No jersey swapping
With the world still currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and sports eagerly waiting for their return, there is still some pushback coming from the NFL players.
NFL.com contributor Tom Pelissero shared on Twitter that players will not be allowed to exchange jerseys.
NFL teams will be forbidden from postgame interactions within 6 feet of each other and jersey exchanges between players will be prohibited during the 2020 season, sources say.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 9, 2020
Another way the NFL will look different in the COVID-19 world.
The ritual of swapping jerseys with a former college teammate or friend has become synonymous with the NFL as players are photographed every week swapping threads. With this announcement, many players have come forward voicing their displeasure for this as Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano chimed in saying it did not make much sense.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 yooo so we could hit each for 60 minutes but we can’t switch jerseys, y’all look stupid
— Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) July 9, 2020
Feliciano raises a very valid point here, one worth discussing. He argues that due to the physical nature of football, it is safe for players to bock, tackle and grab each other during the whistles but taking the jersey off your back and handing it to someone else is crossing the line?
In addition, Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs had something to say on the matter as well.
Not trying to be funny or anything but this gotta be a joke
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) July 9, 2020
This announcement of no jersey swapping is due to the fact that the NFL wishes to still keep social distancing implemented during the 2020 NFL season. There is no doubt that we are in for a very different 2020 NFL season as the COVID virus as shown no signs of being eliminated by the time the fall rolls around. Though the NFL is doing its best to implement rules and guidelines to keep players safe, some of them lack continuity, giving way to criticism.