NFL teams can reopen May 19, but the New York Jets will probably have to wait

The NFL made it clear that teams can begin reopening on Tuesday, but that won’t include the New Jersey-living New York Jets.

Normalcy in this country means football, and Friday brought the nation that much closer back to normal times.

The NFL sent a league-wide memo to all 32 organizations that provides a date the teams can start reopening for business. This coming Tuesday, May 19, 2020, is that very date.

From the NFL to owners and presidents regarding the potential reopening of facilities amid the Coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/YKpyDQaGvq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 15, 2020

Roger Goodell announced his intentions to open the facilities safely while following Dr. Sills’s guidelines.

“Clubs may reopen facilities beginning on May 19 if they are permitted to do so under governing state and local regulations, are in compliance with any additional public health requirements, and have implemented the protocols that were developed by Dr. Sills and distributed to all clubs on May 6.”

Considering the New York Jets home state of New Jersey, May 19 is as unlikely as anything in this life. New Jersey is still operating under heavy regulations, unlike most states, and the New York Giants have already vocalized that sentiment.

“It takes more time than four days to reopen a facility that has been shut down for two months,” the Giants said in a team statement, via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. “We are subject to state regulations. Bottom line, when we are cleared on all fronts to go back, we will, in an orderly, systematic, safe way to protect those in our building. It has been a process and protocol we have been developing for the last month or two.”

On May 12, Governor Phil Murphy announced that “hard dates”—relating to reopening certain aspects of life/business—would be coming soon. That coupled with the fact Jersey Shore beaches are starting to open provides light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

While May 19 is surely a tough sell for the Jets, the idea the NFL will be reopening league-wide will have the team back in Florham Park, NJ sooner rather than later. Until the restrict stay-at-home orders are lifted, Jets (and Giants) employees will continue that Zoom life.