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FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2020 file photo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference in Miami. The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15. In a memo sent by Goodell and obtained Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by The Associated Press, several phases of the protocols were laid out. The first phase would involve a limited number of non-player personnel, initially 50 percent of the non-player employees (up to a total of 75) on any single day, being approved to be at the facility. But state or local regulations could require a lower number. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, file)
FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2020 file photo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference in Miami. The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15. In a memo sent by Goodell and obtained Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by The Associated Press, several phases of the protocols were laid out. The first phase would involve a limited number of non-player personnel, initially 50 percent of the non-player employees (up to a total of 75) on any single day, being approved to be at the facility. But state or local regulations could require a lower number. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, file)Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Roger Goodell 'Confident' NFL Will Play Full 2020 Season Through Super Bowl

Blake Schuster
Sep 2, 2020

Roger Goodell made his expectations clear for the NFL this season as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country.

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, the commissioner said he believes the league will be able to complete a full season and playoffs in 2020.

"We are confident we're going to be able to play, not just the start of our season but through the remainder of our season to the Super Bowl," Goodell said (h/t ProFootballTalk).ย 

There's good reason forย Goodell's current mindset.

On Tuesday, the leagueย releasedย itsย COVID-19 test results for August 21-29, with 10 players and team personnel testing positive. That followed a week in which no players tested positive at all. NFL owners were previouslyย toldย to expect a high number of cases early in training camp before a leveling off as the season drew nearer.

So far that has been the case. Yet keeping those numbers down is likely a tougher task during the season than it is during training camp, according to ProFootballTalk's Mikeย Florio:

"As one league source explained it toย PFTย on Wednesday, thereโ€™s concern that players may get complacent under the more relaxed rules of regular season, especially in light of the success that teams have experienced in avoiding outbreaks throughout the first month of practice. Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s critical for coaches, players, and everyone else connected to every team remain vigilant, especially once teams have less, not more, day-to-day access to players."

ESPN's Kevinย Seifertย notesย the NFL and NFL Players Association are finalizing a deal for regular-season testing. The league's daily testing protocol will continue to run through September 5.ย 

Week 1 opens with the Kansas City Chiefs against the Houston Texans next Thursday. From there the NFL will look to keep its players safe through February's Super Bowl. It's a daunting task.ย 

Goodellย believes the league can manage it.ย 

Most Bizarre NFL Ending Ever? ๐Ÿคจ