels Hall of Fame game; ceremony postponed.”

Inside the headline: The Pittsburgh-Dallas exhibition set for Aug. 6 and the enshrinement ceremony two days later have been scrapped. The same two teams will play in the 2021 HOF game and the 2020 Centennial Class will share center stage with the Class of 2021 in Canton, Ohio.

▪ “NFL, NFLPA discussing shortened preseason.”

Inside the headline: Teams may play only two preseason games - one home and one on the road - to reduce travel and give teams more time to settle in with the challenging pandemic protocols.

▪ “Owners approve plan to cover seats near field.”

Inside the headline: All teams will be required to cover the first 6-to-8 rows of seats with tarps behind team benches to help ensure everyone’s health and also to give teams another method of recouping lost revenue.

▪ “NFL will allow each team to dictate their own stadium capacity.”

Inside the headline: Because the possibility exists that teams may be operating under different health protocols and policies in their home cities, the league will allow each franchise to dictate its stadium capacity. In other words, stands could be full, partially full or empty depending on the venue.

▪ “Discussions regarding 2020 roster ongoing between NFL and NFLPA.”

Inside the headline: Expanding practice squads from 12 to 16 players may not be sufficient to replenish team rosters with game-ready players if an outbreak knocks out 10 or more players. League is discussing idea of having an emergency pool of players (maybe as many as four teams) who will practice with NFL-caliber coaches like Hue Jackson and Jeff Fisher.

▪ “Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins: Returning to play on ‘trust system’ puts players at risk.”

Inside the headline: Jenkins, a 12-year veteran and member of the NFLPA’s executive committee and CNN contributor, says football is a “non-essential business” and the risk surrounding the novel coronavirus must be eliminated before he feels comfortable playing this season. He said the necessary protocols must be in place and relying solely on a ‘trust system’ doesn’t eliminate the risk. Jenkins makes no mention of a FDA-approved vaccine.

▪ “’Heated discussions’ within some teams over pandemic protocol ‘tier’ status.”

Inside the headline: Teams are discussing multi-tier plans to determine which employees can go where with regards to who will have access to players and coaches. In other words, separating essential personnel such as trainers and physicians from general managers, football operations staff and non-essential team personnel like in-house media and others.

And so on and so forth.

Folks, we have miles and miles to travel before the NFL season kicks off. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in a country divided, it’s only going to get more complicated.