Titans Covid positives, first outbreak

[tasmlab]

Why would they need to reschedule? Can't they just not dress the eight players?

 

[amfootball]

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports the league notified the Titans, Steelers, Vikings, and Texans that it may be forced to reschedule both contests for Week 4.
The league reportedly told the Steelers to proceed with game preparations against the Titans, which were forced to shut down its facilities until Saturday following eight new positive tests among the organization. Minnesota's facitilites, which provided 0 positive tests as of Tuesday afternoon, were also evacuated until further notice. The NFL is still discussing plans for postponement which include pushing both games to Monday/Tuesday night or rescheduling bye weeks to assist with games in Weeks 7 and 8. All ideas are on the table.

 

[XLIX]

I agree with no forfeits but how in the world do you figure out tiebreakers if a team is 10-6 and another one is 10-5?

Why would you need a tiebreaker when they have different records?
10-5 beats 10-6.
10-6 beats 9-6.

 

[amfootball]

Why would you need a tiebreaker when they have different records?
10-5 beats 10-6.
10-6 beats 9-6.

Because the 10-5 team did not get to play its 16th game which would make it either 11-5 or 10-6. That would be unfair to the 10-6 team that played all 16 vs the the team that only played 15 and therefore has one less loss.

 

[1960Pats]

I can see games potentially being cancelled, but I just can't see any forfeits. Giving a team a free win would be ridiculously unfair. It would be far better to simply finish the season with 15 games played for some teams (although I still think they are going to play at some point anyway).

Cancelling games is a possibility. They could even do that if there were other games cancelled. Teams could get playoff spots and division titles using winning % if they didn't all play the same amount of games. Didn't that happen with Balcoball this year?

 

[Bill Lee]

Well if each division has its own bubble, then it's not really a bubble, is it?

The main idea is to limit the ways the virus can find its way into the league.

The NBA found one very successful way.

The NFL didn't want to move out of their comfort zone so we have a bunch of rules with no real enforcement other than fines after the fact.

Time will tell what was the better approach.

Every single player was given the opportunity to opt out. Some took that opportunity, but there is no reason whatsoever why the players who want to play should not be permitted to.

They opted out when they were being told the league had an effective way to control the virus.

If the league loses control of the virus (which is not likely but could happen) then all bets are off.

If things go too far, NFL risks lawsuits for endangering their players and staff.

They have deep pockets, there's plenty of lawyers who'd give that a go.

It's not being "technical". Your solution says put the players in separate bubbles and have them travel back and forth. Well once you're leaving your "bubble" and traveling across the country to another "bubble" then it's not really a bubble, is it?

The great is the enemy of the good. Try to think in terms of improvements rather than perfection.

Good luck getting the Union to agree to 6 months of isolation away from family.

It's an easy sell if the alternate becomes no paychecks till next season.

Everyone needs to relax. The NFL has a good system in place for this exact scenario. The PS is expanded so guys will be able to be back filled. They will either play the games or switch the bye weeks or tack it on at the end of the season.

Yes, we are all rushing to the worst possible hypotheticals, which is just human nature.

NFL says they have tracking protocols in place.

Hopefully they can figure out how the virus entered the team (they did just test these people a few days ago, no?) and figure out how to stop it in the future.

I can see games potentially being cancelled, but I just can't see any forfeits. Giving a team a free win would be ridiculously unfair. It would be far better to simply finish the season with 15 games played for some teams (although I still think they are going to play at some point anyway).

You keep thinking in terms of fairness.

IMO NFL will think in terms of what brings in the most revenue, and that's playing as many games as possible.

 

[1960Pats]

Because the 10-5 team did not get to play its 16th game which would make it either 11-5 or 10-6. That would be unfair to the 10-6 team that played all 16 vs the the team that only played 15 and therefore has one less loss.

Then the 10-5 team should have won one more game and needs to STFU and stop whining. Right @XLIX ?

 

[XLIX]

Because the 10-5 team did not get to play its 16th game which would make it either 11-5 or 10-6. That would be unfair to the 10-6 team that played all 16 vs the the team that only played 15 and therefore has one less loss.

Yeah I understand that but think about what you just said. You said it would be unfair to the 10-6 team to be compared to a 10-5 team. Well how does giving the 10-5 team a free win solve the problem of the 10-6 team being treated unfairly??

 

[1960Pats]

I don't think it's fair to compare football to any other sport when it comes to the virus.

 

[XLIX]

They opted out when they were being told the league had an effective way to control the virus.

Whuh huh whuh?

Every player knew the League's protocols when they made their own personal decision to opt out. Every player knew there would be daily testing, certain rules and restrictions, regular cleaning and disinfecting, etc, etc. They also knew there would be the usual amount of traveling to away games, players would still go home to their families, etc, etc.

If things go too far, NFL risks lawsuits for endangering their players and staff.

No, they kinda really don't. The Union agreed to the protocols in place and would have no basis for a lawsuit if some players get Covid.

Quite honestly, I am amazed at the traction this story is getting. Did anyone really think we would go 17 weeks (plus the playoffs) with not a single outbreak?? I cannot believe how so many people are acting so surprised at this. Everyone should have known it was going to happen eventually and contingencies will have to be put in place.

 

[XLIX]

Then the 10-5 team should have won one more game and needs to STFU and stop whining. Right @XLIX ?

Amen, bro! Although I wouldn't be surprised if we see the League expand the playoffs to a full 16 teams this year to address such issues.

 

[luuked]

There are unsubstantiated rumors that the source was the Titans OLB coach and that the team knew he tested positive before going into the game. Again, unsubstantiated.

I didnt see any of that. If that turns out to be true and they knowingly took someone who was positive on the trip then this obviously changes everything and the Titans should get severely punished.

 

[amfootball]

Yeah I understand that but think about what you just said. You said it would be unfair to the 10-6 team to be compared to a 10-5 team. Well how does giving the 10-5 team a free win solve the problem of the 10-6 team being treated unfairly??

It's unfair to both actually. The 10-5 never gets to play and potentially win its 16 game which could in fact effect it being a 3 or 4 seed potentially vs a 6 or 7 seed or perhaps miss the playoffs altogether. That being said, nothing is going to be fair this year so we all have to get used to it. It is hard to make a level playing field with Covid. Hopefully all the games get played somehow.

 

[Ian]

It's unfair to both actually. The 10-5 never gets to play and potentially win its 16 game which could in fact effect it being a 3 or 4 seed potentially vs a 6 or 7 seed or perhaps miss the playoffs altogether. That being said, nothing is going to be fair this year so we all have to get used to it. It is hard to make a level playing field with Covid. Hopefully all the games get played somehow.

That's why the only fair way is to - unfortunately - penalize the team with the outbreak and award the win to the opposing team if the game can't be played. It can't work both ways and again, the team who avoided the problem shouldn't be penalized because of the one that couldn't.

 

[Bill Lee]

Every player knew the League's protocols when they made their own personal decision to opt out. Every player knew there would be daily testing, certain rules and restrictions, regular cleaning and disinfecting, etc, etc. They also knew there would be the usual amount of traveling to away games, players would still go home to their families, etc, etc.

Actually I meant to write 'opt in' but I think you got it.

Sure, they knew the protocols, but they had a reasonable expectation of them being effective. If it turns out they are not (and we aren't there yet) then all bets are off. You're talking about people looking at (in theory) losing millions of dollars of potential future earnings if they get COVID and have a bad recovery. If things get out of control (they aren't now), it'd be a no brainer to sit out instead of putting that at risk.

No, they kinda really don't. The Union agreed to the protocols in place and would have no basis for a lawsuit if some players get Covid.

The union would not need to be involved in a suit. Players got enough money to hire their own layers, ambulance chasers work on commission. Protocols are in place but they could assert that NFL was negligent in their specification, their implementation, their enforcement.

At some point the risk of such would make NFL really consider if they are making a mistake continuing the season.

Quite honestly, I am amazed at the traction this story is getting. Did anyone really think we would go 17 weeks (plus the playoffs) with not a single outbreak?? I cannot believe how so many people are acting so surprised at this. Anyone with half a brain knew it was going to happen eventually and contingencies will have to be put in place.

Be real, the flip side of that is thinking that a story featuring three unnamed NFL players and five staffers from one team catching a life threatening virus two days after playing in a game would get little traction.

The NFL is lucky this is a small market and not particularly successful team. Could you imagine if this was one of the best teams, or a major market team, or (god forbid) our team? Would you really expect people to say "well, there's contingencies in place, let's move on"?

 

[Wheelman]

Honestly, it should just go down as a forfeit by Tennessee. Pittsburgh did their part, those who can’t, I feel like they’ll have to pay the price...unfortunately. At least if we plan on making it through the whole year. It’s not fair to the Steelers, as much as I dislike Tomlin, to have to have their world turned around because the other team’s players couldn’t stick to the protocols.

Did their part? Unless you're in an isolated bubble, how can you possibly "do your part" when you go home to your family who come into contact with others. It's just dumb, and not realistic. They either should not have had the season or put all the players in a bubble which they can not leave, not even to see family except under urgent circumstances. Shouldn't punish the Titans for it. It's the greedy owners fault. Money this, money that.

 

[Brotherblues]

I already addressed this post, so let’s move on and keep the thread on topic.

Aye sorry, kinda just responded on impulse when I saw that comment and didn't see it had already been addressed... repeatedly.

 

[Bonzo]

Only one rational response here. How many draft picks the Patriots have left for 2021?

 

[Bill Lee]

Did their part? Unless you're in an isolated bubble, how can you possibly "do your part" when you go home to your family who come into contact with others. It's just dumb, and not realistic. They either should not have had the season or put all the players in a bubble which they can not leave, not even to see family except under urgent circumstances. Shouldn't punish the Titans for it. It's the greedy owners fault. Money this, money that.

The perplexing part is I thought everyone got tested on Saturday, which suggests the virus entered the team some time after that and spread to eight people before the next test. Seems the NFL is going to have to spring for even more frequent testing?

 

[Bill Lee]

Only one rational response here. How many draft picks the Patriots have left for 2021?

Or maybe one of the Titans WR has COVID and BB makes a move to pick him up for a seventh in next year's draft?