Florida Classifies Football Operations As “Essential Services”
April 14th, 2020
“Jason, as soon as the NFL lifts this ban, I want Brady in here and a dedicated vegan line in the cafeteria. Order the organic avocados and make sure you sanitize Bruce’s whiskey flask daily.”
Yes, Florida is a football state.
As Bucs fans anxiously await the start of training camp in 3 1/2 short months, the state of Florida appears eager to make sure the team can prepare as best it can — and host practices and preseason games.
ProFootballTalk.com reports this morning that Florida government officials have cleared the way for sports teams to operate without fans around.
A memo circulated by Jared Moskowitz, state coordinating officer for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, has decreed that sports are to be considered “essential services” for the purpose of the executive order on the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The memo says that people who are allowed to work during the pandemic include “Employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”
This isn’t the situation in every state, and the NFL currently forbids all teams from opening their facilities.
However, the Florida memo makes it clear that when the NFL lifts its ban on operations at team headquarters, the Bucs will be able hustle in to work faster than you can say “Tom Brady.”
April 14th, 2020 at 7:23 am
Where you at danny dimes?
April 14th, 2020 at 7:23 am
There will be football…..way too much TV money…..5 Billion…
April 14th, 2020 at 7:52 am
Most states will be fine by August. New York is likely another story. My question is – why can’t the Giants/Jets play somewhere else for half the year? I’m sure the logistics can be figured out and it’s been done before, teams have been displaced for an entire year. Maybe I’m crazy but it doesn’t seem too crazy to me. Why should an entire league stop because of a few teams? I’m getting way ahead of myself here, but it seems like a practical option. If the Bucs were in this situation I’d be fine with watching them play at University of Georgia or something for half the year as opposed a postponed/abbreviated season
April 14th, 2020 at 7:55 am
I still think this is ridiculous but whatever it’s only their health. 6-foot distancing will be very convenient for the pass rush!
April 14th, 2020 at 7:55 am
The NFL has set up guided off season virtual training programs. The NFL won’t let a team get together unless all teams can. Otherwise, the teams that can would have an unfair advantage.
So things will carry on. One good thing about all of this is it is saving padded practices up for later.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:01 am
Danny boy crying now
April 14th, 2020 at 8:12 am
“Ron Desantis has that Forrest Gump in him
Would not doubt that he and our clueless Jason Gump has similar dna blood lines”
Kobe Faker
April 14th, 2020 at 8:12 am
Oh no! What will dips%$t Danny do now.
Leighroy – August is a long way off. Nobody is saying they will have minicamp in the next few weeks. I trust that games will only be played if it is safe to do so. I have faith in the medical professionals and if they deem it safe enough later this summer nobody’s health will be jeopardized.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:20 am
The Bucs have been skirting the previous ruling of the NFL to stay at home by having a different rotation of local players going into One Buc for “treatment” by the trainers, and then having position meetings.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:31 am
Tampabaybucsfan. They said that about March Madness. Cancelled. I dont see NFL happening this year. I definitely do not see college football going down either. Imagine watching a cfb game with no band mascot or crowd. Would be terrible wouldnt it?
April 14th, 2020 at 8:36 am
Pa fan
March madness was in March
April 14th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Our secondary practices social distancing most years anyway
April 14th, 2020 at 8:43 am
Buddy, The doors are locked at OBP, how are people getting in?
April 14th, 2020 at 8:43 am
Mark Cuban said there will be NBA games even without fans……
For those who say….Imaging watching NFL games without fans in the stadium”….I say……Imagine no NFL…..
Which is worse?
After all, we at least still have the cannon…..
April 14th, 2020 at 8:45 am
so just whose health and life are you all willing to jeopardize, players, coaches, fans, waterboys? who are you willing to have die so 32 billionaires can keep their cash cow milking?
April 14th, 2020 at 8:59 am
@Dewey Selmon its clear you don’t know what you’re talking about. Spoke with 2 people who were in the building yesterday. Doors are on a keycard system anyways, so they “technically” are locked yes. But certain keycards still have access. A select group of “workers” have been there daily. Trainers, Equipment, Strength and other support staff. Nothing has changed their daily off season routine.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:04 am
frankbucsfan
Obviously, you aren’t unemployed….
All players, coaches, refs & waterboys can be tested prior to games…..
April 14th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Here is what is funny about the situation yet very sad. The government puts millions of citizens out of work no big deal, puts hotels and restaurants completely out of business not a problem, permanently ruins lives they say whatever, but a pissed off voter? Even California and NY are talking about open restrictions. Overreach is going to become a real problem for this country.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:33 am
This comes as no surprise. After all, in our state, car dealerships are considered “essential”. Now I can see the maintenance side to this argument but who in the wide world of sports is buying cars right now?! Are you effing kidding me?!
I’m a football fan so I take no issue with this. However, there does need to be some perspective here. Football vs. (unmentionable global “issue”)?
I’ll watch it on TV for now. Thanks!
April 14th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Everybody loves to feel like a “concerned citizen ” during these times. Watch this country will be open. Nothing is quite what we have been told. When this is all set and done total deaths will be under 50k in the usa. Things will get back to normal. It’s sad I think these people relish this garbage. this is not what this country is built for and it seems like too many people are drinking the media kool aid
April 14th, 2020 at 9:44 am
The list of “essential services” is down right ridiculous! Fast food????? Liquor stores??? WTF!/ So yes may as well add Nfl to the list lol
April 14th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Buddy, I’m talking about players getting in. Who are the 2 people you talked to?
April 14th, 2020 at 9:56 am
You know who says America in this together? Businesses trying to sell you something and people still working. Take away just one politicians paycheck and will be back up and running tomorrow.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:59 am
@Dewey Selmon You’re seriously gonna ask me who i talked to???? LOLOLOLOL not a chance i say. And a players keycard can be activated and deactivated remotely. So guys just say they want to come by and the gates and doors accessible to them. Really pretty simple in today’s age.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:59 am
As long as the game happens i don’t care
April 14th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Buddy, stop pretending like you have sources
April 14th, 2020 at 11:04 am
By the time football season gets here we should have ample supply of fast tests. Just test each worker (players, coaches, refs etc..) and play games in empty stadiums.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Too bad this happened after the XFL shut down.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:46 am
^^^^ It was terrible football anyway so, other than the players and concessions not getting paid, no big loss.
April 14th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
DanBucsFan Says
“The list of “essential services” is down right ridiculous! Fast food????? Liquor stores???”
I agree about the liquor stores being ridiculous, but fast food is probably one of the big ones. You would be surprised to find out how many people couldn’t cook their own meals these days. And fast food is limited to drive thrus at this point.
Wrestling? It would not be on the list, except the pro wrestling companies were among the first to take precautions. You won’t see ten people in a ring. Most times its only 3-5. And high risk wrestlers, like Roman Reigns who just beat leukemia, isn’t risking wrestling at all.
April 14th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
D-Rome Says
“Too bad this happened after the XFL shut down.”
The XFL was a planned tax write-off. Vince McMann owned 76%. The rest was owned by the WWE. A total sham from the start.
April 14th, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Follow the furor all you like and come out of this thing early if you want to. We will be going..right back in too..
April 14th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
@Bonzai
I agree 100%. The Florida law is irrelevant…it will depend on the NFL law and they won’t let anybody get an advantage. Perhaps if ALL teams moved training to states like ours where everybody could train…maybe.
What people are failing to calculate are LEGAL consequences. Politicians have immunity….private groups do not. If a team, business. fails to demonstrate they took proper precautions during a Pandemic there are going to be suits for damages from anybody who contracts the disease.
IE…UF…The Bucs allow teams to practice and a player, coach much less a fan gets the Covid and dies….I’m not judging whether it’s right or wrong just pointing out that it is what it is. We live in a highly litigious society.
April 14th, 2020 at 5:34 pm
Mike
Wow we’re in agreement today. A couple of countries that came out too early and had to go back to “shelter in place.”
April 14th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“One good thing about all of this is it is saving padded practices up for later.”
.
.
LOL
For some reason you reminded me of summer 3-a-days in high school. Wore our flipping asses out, and no one died. The NFLPA is pushing us closer and closer to fLag fooball.
April 14th, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Buddy Says:
“The Bucs have been skirting the previous ruling of the NFL to stay at home by having a different rotation of local players going into One Buc for “treatment” by the trainers, and then having position meetings.”
.
.
Snitches get stitches.
April 14th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“After all, we at least still have the cannon…..”
.
.
Don’t forget, we are the Bucs. They’ll probably declare artillerymen non-essential just to take away our home field advantage.
April 15th, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Lol is there anything that’s not considered “essential” at this point in FL?