UPDATED MARCH 12 – 6:30 p.m.
Do to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have joined other NFL teams in suspending travel for all coaches and scouts as the teams attend pro day workouts and campus visits in preparation for the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles were the first to announce that their training facility and team headquarters would be shut down. The Bucs followed suit hours later, issuing the follow statement on social media:
“The Buccaneers are transitioning our entire AdventHealth Training Center staff to work from home and we have discontinued business-related travel, including scouts, coaches and other staff. All business operations and preparations for the 2020 season will continue as planned. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and follow the advice of our health officials and community leaders as additional information becomes available.”
Despite conference tournaments in college basketball having been canceled and the current NBA and NHL seasons suspended until further notice, the NFL has not delayed the start of the 2020 league year, which begins on March 18. That means free agency will begin as planned unless the NFL decides to change its mind.
There has been no word on how the coronavirus may or may not impact the 2020 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from April 23-25.