Editor’s note: This story first appeared in amNewYork Metro
Roger Goodell is going to give the American public an up-close and personal look at his home later this month.
The NFL commissioner will announce the picks of 2020 draft, beginning on April 23, from the basement of his home in Bronxville, New York — keeping up with proper social distancing standards amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It was announced last week that the draft would be taking place virtually, as team personnel responsible for making selections must work from home.
All potential draft picks will also be home with the top 58 prospects being sent cameras so the American public will be able to see their reactions upon selection.
The 2020 NFL Draft was originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, the new home of the Raiders franchise that spent a combined 47 years over two separate stints in Oakland.
During initial planning, as many as 750,000 football fans were expected to attend the seven-round draft, which ends on April 25.
But the outbreak of COVID-19 initially forced the NFL to ban fans from attending the event but still have league personnel in a studio setting to carry out the draft.
After an onslaught of public pressure and recommendations from health organizations, Goodell finally relented and agreed to have the draft be carried out from home.
It’s an anticlimactic setting for such a special event — one that ultimately robs these top prospects the chance of walking across the draft stage and shaking hands with Goodell. But it’s a necessary sacrifice to make for now so football can (hopefully) start on time this fall.
