Brian McCarthy, the league's spokesperson, confirmed that NFL would release its 2020 schedule, including the Superbowl sometime this week, according to a recently published article. 

NFL Will Release 2020 Schedule as Early as This Week

National Football League does not have any plans to alter or change its 2020 schedules. The schedule that is expected to be released as early as this week includes a 17-week slate, Sept.10 opener, and the Superbowl. McCarthy also added during an interview that the league plan to start on time. 

In a recently published article, it was reported that the NFL would be announcing the schedule on May 9. Troy Vince, NLF executive vice president, said that the league is doing "reasonable and responsible planning" regarding the safety and health of their players and other essential personnel amid COVID-19.

On the official website of the NFL, they made it clear that they have some plans if the pandemic will yield and will affect their scheduled games. NFL has already evaluated some contingency plans together with NFL Players Association and medical experts to set a protocol.

Contingencies and Other Schedules to be Announced

One of the contingencies they came up with is to delay the to season until mid-October. Matters about playing the game in empty stadiums or without fans and no bye weeks have long been discussed as well. Another option also that they see now is to centralize the players in one location to execute the season.

Meanwhile, the schedule to be released does not include an influx of Saturday games because it is still uncertain as to when the college football games will start its season.

McCarthy said: "If we have to make adjustments, we will be prepared to do so based on the latest guidance from our medical experts and public health officials and current and future government regulations."

He also added: "We made adjustments and conducted safely and efficiently key offseason activities such as free agency, the virtual off-season program, and the 2020 NFL Draft." 

NFL is also evaluating as to when the players and key personnel can enter facilities. At present, teams are preparing to conduct offseason workouts and a June minicamp virtually. Facilities of each team were closed as agreed by the NFL and NFLPA until local stay-at-home policies are lifted.

NFL Commissioner Donates Salary to Help Employees

Due to the global pandemic, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided not to accept a salary that is estimated to be around $40 million a year.

In a memorandum that Gooddell wrote, he stipulated: "The economic consequences for our country have been substantial, and we have taken a series of steps in response to their impact on the NFL. Within our own offices, we have limited new hiring, frozen salaries for many employees, and undertaken a thorough, organization-wide review to identify and implement cost reductions. During this time, one goal has been to maintain pay and benefits for our workforce for as long as possible."

Not only that, but the NFL also raised more than $100 million to help those who were hardest hit by the global pandemic.

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