Cox gives outlook for NFL season
How Ravens Pro Bowl long snapper from ECS sees things working out
MEMPHIS — As three-time Pro Bowl long snapper Morgan Cox adjusts to life during a pandemic, he thinks there can be something learned from the power outage at Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.
His Baltimore Ravens were up 28-6 in the third quarter. But when play resumed after a 34-minute delay, the San Francisco 49ers stormed back before the Ravens held on for a 34-31 win.
“I remember thinking, ‘Man, this is crazy,’” said Cox, who played at ECS and Tennessee. “I think, coming out of that break, (the 49ers) handled it a little better. Looking back, we could’ve done a few things (better) to prepare for when the lights came back on. Having a better warm-up period. A lot of us were just stretching statically on the sideline.
“Reason I say all that is, yeah, we can all be a little better prepared for circumstances out of our control. Kind of like here. We’ve got to be able to roll with the punches and keep coming up with creative ways to go on with life as normal as possible.”
This week was originally designated as the start of voluntary, in-person workouts, but Cox is at home in Collierville. Players are not yet permitted at NFL training facilities. Instead, meetings and mini-camp workouts are being conducted virtually.
Every Monday through Thursday there is a workout followed by meetings. Training camp is still set to begin July 28, and Cox is confident it will.
“I don’t see football not happening,” he said. “Now, will it look exactly the same? It’s hard to imagine, unless we have some miracle vaccine. But they’ll find some way to get football in the hands of the viewers, the people that want to see it and care about it.”
The 10-year NFL veteran said there is plenty of time to devise a plan for the
2020 season to be played safely, on time and uninterrupted.
“Now that we’ve had time to prepare and we know more about (COVID-19) and somewhat more about the environment we need to be in in order to keep each other safe, we can put in safeguards and things like that,” Cox said. “Not to mention the time that’s on our hands. We’ve got three to four months before school, before football. We’re going to learn more about what all this should look like, how the virus will continue to develop and the NFL — with all its resources — will be able to put in more safety precautions.”
“I talked to our trainers a couple weeks ago. Just asked, ‘Hey, when we come back, what are the plans?’ He was like, ‘Man, we’re going to have masks, gloves, everything you need to feel safe.’ And I truly believe him. I have the utmost confidence in the Ravens to take care of us and take care of our families as well.
“On the flip side, from the players’ perspective, we’ve got to be willing to take care of ourselves. The NFL Players Association has done several things to educate guys. There have been several phone calls to the players about how to best take care of yourselves and asking the right questions.”
Pro Bowl staffs used to pick the long snappers, but in 2019 they were voted on by long snappers and coaches around the league. Cox was selected for the AFC.
The Ravens, who fell to the Titans in the divisional round, set a franchise record with 14 regular-season wins in 2019.
Cox is expecting that momentum to carry over.
“I’m not the type to make guarantees or anything like that,” he said. “But I do think we have something special. I’d be impressed if you could find a better roster than the one we have assembled right now.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.