During a volatile time in which racial tension across the nation have sparked complex and emotional discussions throughout the NFL, Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan was asked recently whether the social tumult could make it difficult to focus on football when practice resumes this summer.
Trevathan shook his head. Bigger concerns had been bouncing through his mind.
"I'm more worried about corona!" Trevathan said.
The unrest is something Trevathan said he feels equipped to handle. That other lurking danger?
"Let's not forget about corona, bro!" Trevathan said.
At this point, in the NFL's awkward and disrupted summer of 2020, that might be as appropriate a slogan as any, a catchphrase for the league to print on banners and hang from the entrances of all 32 team facilities.
The coronavirus pandemic has not disappeared.
Masks at the ready. Hand sanitizer nearby. Heads on a swivel.
Let's not forget about corona, bro!
A return to the field seems imminent soon with teams still preparing to begin their training camps in late July. But then what?
How can all 32 organizations, with guidance from top medical experts, league officials and government agencies, find the proper protocol to balance the demands of getting ready for the season with the responsibility of prioritizing health and safety for players, coaches and team employees during a pandemic?
It's the riddle with no clear solution, particularly in a sport in which distancing procedures are difficult to achieve.
Just about every play begins with a compact huddle and ends with a pileup of bodies. Snap after snap, collision after collision, snot, sweat and spit fly around from all angles.
So how can the NFL and its clubs make the 2020 season as safe as possible? With the clock ticking, the urgency to answer that question responsibly is heightening.
Commissioner Roger Goodell conceded Monday night that the league has never been aiming for a shutout.
"All of our medical experts indicated that as testing becomes more prevalent, we're going to have positive tests," Goodell said on ESPN's "Return to Sports" special. " ... The issue is, obviously, can we prevent as many of those from happening? But in addition (can we) treat them quickly, isolate them and prevent them from impacting other personnel?"
