Titan players/personnel test + for COVID

Wisconsin numbers are exploding, in particular the Fox Valley area near Brown County. MLF addressed this concern yesterday as well. 

Strikes me as almost inevitable given what the virus is doing nationwide.

Please make sure we’re not straying too far from the topic. This isn’t going to be a covid venting session no matter what your feelings are. This isn’t directed at anyone, just heading this off before anyone wants to “correct the record”.

I feel as if Y.A. hits “like” too much and you’re not going to change my feelings on that.

At least outdoor stadiums have the hope of the virus getting diminished by the air, but domes don't have that luxury.  And the fact that these players are on top of each other, spitting, breathing heavy, yelling doesn't help--all  super-spreader activities.  Baseball is about as socially distant as you can get in a sport and they had issues, so no surprise football will at some point.

The billon dollar question is, what happens to standings and schedules when games are canceled?

They can move games to bye weeks or maybe the end of the season?

@Blair Kiel posted:

The billon dollar question is, what happens to standings and schedules when games are canceled?

The Packers get awarded another ho-hum 14th World Title! Of course.

It was laughable that the NFL was touting all their success related to COVID19.  While there may not be fans, there is still travel to numerous locations where the virus is running rampant.  And let’s be honest - do you really believe most players will make good decisions?  

Without a bubble like the NBA and NHL these cases are inevitable.   The Vikings are probably happy at this point. Cancel the season and it gives them a pass on what a shit team they have!! 

Even in a “typical” flu season a number of players get it even when they wash their hands and wash their butt. It’s really really hard to stop a virus. I am glad for all the testing and often same day results. I agree with others who suggested that early byes could be added to the schedule for teams with positive results. I hope it’s enough. I would hate to see a season cancelled at this point.

Talking about make-up games during bye weeks and after the regular season—-wait, don’t the playoffs start?—-presents a Rubics Cube of impossibility.

Well crap..   If games can''t be made up the only option I can see is to go off winning percentage with a minimum set on games played. 

That’s the thing

Baseball can get away with it because of double headers.  Football doesn’t have that luxury.    And you start adding weeks to the season it might be March or April before the Super Bowl is played. 

The NFL could have adopted a regional bubble model but my guess is they assumed at some point this season that fans would return hence let them play a normal schedule.  However, unlike baseball, you have a ton of close contact and the rosters are huge.  2-3 cases could turn into 30 very quickly.  And because it takes up to 2 weeks to show up this could go on a long time.   

Do like they did to make rugby more exciting for the average person: sevens

Play 7 on 7 with two 15 minute halves.

QB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, C

DB, DB, DB, DB, LB, LB, DL

22 man rosters so a few subs

Maynard.

Just where is it 5:00?

Another problem football has (especially compared to the NBA but also for MLB to a lesser extent) is that many of the coaches are extremely high risk in terms of comorbidities and/or age. 

Mike McCarthy and Andy Reid are two obvious examples. Even beyond them, Pete Carroll is 69, Belichick is 68, Arians is 68, Mike Zimmer is almost 65.  For the most part, NBA and MLB coaches skew much younger and are much healthier in terms of BMI. 

If the tests are accurate, the league will make decisions on how best to move forward. I'm NOT saying this will happen, but there is the POSSIBILITY of rescheduling games in a situation like this. If that were to happen, the Titans and Vikings could possibly be affected which COULD possibly affect the Texans (MIN at HOU) and the Steelers (PIT @ TEN) planned for this Sunday.

---- Joe Bryant

@Blair Kiel posted:

Maynard.

Just where is it 5:00?

obviously somewhere 

They really should have baked 2 or 3 bye weeks into this season to be prepared for this. Does it really matter if the Superb Owl happens in early March? 

Vikings fans already have a big * appended to this season because of COVID and all those injuries that apparently only happen to their team. 

@Blair Kiel posted:

The billon dollar question is, what happens to standings and schedules when games are canceled?

I assume they'll open it up to fan voting.

As for making up games, if it doesn't affect the playoffs the games will not be made up. This happened in baseball. the Cards would have had to play a double headed in Detroit but since those games did not affect the standings they went bye bye.  At 0-3 do you really think the Vikings will have to play all their games to see if they qualify?  Same with Houston. 

Without a lottery, it could be big for draft position. Of course it would be hilarious if the Vikings had no wins but didn’t get the #1 pick because they only had 14 losses.

I'm actually a little impressed the NFL was able to keep it clean for 3 weeks.  I didn't think they had any chance of back in August.  Bummer it hit this week.  

Will be interesting to see what happens from here.  Seems like the NFL wants to continue business as usual and not sure how that's going to work.  NFL didn't leave themselves any wiggle room for canceled games, ie: adding 1 or 2 more bye weeks.  

Hopefully this is a wake up call.  Last week, you had coaches not wearing masks on the sidelines.  And today, apparently there were a few Raiders at a public without masks.  

If the numbers stop at these 3 players, things will go on as planned, maybe a Monday or Tuesday game instead of Sunday. If there's a bunch more positive results tomorrow all bets are off. 

I don’t understand the coaches being required to wear masks on the sidelines while the players slobber all over each other.  

I have to go there because I see no other logical reasoning for it, it’s got to be symbolic or political. 

or it could be what any sane person should be doing during this time of pandemic.  since coaches can wear masks, why wouldn't they?  it reduces the odds of them contracting a disease.  it's that simple, nothing else.

I don’t think it’s political, at worst it’s just symbolic. Overall I think it’s a precaution that hurts nothing to take. 

@Blair Kiel posted:

The billon dollar question is, what happens to standings and schedules when games are canceled?

It's why I am glad the vikings are in the cellar in our division. An asterisked season with no purple, anywhere, to be seen.

@BrainDed posted:

I don’t understand the coaches being required to wear masks on the sidelines while the players slobber all over each other.  

I have to go there because I see no other logical reasoning for it, it’s got to be symbolic or political. 

The coaches are spreading droplets and spit every time they yell at a player or  referee, or by calling in a play. They had better wear masks! I'm surprised the players are not wearing them, yet.

Or some type of modified helmet that includes a shield. I thought they already had these. 

@PackerHawk posted:

Or some type of modified helmet that includes a shield. I thought they already had these. 

I saw that on one player....

Steelers/Titans postponed

And so it begins...

They will squeeze it in Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully this is a wakeup call to all 32 teams to take this shit seriously. 

Yup....Good call @PackerHawk NFL likes LOVES their money

The #Steelers and #Titans will play either Monday or Tuesday, source said. So, being postponed, but not for very long. https://t.co/Xu0SoD2ZpO

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2020

The rescheduled Steelers-Titans game is expected to be on national TV on CBS, according to sources.

It will be either on Monday at 5 p.m. or Tuesday at 6 or 7 p.m.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) October 1, 2020

"Covid Bowl" will be in the pithy game thread title.

Don't show your cards too early...

Tom Pelissero just reported: "The NFL is rescheduling the #Steelers-#Titans game to later in the season after an additional Titans player and one personnel tested positive for COVID-19. It will not be played Week 4."

We can only assume it will be played when one of the teams had their bye week scheduled. I guess....

Money 💰💰💰 flying out the window....poor NFL