Poll Shows 46% of Respondents Feel NFL Shouldn't Start on Time Amid COVID-19

The NFL hasn't yet made adjustments to the regular-season schedule amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, but the general public may support some sort of delay.

A poll of 762 respondents released Monday by Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business (h/t ESPN) showed 46 percent of those polled don't believe the NFL season should start on time. Only 36 percent felt the season should begin on time, while 18 percent had no opinion.

The poll also showed 77 percent supported a delay if players weren't given adequate time to get in shape.

Of the respondents, only 54 percent said they followed sports "closely" or "very closely."

The NFL has already adjusted several offseason events to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Teams have been forced to close their facilities, removing the opportunity for player visits ahead of either free agency or the draft. The annual league meeting was canceled, while organized team activities during the offseason are suspended.

The NFL draft is also set to take place in a virtual format.

Despite the adjustments, the regular season still has a chance to begin in September as scheduled. President Donald Trump said in a conference call with major sports commissioners the NFL season should begin on time and fans should return to arenas and stadiums by August, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski.

Though the full 2020 calendar has not been announced, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are expected to open the year with a game Sept. 10.

The schedule could still depend on the progression of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 550,000 Americans as of Monday, leading to over 20,000 deaths, per CNN.com.