Giants, Jets get OK for ‘opening’
It is a step toward getting football back for the Giants and Jets.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday said professional sports teams in his state may return to training and competition, opening the door for the Giants and Jets to get their training and practice facilities open — though no football coaches and only players rehabbing from injuries are initially allowed to enter the building under the first phase of the NFL plan.
“We have been in constant discussions with teams about necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, and personnel.” Murphy wrote on Twitter.
Murphy stressed this opening can take place in sports “if their leagues choose to move in that direction.’’ On May 19, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave all 32 teams the go-ahead for limited reopenings of their facilities, as long as this was in accordance with state and local authorities. The Giants and Jets are now in the mix.
“We are working closely with Governor Murphy’s office, the league and our medical staff to establish prudent, health and safety measures for our staff and players,’’ the Jets said, according to a team spokesperson. “Based on those guidelines, we will begin to open our facility using a phased approach at a time that is the most practical for our operations.”
The Giants say they will not open their facility until next week at the earliest and limit those who enter their building.
“Governor Murphy and his administration continue to guide New Jerseyans through this very difficult time,’’ the Giants said in a statement. “We have been in close contact with Governor Murphy’s staff to comply with the state’s protocols throughout. With today’s announcement by the governor, we are finalizing our plans to reopen the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. We will continue to have as many employees as possible working remotely. For employees who need to return to work at our facility, we expect to begin that process next week, and we will do so in a systematic and safe way that adheres to the state’s guidelines and NFL protocols.”
This opening comes with severe restrictions. No more than 50 percent of a team’s staff is allowed in the building, with a maximum capacity at 75 people. The only coach who can enter is a strength and conditioning assistant or coordinator needed for rehab purposes.
It is expected that healthy players not rehabbing injuries will not be back in the team facilities until the start of training camp — if camps are allowed to open later this summer. The Giants were originally scheduled for a mandatory minicamp June 9-11, and clearly that will not happen.
The next significant target date for the Giants and Jets is July 29. That is the earliest — in a normal offseason — players would be permitted to report for training camp, given the teams play each other in their Aug. 13 preseason openers. It remains to be seen whether COVID-19 restrictions are further lifted by then.