Teams went high-tech for team bonding this offseason

NEW YORK (AP) » NFL players and coaches went home in March and stayed there for the next few months, along with most of the world.

Football pads were replaced by iPads. Handshakes and highfives gave way to emojis and video chats.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced everyone indoors — away from their everyday environments — creativity was the key. To working. To keeping in touch. And, for those making their living playing on football fields, to thinking up ways to bond as teammates.

So, many played video games. Some held workout challenges. One team had an online cooking competition. Another designed movie posters.

During this time of social distancing, team building went hightech.

“We have players that are installing defenses and we have Jeopardy games,” said Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. “There’s all kinds of things that we do to keep each other attentive and

amused in some ways in sticking with football and yet getting things done. It’s a challenge in this way.”

Team facilities will remain closed to the vast majority of players until training camp, which is scheduled to begin next month. The past few months normally would’ve been filled with in-person meetings as players and coaches got to know each other. This year, they’ve had to do most of that through computer screens with video meetings, phone calls, remote gym sessions — and whatever else they could come up with.

“You know, I wish more of the O-line played video games,” Baltimore offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said, “because I’d be totally for it.”

Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone held weekly contests for his team, including a cooking competition last month with judging based solely on appearance and presentation. Wide receiver C.J. Board won the

“top chef” honors and the contest was a big hit among the players — even if it was met by some skepticism at Marrone’s home.

“At the dinner table the other night, it was brought up: ‘How smart are you to have a cooking contest where no one can taste the food?’” Marrone said. “We’re just talking about presentation . ... Then it’s like, ‘Was that your idea? Because that’s pretty stupid if it was your idea.’” Hey, whatever works. The Jaguars also had a 1990s photo contest to coincide with the broadcast of

ESPN’s “The Last Dance” finale. Backup center/guard Tyler Shatley took the honors in that one. An “MTV Cribs” type of show was also among the competitions.

“I challenged my family, too,” Marrone said. “What do you think in this virtual world, how do we build this team chemistry?”

The Browns held an online slam dunk contest, which rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips won by jamming a basketball into a milk bucket hanging on a tree — all while wearing work boots and overalls.