The Chicago Bears are no doubt feeling the same helplessness every other sports organization is at this point. As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to sweep across the planet at an alarming rate, leagues have taken drastic steps to curb its effect. The NBA and NHL have already suspended operation. The NCAA basketball tournaments have all been canceled. Now NFL teams have begun to pull scouts and coaches off the road in an effort to protect them from contracting the disease.
The Bears joined that growing list on Thursday, announcing that most of their staff would be working remotely from home while also canceling the NFL draft party that had been scheduled for April 24th. No draft prospects will be making visits to the facility either. It is a drastic step that no doubt makes life more difficult for GM Ryan Pace. Yet it is absolutely the right decision in an effort to keep their people out of danger.
Chicago Bears still doing business until told otherwise
There is no certainty regarding when normal operations will resume. Most surmise the league will wait at least 30 days and then assess the situation again at that point. Nobody knows if free agency or the draft will go on as scheduled or if they'll be delayed to a later date. Thus far it's believed that teams have enough information gathered to move forward as planned despite no meeting or live events being allowed. It would be quite a change from the usual standard operating procedure for the Bears.
