Ongoing COVID-19 Impact

54thMA

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If the powers that be who run the NFL had any brains, knowing a second wave was coming this Fall/Winter, with all the preseason games canceled, they should have started the season earlier and lined it up this way; division games weeks 1-6, division played within the conference weeks 7-10, two conference opponents based on where you finished in your division weeks 11 and 12, then division played outside the conference weeks 13-16, all the while if necessary leaving a couple of weeks on the back end open for rescheduling canceled games, then start the playoffs.............................

But the "had any brains" is the caveat.............
 

Saints Rest

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If the powers that be who run the NFL had any brains, knowing a second wave was coming this Fall/Winter, with all the preseason games canceled, they should have started the season earlier and lined it up this way; division games weeks 1-6, division played within the conference weeks 7-10, two conference opponents based on where you finished in your division weeks 11 and 12, then division played outside the conference weeks 13-16, all the while if necessary leaving a couple of weeks on the back end open for rescheduling canceled games, then start the playoffs.............................

But the "had any brains" is the caveat.............
I really don't think it was about brains, it was pure arrogance. Too arrogant to make allowances in the schedule for what was almost certainly going to happen. Your solution is one of many that could have worked. But they simply put their head down and ran right into a 9-man box.
 

johnmd20

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No way they can play this game on Tuesday, right?
Apparently the Ravens have 18 players on the Covid list, all put on in the last 6 days. And now the Steelers have an outbreak. So, yes, there is no way this game is played in 3 days.

Frankly, for the first time the entire season, it feels like the entire NFL schedule could fall apart in the next 3 weeks. There are outbreaks everywhere.
 

johnmd20

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And the Ravens strength and conditioning coach is a MAGA nut who was against masks, science, and lockdowns. He's now suspended, but the fans in Baltimore want him tarred and feathered. He murdered the team.

Calling things a hoax really does work well.

However, Saunders still has a job.(for now, it is hard to imagine him surviving this) He's a guy who actively didn't wear masks or follow protocols or wear his tracking device. Now almost 20 players have covid. I genuinely don't understand why people won't follow protocols. They are there for your health and the health of everyone around you. Do you think teams are doing this for shits and giggles?

It's so incompetent.
 

RedOctober3829

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And the Ravens strength and conditioning coach is a MAGA nut who was against masks, science, and lockdowns. He's now suspended, but the fans in Baltimore want him tarred and feathered. He murdered the team.

Calling things a hoax really does work well.

However, Saunders still has a job.(for now, it is hard to imagine him surviving this) He's a guy who actively didn't wear masks or follow protocols or wear his tracking device. Now almost 20 players have covid. I genuinely don't understand why people won't follow protocols. They are there for your health and the health of everyone around you. Do you think teams are doing this for shits and giggles?

It's so incompetent.
He’ll never work in the nfl again.
 

DJnVa

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If the powers that be who run the NFL had any brains, knowing a second wave was coming this Fall/Winter, with all the preseason games canceled, they should have started the season earlier and lined it up this way; division games weeks 1-6, division played within the conference weeks 7-10, two conference opponents based on where you finished in your division weeks 11 and 12, then division played outside the conference weeks 13-16, all the while if necessary leaving a couple of weeks on the back end open for rescheduling canceled games, then start the playoffs.............................

But the "had any brains" is the caveat.............

There's just no way they were going to start EARLIER. Just none.
 

johnmd20

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This is what I think can stop the NFL. States (I know Santa Clara isn't a state, but you get the point) saying, uh, nope, not happening here. And if enough states say that, teams won't have anywhere to play their games.
Florida, Texas, and Georgia, and Alabama will not close down football.
 

BaseballJones

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Florida, Texas, and Georgia, and Alabama will not close down football.
The NFL doesn't play in Alabama. Only one team plays in Georgia. If those are the only four states left, the NFL really has nowhere to play most of its games. Though I think your larger point is that not enough states will shut things down to shut down the NFL for good.

But the Pats could theoretically be playing their "home" games in a completely different state, in that case.
 

swiftaw

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This is what I think can stop the NFL. States (I know Santa Clara isn't a state, but you get the point) saying, uh, nope, not happening here. And if enough states say that, teams won't have anywhere to play their games.
I guess the entire NFL will just play at Jerry World (because there is no way Texas bans football)
 

johnmd20

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The NFL doesn't play in Alabama. Only one team plays in Georgia. If those are the only four states left, the NFL really has nowhere to play most of its games. Though I think your larger point is that not enough states will shut things down to shut down the NFL for good.

But the Pats could theoretically be playing their "home" games in a completely different state, in that case.
Are you suggesting that the NFL couldn't find a way to play games in Alabama or Texas stadiums? They could do it and they would. They don't have to be pro stadiums. The NBA played in tiny gyms.
 

nattysez

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This is what I think can stop the NFL. States (I know Santa Clara isn't a state, but you get the point) saying, uh, nope, not happening here. And if enough states say that, teams won't have anywhere to play their games.
This isn't a statewide order, which highlights how poor the US COVID response has been.
The Niners may play in the vacant Oakland Coliseum if Alameda county doesn't lock down. One would be reasonable to ask why it's ok to play in Alameda, but not in Santa Clara 40 miles away.

Edited to add: I'm quite surprised that no NFL players have suffered severe, lingering COVID symptoms (beyond Cam saying he was foggy). All the linemen, via their obesity, are in a high-risk group.
 

johnmd20

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This isn't a statewide order, which highlights how poor the US COVID response has been.
The Niners may play in the vacant Oakland Coliseum if Alameda county doesn't lock down. One would be reasonable to ask why it's ok to play in Alameda, but not in Santa Clara 40 miles away.

Edited to add: I'm quite surprised that no NFL players have suffered severe, lingering COVID symptoms (beyond Cam saying he was foggy). All the linemen, via their obesity, are in a high-risk group.
They are all young, and in incredible shape.
 

snowmanny

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If the powers that be who run the NFL had any brains, knowing a second wave was coming this Fall/Winter, with all the preseason games canceled, they should have started the season earlier and lined it up this way; division games weeks 1-6, division played within the conference weeks 7-10, two conference opponents based on where you finished in your division weeks 11 and 12, then division played outside the conference weeks 13-16, all the while if necessary leaving a couple of weeks on the back end open for rescheduling canceled games, then start the playoffs.............................

But the "had any brains" is the caveat.............
I think gunning for the 16 game season was a stretch. A stretch driven by greed. Every week you add increases the odds of a disastrous outbreak.

A 12 game season would have been a better target. That being said, it's the NFL and the plan was pretty clearly to plow through no matter what, and they probably will do whatever they can to do just that.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Ok, so wtf are they going to do.
Play a single wing? I mean, do they even have players who know how to run an option offense? You need an experienced ball handler to do it proficiently. Otherwise they’re gonna have to hand the ball off to a back almost every play with somebody/anybody taking the snap, with perhaps some reverses or jet sweeps (but again, who can execute that handoff on the active roster) mixed in.

We might literally see a rare 9 in the box look from NO in between the 20s.
 

amfox1

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All three Broncos QBs have been ruled out. One possible QB: Kendall Hinton. He's on Broncos practice squad as WR but he was a three-year starting QB at Wake Forest. (Won't be coach Rob Calabrese. League won't allow, I'm told).

Mike Klis
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Per source: Broncos game vs. Saints is still on, but all 3 QBs in real trouble. Lock/Rypien/Bortles may not been cleared for game. More coming. RB Royce Freeman may be up as starting QB. #9sports
 

yecul

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And the Ravens strength and conditioning coach is a MAGA nut who was against masks, science, and lockdowns. He's now suspended, but the fans in Baltimore want him tarred and feathered. He murdered the team.

Calling things a hoax really does work well.

However, Saunders still has a job.(for now, it is hard to imagine him surviving this) He's a guy who actively didn't wear masks or follow protocols or wear his tracking device. Now almost 20 players have covid. I genuinely don't understand why people won't follow protocols. They are there for your health and the health of everyone around you. Do you think teams are doing this for shits and giggles?

It's so incompetent.
You're right but at least you can understand an individual being stupid. Question I have is how this could be allowed by the organization and why would the players put themselves at risk?

They act with impunity because there is no liability. Maybe he loses his job but he won't get sued or face imprisonment or have his insurance rates rise as he would if he drove his car drunk into a parked car or the like.
 

Cellar-Door

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This isn't a statewide order, which highlights how poor the US COVID response has been.
The Niners may play in the vacant Oakland Coliseum if Alameda county doesn't lock down. One would be reasonable to ask why it's ok to play in Alameda, but not in Santa Clara 40 miles away.

Edited to add: I'm quite surprised that no NFL players have suffered severe, lingering COVID symptoms (beyond Cam saying he was foggy). All the linemen, via their obesity, are in a high-risk group.
Ryqell Armistead missed the whole season with multiple hospitalizations Tommy Sweeney of the Bills is out for the year with myocardial inflammation. No stars have had long term issues yet.

Yet.
 

ngruz25

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Is there any reason why the Broncos can't just sign a QB off the street, like Cody Kessler or someone? I mean, besides that QB not actually wanting to sign for one game. I imagine that a free agent QB with an extremely simple, run first playbook would be preferable to a RB playing QB.

Edit: uh I just realized that today is Saturday (vacation brain). So, yeah, that won't work.
 

nocode51

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Even better would be like how the NHL signs a local goalie to fill in from the city. Some college quarterback who washed out of training camp five years ago, and they just give him a small game check. Obviously this is a terrible strategy, but it would be high level entertainment.
 

DJnVa

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Even better would be like how the NHL signs a local goalie to fill in from the city. Some college quarterback who washed out of training camp five years ago, and they just give him a small game check. Obviously this is a terrible strategy, but it would be high level entertainment.
As is Royce Freeman playing QB. I'm using him Draft Kings if he starts.
 

axx

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Is there any reason why the Broncos can't just sign a QB off the street, like Cody Kessler or someone? I mean, besides that QB not actually wanting to sign for one game. I imagine that a free agent QB with an extremely simple, run first playbook would be preferable to a RB playing QB.

Edit: uh I just realized that today is Saturday (vacation brain). So, yeah, that won't work.
I think rosters have to be set by Thursday or something like that. Plus I suspect the player would have to be tested, and there isn't enough time for that unless the NFL pushes the game out to Monday.
 

DJnVa

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New signings have a quarantine period too I think.

EDIT: Why aren't they moving this to Tuesday as well? By then the QBs might be cleared, no?
 

Captaincoop

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This isn't a statewide order, which highlights how poor the US COVID response has been.
The Niners may play in the vacant Oakland Coliseum if Alameda county doesn't lock down. One would be reasonable to ask why it's ok to play in Alameda, but not in Santa Clara 40 miles away.

Edited to add: I'm quite surprised that no NFL players have suffered severe, lingering COVID symptoms (beyond Cam saying he was foggy). All the linemen, via their obesity, are in a high-risk group.
These are athletes in great shape and under 35 years old. Look at the data. If you think player safety relative to Covid is a reason to not play, then you should never watch the NFL in the first place because there are numerous other health risks more statistically likely to impact these guys. Every year, not just right now.
 

joe dokes

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Even better would be like how the NHL signs a local goalie to fill in from the city. Some college quarterback who washed out of training camp five years ago, and they just give him a small game check. Obviously this is a terrible strategy, but it would be high level entertainment.
Johnny Foxborough is well-rested.
 

BigJimEd

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Ok, so wtf are they going to do.
Start by firing everyone who allowed this to happen.
How does an organization allow this to happen. How do they not have protocols to prevent such things? Pure idiocy.

I see no reason the NFL should reschedule at this point. This one is on the Broncos
 

Cellar-Door

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New signings have a quarantine period too I think.

EDIT: Why aren't they moving this to Tuesday as well? By then the QBs might be cleared, no?
I think it's 5 days, which would take it to Thursday/Friday which they won't do.

As is Royce Freeman playing QB. I'm using him Draft Kings if he starts.
I'm pretty sure it's going to be Kendall Hinton, he's a practice squad WR but he played QB at Wake Forest before switching to WR.

Start by firing everyone who allowed this to happen.
How does an organization allow this to happen. How do they not have protocols to prevent such things? Pure idiocy.
One thing I do wonder on these "close contact" issues is... given the difficulty in replacing your QB, wouldn't you just never let your QBs be in the same place at the same time or with the same snapper except on game day? I mean, you have 2 snappers and 3 QBs, you can practice with each snapper and QB working together and never have the two groups cross.
 

joe dokes

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These are athletes in great shape and under 35 years old. Look at the data. If you think player safety relative to Covid is a reason to not play, then you should never watch the NFL in the first place because there are numerous other health risks more statistically likely to impact these guys. Every year, not just right now.
True. But the players' families and communities are in play here.
 

johnmd20

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Start by firing everyone who allowed this to happen.
How does an organization allow this to happen. How do they not have protocols to prevent such things? Pure idiocy.
They have protocols. They were just ignored. Just like the Ravens strength coach.

If you don't take precautions, the virus spreads. But it seems even the NFL has hit the covid wall and is just giving up. Which is crazy, it is NOT hard to wear a damn mask.
 

joe dokes

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2 come to mind from the 60s. Tom Matte had to play qb for the colts for a game and marlin briscoe got an extended run one season and was the 1st black qb to start in the afl. This was before he was a FT WR.
 

joe dokes

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The players are being tested daily and being digitally contact traced in real time. They're the last people in America we should be worried about.
Seems to me that the families of the qbs sent home have had their lives upended, if not worse. "Daddy's home. Everyone in the basement."
 

Captaincoop

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Seems to me that the families of the qbs sent home have had their lives upended, if not worse. "Daddy's home. Everyone in the basement."
I feel like I'd rather my dad has to occasionally isolate for 10 days and makes several million dollars a season than he's working...basically anywhere else.
 

BigJimEd

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I think it's 5 days, which would take it to Thursday/Friday which they won't do.


I'm pretty sure it's going to be Kendall Hinton, he's a practice squad WR but he played QB at Wake Forest before switching to WR.



One thing I do wonder on these "close contact" issues is... given the difficulty in replacing your QB, wouldn't you just never let your QBs be in the same place at the same time or with the same snapper except on game day? I mean, you have 2 snappers and 3 QBs, you can practice with each snapper and QB working together and never have the two groups cross.
Exactly. There is no reason to have QBs be close contacts.