In the absence of a bubble, the league thinks its procedures are an efficient procedure in fighting the coronavirus within league circles. Through training camp and 3 weeks of the routine season, that was mostly real. Now the league is at an inflection point thats threatening its season.
Whether the NFL can actually reduce the spread of COVID-19 through its procedures is far from a certainty. And with public health and billions of dollars at stake, the NFL is taking a difficult line.
The NFL is ramping up its rhetoric when it pertains to COVID-19 protocols.
A week after the league threatened teams with the loss of draft choices for breaching safety steps, the NFL announced that protocol breaks could cost teams wins.
” Simply put, compliance is necessary. Now is the time to recommit ourselves to our procedures and finest practices throughout of the season.”
The memo also details new measures meant to reduce exposure at group facilities, consisting of limits on free-agent tryouts, prohibits on team gatherings away from club centers and video surveillance of facilities and group travel to monitor that protocols like using masks are followed.
The memo gets here after a week spoiled by COVID-19 outbreaks and continued violations of COVID-19 protocols by coaches and gamers.
Jon Gruden has actually repeatedly flouted NFL mask mandates. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) More.
Gruden still not using masks effectively.
Head coach Jon Gruden could likewise discover himself in hot water after stopping working to wear a mask properly on the sideline Sunday for a 3rd straight week. Grudens failure to wear his mask around his mouth and nose throughout Week 2 gathered a $100,000 fine for him and a $250,000 fine for the Raiders.
In overall, the NFL gave out $1.75 million in Week 2 fines for coaches not appropriately wearing masks. The NFL has not yet publicly reacted to Grudens most current offense.
The stakes are high for the NFL, and the league is responding appropriately with its punishments. The success of this NFL season is based on the leagues belief that it can run safely amid an air-borne pandemic outside the boundaries of a bubble like the NBA, WNBA and NHL conducted their seasons in.
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” Protocol offenses that result in virus spread needing adjustment to the schedule or otherwise impacting other groups will lead to extra financial and competitive discipline, consisting of the modification or loss of draft options and even the forfeit of a video game,” the memo reads.
” The preseason and the first 3 weeks fo the regular season showed that the strict adherence to the obligatory procedures jointly established with the NFLPA make it possible to play football in a accountable and safe environment,” the NFL memo checks out …
A COVID-19 break out at Titans facilities has actually triggered strong disciplinary language from he NFL. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) More.
Titans outbreak leads to brand-new truth for NFL.
A video game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers set up for Sunday was transferred to Week 7 after a break out of at least 20 COVID-19 cases amongst the Titans. The outbreak required both teams to move their bye week to Week 4 and initiated a schedule reshuffling that also affected the Baltimore Ravens.
The Titans are under investigation by the NFL. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the NFL and NFLPA believe the outbreak is a result of failure to adhere to protocols, while the Titans think they followed all of the leagues security standards.
The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots were likewise forced to move their Sunday afternoon video game to Monday after each team reported a single COVID-19 case. As of Monday afternoon, the cases on each group remained limited to a single gamer.
Raiders racking up COVID-19 fines.
The NFL also supposedly distributed fines to Las Vegas Raiders players on Monday after they were seen last week at a congested indoor fundraiser not using masks. Most of the participants likewise failed to wear masks, per video footage and photos from the occasion at a Henderson country club outside Las Vegas.
Tight end Darren Waller, who hosted the occasion, was fined $30,000 and several of his colleagues were fined $15,000, according to NFL Network. Quarterback Derek Carr was amongst the gamers seen at the occasion without a mask.
” The procedures do not implement themselves, however, and our development so far can not lead us to complacency. … As we have actually said before: act as if every individual you come in contact with has a COVID infection and take suitable preventative measures.”.
Whether the NFL can really alleviate the spread of COVID-19 through its protocols is far from a certainty. In the absence of a bubble, its the best strategy the league has at its disposal. And with public health and billions of dollars at stake, the NFL is taking a hard line.
And one thing is certain. If coaches and players are wantonly breaking fundamental COVID-19 security standards, this season doesnt stand a chance against the coronavirus.
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NFL memo assures harsh penalties
A league memo sent on Monday repeated that draft choices are at stake and that violations that need schedule modifications might result in game forfeit.
Can NFL mitigate COVID-19 outside a bubble?
In the lack of a bubble, the league thinks its procedures are a reliable measure in fighting the coronavirus within league circles. Through training school and 3 weeks of the routine season, that was mostly real. Today the league is at an inflection point thats threatening its season.
And its standing by the stance that sticking to protocols is essential.
