Employees can work from home; NFL cancels annual meeting
Following a meeting led by president/CEO Joe Ellis, the Broncos announced Thursday they have given employees the option of working at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
“The team is prioritizing its employees’ health, their families and the community over all operations — both football and business,” executive vice president of public and community relations Patrick Smyth said in a statement.
Ellis, general manager John Elway and the department heads on both the Broncos’ football and business sides formulated a plan in conjunction with the NFL.
In a phone interview, Smyth also outlined several aspects of the Broncos’ deliberations:
• Over the last week, the Broncos have sent three memos to employees with directions to take if they or a family member feel ill. Employees were instructed to contact their department head with any other concerns.
• On Wednesday, the Broncos sent a memo to every player offering assistance if they are currently traveling abroad.
• Some coaches and security and facilities personnel at the Broncos’ facility in Englewood and at Empower Field at Mile High will continue to work on-site. Coach Vic Fangio met with his staff Thursday to relay the plan.
• As of Thursday afternoon, the Broncos had two scouts on the road, one apiece on the East and West coasts. The Broncos have not made a decision about hosting as many as 30 prospects for pre-draft visits or how they will handle physical examinations for any free agent they sign this month.
• Over the last week, the team said it has “implemented significant sanitation measures” at the stadium and facility.
• Tours of the Broncos’ practice facility and stadium have been temporarily stopped.
• Players will be able to continue doing rehabilitation work at the Broncos’ facility.
• The Broncos have been in contact with other NFL teams, local and state government officials and intend to communicate with Denver’s other pro sports teams to work together on how to move forward.
The outbreak will not keep the NFL from beginning its league year next week as scheduled.
The league did announce the cancellation of its annual meeting, which was to be held March 29 through April 1 in Palm Beach, Fla.
But the deadline for franchise and transition tags to be applied remains 9:59 a.m. Monday, followed by the start of the negotiating period (10 a.m. Monday) and the signing/trading period (2 p.m. Wednesday).
The league said commissioner Roger Goodell decided to cancel the meetings “after careful consideration and consultation with medical experts. … This decision was made consistent with the league’s primary concern to protect the health of club and league employees and the public while enabling the league to continue with its essential business operations.”
Coaches and general managers will now participate in the league’s spring meeting May 19-20 in Marina Del Ray, Calif. The league said the opening day will be dedicated to “football-related issues,” which is likely rules proposals that are usually voted on at the March meetings.