Despite the coronavirus pandemic that has ground much of the sports world and larger society to a halt, the NFL is still planning for its 2020 season to start on time, officials told multiple outlets on a conference call Tuesday.

The league is planning for its season to start on time in September, and it is also planning for its teams to play a full 16-game slate, including international games, NFL Media’s Judy Battista wrote Tuesday.

The NFL plans to release its 2020 schedule on or around May 9.

The coronavirus pandemic caused the NBA and NHL to suspend their seasons earlier this month, while Major League Baseball postponed Opening Day. None of those three leagues are sure when the seasons will be able to resume or start, though Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said last week he hopes the NBA can resume play in mid-May.

On Sunday, the federal government extended its social distancing guidelines through April 30.

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But as Battista writes on NFL.com, the NFL has the luxury of time. Training camp does not begin until mid- or late-July. The regular season does not kick off until September. Much can change between now and then.

NFL executive vice president/general counsel Jeff Pash told reporters there was no discussion of shortening the season or changing its structure, though NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said the league is “looking at all options” and “constantly contingency planning,” according to Battista.

"All of our discussion, all of our focus, has been on a normal traditional season, starting on time, playing in front of fans, in our regular stadiums, and going through a full 16-game regular season and full set of playoffs," Pash told reporters. "That's our focus."

Pash also said, "That's our expectation. Am I certain of that? I'm not certain I'll be here tomorrow. But I'm planning on it, and in the same way, we're planning on having a full season."

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While the other professional leagues shut down operations, the NFL went full-steam ahead into its new league year earlier this month, and it plans to continue that with the 2020 NFL Draft in April, which will be held remotely. The new league year began March 18 with free agency, and it has continued with closed team facilities.

Offseason programs, which were scheduled to begin April 6 for some teams and continue into mid-June, are suspended indefinitely.

ESPN reported a group of general managers was at odds with the NFL over continuing with the draft because there would not be the chance for as thorough of a vetting process for prospects as there usually is, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly sent a memo to teams that stated the draft would continue as planned.

It is scheduled for April 23-25, and Battista wrote teams will conduct their nights remotely will maintaining social distancing guidelines, which means no more than 10 people in a room, and all 10 people separated by at least six feet.

The NFL experienced its first known coronavirus case earlier this month when New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton announced he tested positive. He has since been cleared.

Daniel Gallen covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Philadelphia Eagles coverage on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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