Exactly what will it take, NFL?
It wasnt one of your own über-wealthy team owners catching the coronavirus. It wasnt numerous head coaches.
It wasnt state mandates that have actually badly limited participation in some stadiums and indicated no presence at all in others.
Will it take the present face of your league, the ruling Super Bowl MVP, the Muppet-voiced resurgence kid who so far has appeared incapable of being removed– certainly not by opposing defenses– to learn hes COVID-positive before you act? Before you go through with some form of a season-altering procedure in the name of security?
Once this year in prominent style, Patrick Mahomes has already utilized his juice. In early June, he consented to belong to a video with other prominent Black gamers when they asked what it would take before the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell lastly stood and acknowledged that Black lives matter.
Goodell answered them in a video, stating in part, “We, the National Football League, condemn … the systematic injustice of black people.” Its widely believed that Mahomes participation in the video is what pressed Goodell to react.
Will it take Mahomes participation again, though this time in a potentially life-altering circumstance, before the NFL does something?
On Wednesday, New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, exposed he evaluated favorable for COVID-19. Less than 48 hours previously, Gilmores Patriots played Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs, and the 2 met at midfield after the video game to accept.
Ruling Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes fulfilled up in person with Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who exposed he evaluated positive for COVID-19, after Monday nights game. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) More.
The reality is, its doubtful whether the Patriots-Chiefs video game must have even been played. The league has actually lulled itself into a false complacency with testing, and the idea that an unfavorable test the day before a game means a player is fine. According to the CDC, the incubation duration for COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days.
On Saturday, New England quarterback Cam Newton was put on the COVID reserve list. Days previously, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said no one is around the group facility more than Newton, and that he hangs out talking and making connections with colleagues in every position group and others around the team.
When no one else on the team checked positive on Sunday or Monday morning, the NFL enabled Patriots-Chiefs to move forward, with New England flying to Missouri for the held off contest. They did take two planes there and back, with one plane for those who had actually been close to Newton in recent days and the other for those that had not.
It doesnt take a PhD to connect the dots on this.
However when again, a marquee matchup and the almighty dollar took precedent over sound judgment and erring on the side of care for the health and safety of all included and their households.
That consists of Mahomes, whose fiancée is pregnant with their very first child. Wednesday afternoon Mahomes informed media it was a “little bit of a psychological lapse” to welcome Gilmore postgame, which hes been oversleeping a various space from his fiancée as a precaution because Kansas City backup quarterback Jordan Taamu was discovered to be covid-positive.
Could Mahomes contract the coronavirus from a hug? Specialists think its extremely not likely.
Again: Until the pandemic is well under control, why take that danger? Why put not simply the health of the darling of the league in jeopardy, but any player?
Months ago, when the NCAA canceled March Madness and the 2020 Summer Olympics were put on hold and the NHL and NBA seasons were stopped, there were thoughts that the NFL had an advantage because the season wouldnt be bet another few months, and for that reason the league had time to strategy.
That strategy, its clear, was not great enough. Since this writing, there are 4 teams, the Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, with at least one favorable gamer, and the Titans are just a hotspot unto themselves.
Story continues.
The league has lulled itself into a false sense of security with screening, and the notion that a negative test the day before a game means a gamer is fine. Again: Until the pandemic is well under control, why take that risk? At this point, however, if the NFL firmly insists on pushing forward (and we have no doubt it does), the only response seems to be going into a bubble. Your broadcast partners wont care if every video game is played at the very same one or 2 arenas, they simply want the ad and the item income. How many more positive tests will it take?
Moving forward with a full-contact sport during a raging pandemic constantly looked like an incredibly foolish idea to this writer, no matter how much any of us enjoy the video game or how empty your fall weekends may feel without them.
At this point, nevertheless, if the NFL firmly insists on pressing forward (and we believe it does), the only response appears to be entering into a bubble. That may suggest pausing the video games for a number of weeks to get all of the logistics in place. It might suggest millions in costs group owners havent allocated for.
But trust us, youll get it back. Thats why you desired the season anyway: money. Your broadcast partners wont care if every game is played at the exact same one or 2 stadiums, they simply want the product and the advertisement earnings. You shouldnt care because theres no “home field benefit” in empty stadiums.
This is the challenge you deal with. The existing Defensive Player of the Year has COVID. His colleague, a previous MVP, might. The number of more favorable tests will it take?
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