NFL Bumping its Schedule Release Paints a Different Picture Than League's Latest Statements on Season Opener

The NFL has already created a new format for the NFL Draft and has the advantage of not being in-season during the coronavirus-related shutdowns. Yet we are still in the early stages of this and the league has to figure out some sort of contingency plan if similar shutdowns take place in the fall.

One notable aspect relative to what's going on is the league pushing back its schedule release to May 9.

The NFL is planning to release its schedule by May 9.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 31, 2020

This is obviously later than in year's past (it typically comes in the middle of April), so if this is getting delayed, why should we be so sure the NFL season will start on time? The only reason we can think of for the schedule release change is the league changing up its plan for the 2020 draft. You mean to tell us that changing the NFL Draft to make it less of a spectacle is taking up this much time in the league offices?

Asked again on contingency plans, and when the NFL would need to start looking at those, general counsel Jeff Pash said based on information they've gathered from experts and advisors: "We're pretty confident we'll be able to start on schedule."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 31, 2020

The bottom line is that the NFL has to wait and see what's going on in the country when summer arrives and it's time for training camp. If crowds still aren't permitted to gather by then, it's time to start expecting a delay to the regular season.

There are tons of questions left to answer and it appears the NFL just wants to calm everyone and act as if business is carrying on as usual. The league does have the benefit of time on its hands, but with how everything is transpiring, that soon won't be on Roger Goodell's side.