Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) hugs Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) after the Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-17 during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
It’s a longstanding tradition for NFL players to exchange jerseys after a game – but not in 2020.
As part of its safety protocols aimed at preventing exposure to coronavirus, the NFL is banning jersey swaps – or any post-game player interaction without at least six feet of separation.
Of course, some players wonder why postgame contact is banned after teams just spent three hours banging into each other. Richard Sherman called it “a perfect example of NFL thinking in a nutshell” while Deshaun Watson dismissed the idea as “DAMN SILLY”.
Will banning jersey swaps really protect players who just played a full game?