It suddenly feels like much more than semantics that the Giants and Jets are based in New Jersey, not New York.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday morning that the state’s “professional sports leagues can begin spring training” in accordance with the proper health protocols.
Good news for the Bills — as well as teams in the NBA and NHL — but the Giants train in East Rutherford and the Jets in Florham Park, so their facilities remain closed under Gov. Phil Murphy’s instructions.
In response to a request for comment from The Post, a spokesperson for Murphy cited a recently signed executive order stating “nothing in this order shall prevent professional athletes from fulfilling their job duties, including when those job duties may require person-to-person contact.”
The NFL lifted last week two months of closed-door orders on facilities in states where the government is allowing businesses to reopen, but the Giants’ and Jets’ headquarters remain shuttered.
Coaches and players are prohibited at all 32 facilities — the limited permitted personnel are subject to daily temperature screenings — and the league plans to maintain that ban until a simultaneous return is possible to ensure competitive balance. Teams around the NFL are holding voluntary virtual meetings and/or workouts right now as part of OTAs, and mandatory June minicamps could be employed the same way.
“They’re just literally in the early stage process of bringing in their non-player community,” Murphy said on Wednesday. “Again, they don’t have to hear from us, they’re already doing [preparations]. There’ll be some folks, they’ll continue to be able to work from home, and others they’ll need to have in the building. They’re very good about saying they’ll comply with all of the social distancing requirements.”
Given the language in the executive order plus New York’s softened stance, it stands to reason New Jersey will not block NFL training camps from opening. But Murphy has a built-in cushion: There are no NBA or MLB franchises based in New Jersey, and Giants and Jets do not start camp until the final week of July.
Murphy’s office did not offer an update on NFL facilities re-opening to team personnel other than the players and coaches.
New Jersey has 154,154 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 11,133 deaths, Murphy announced Sunday.