NFL to allow media back into locker rooms for 2022 season

The NFL will formally permit media members again into locker rooms for the 2022 season.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy made the announcement Tuesday on the homeowners’ conferences in Palm Seashore, Florida, per NFL Network’s Steve Wyche.

The choice comes almost a month after the NFL and NFLPA reached an settlement to raise all COVID-19 protocols, which had been in place for the reason that 2020 season. Since that point, reporters have been barred from getting into the locker rooms.

However with reporters’ entry now returning, that might successfully finish the Zoom interview period that has been prevalent during the last two years. Reporters throughout all sports activities have been clamoring for a return, because the entry permits for higher protection and a possibility to collect extra data.

Pittsburgh Steelers soccer head coach Mike Tomlin, second left, arrives to talk to journalists at a coaches press availability in the course of the NFL proprietor’s assembly, Monday, March 28, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Seashore, Fla.
(AP Photograph/Rebecca Blackwell)

Whereas the NFL seems to be main the way in which in returning to regular operations in sports activities, different leagues are being extra cautious. Talking on the NBA’s All-Star weekend in Cleveland final month, NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned that “it’s not going to be simple” in figuring out if reporters will probably be allowed again into locker rooms sooner or later.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver appears to be like on throughout a recreation between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Vivint Sensible Residence Enviornment on October 20, 2021 in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
(Alex Goodlett/Getty Photographs)

NFL AGREES TO ALTER OVERTIME RULES – FOR THE POSTSEASON ONLY

“I additionally assume it’s a little bit of an anachronism to have reporters within the precise room the place gamers are dressing. … To me, there are two points: There’s simply the well being and issues of safety for the gamers and for all of you as properly,” Silver mentioned, by way of Poynter. “Then there’s additionally — I’m unsure if we had been designing a system from scratch at this time, we’d say come stand subsequent to the gamers at their lockers as they’re dressing, and that’s the suitable discussion board to interview them.”

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