Draft/OTA's/Training Camp/Season Covid-19

[sparky151]

26 minutes ago, Jason said:

I have worked in the Pharm/Bio industry since December of 1993.  Unless the FDA allows an expedited approval process because of the nature of the pandemic, which is possible, a marketed vaccine by October is a long shot.

 

Expedited FDA review is part of Operation Warp Speed. The day the first vaccine candidate finishes phase 3 trials, the FDA will be getting data (actually even before that). The data is presented to a panel of doctors for review. That panel will be held pretty quickly and may even be on CSPAN. The FDA will be under considerable pressure to make a decision quickly and to approve the drug if the trial data is favorable. Once the drug is used by millions of people, it's likely some side effects that didn't appear in the trial will be found. 

 

I fully expect political fights over whether or not to mandate vaccinations. Once there is an approved vaccine available in the millions of doses, it will create a lot of pressure to reopen things like schools, restaurants, and stadia. There will also be a fight over whether the first people to get the vaccine should be those at highest risk or lowest risk. 

[Le Tigre]

NFL, NFLPA agree to revised CBA: Salary cap details, training camp timeline, roster size and more to know

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-nflpa-agree-to-revised-cba-salary-cap-details-training-camp-timeline-roster-size-and-more-to-know/amp/

 

 

 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

18 hours ago, sparky151 said:

 

Not really. There are a couple of vaccine candidates which have easily cleared their hurdles thus far. They have big enough phase 3 test groups that the FDA will have an easy decision either way. The vaccines are already being produced so once the FDA signs off, they'll be shipping that day. 

Nonsense, there has never been an effective  flu vaccine let alone a stronger respiratory illness. Not to mention the virus has evolved and morphed and will continue to do so. 

[UncleEarl]

5 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Nonsense, there has never been an effective  flu vaccine let alone a stronger respiratory illness. Not to mention the virus has evolved and morphed and will continue to do so. 

One of the main reason the annual flu vaccine has its issues is that scientists have to guess which strains of flu will be dominant in the coming season so they have time to synthesize and manufacture the vaccine.  It's not an exact science and flu vaccines are very low margin so there isn't a lot of money chasing a better way.

 

What's happening now is kind of exciting.  The capital being dumped into coming up with a COVID vaccine is funding some companies doing things in different ways.  They won't all pan out, but I bet some will.  The Oxford/AZ vaccine is really interesting as it not only creates antibodies, but increases T-cells which can help fight any infection.  Other vaccines are synthesized to target the virus' genetic code, which is a different way to go about it.  Yes, the virus can mutate, but it doesn't usually happen that fast.  Many flu viruses aren't necessarily new every year, but reruns of old viruses we have seen before. 

 

I would bet by October they are giving medical workers vaccines as part of Phase 3 to study efficacy.  You don't want to expose regular people to COVID to see if the vaccine works.  Seems like the vaccines have been shown to be safe so far, but they likely need to test it in at risk populations (elderly, diabetes, etc.) to see if there are any issues in those folks before there is widespread usage.  I laugh at all the people already attacking the government for "rushing" a vaccine.  You do know people are dying?  As long as it's safe you want to get it out there.  Some protection is better than no protection. 

[sparky151]

Yeah, the covid vaccine process is nothing like the regular flue vaccine development process. Governments are picking up the development costs and putting them into production even before approval. A pharma company does things serially to save money. The governments are doing things in parallel because the billions spent are a pittance compared to the trillions in costs for shutdowns. 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

On 7/25/2020 at 8:09 PM, sparky151 said:

Yeah, the covid vaccine process is nothing like the regular flue vaccine development process. Governments are picking up the development costs and putting them into production even before approval. A pharma company does things serially to save money. The governments are doing things in parallel because the billions spent are a pittance compared to the trillions in costs for shutdowns. 

The fastest vaccine ever done in the past is about 4 years and we are not even 6 months into COVID. Not to mention IF they do ever get one, it has to be tested and tested and then put out to 7 Billion people? Years and years. 

[sparky151]

I see you're not paying attention. Why do you think Oxford and Astra Zenaca are so far ahead of the field?

[|SF2|]

So 3 days in we already have a 2 baseball games cancelled due to Covid outbreak.  I really have my doubts. 

[Le Tigre]

Always honored when Katie sends personalized messages (even when they don't say a whole lot):

 

Dear 

 

The start of training camp is always an exciting time, and we know there is extra enthusiasm this year to see all of the players we added during free agency and the draft take their first official snaps as Bengals players.

 

Health and safety is our top priority as we prepare for players to return. We are taking all of the necessary steps to follow the guidelines established by the NFL, local government officials and medical professionals.

 

Last Friday night, the NFL and NFLPA came to an agreement that enables us to open training camp on time. Part of this agreement says there will be no preseason games. The team will be preparing for the season opener against the LA Chargers on September 13. We remain hopeful that we will be able to host fans in a reduced capacity for our regular season games pending approval by local and state government officials.

 

As a result of increased safety protocols, fans and visitors will not be permitted to attend training camp practices. We know so many of our fans look forward to this experience and we will miss seeing you this year. We will work hard to bring you behind-the-scenes coverage on Bengals.com and social media throughout training camp so you can still feel close to the action.

 

We appreciate your support and will continue to share updates as we have more information.

 

Stay safe & WHO DEY!

 

 

Katie Blackburn

Executive Vice President

Cincinnati Bengals

[spicoli]

2 hours ago, SF2 said:

So 3 days in we already have a 2 baseball games cancelled due to Covid outbreak.  I really have my doubts. 

Yeah I’m not seeing it either. The MLB experiment is about to go kaput. Once that happens, the rest of the leagues will fall like dominoes. 

[UncleEarl]

29 minutes ago, spicoli said:

Yeah I’m not seeing it either. The MLB experiment is about to go kaput. Once that happens, the rest of the leagues will fall like dominoes. 

Not really.  The NBA and NHL are in bubbles.  The NHL just reported zero positive tests last week and now they are effectively quarantined.   Trying to run a league where the players are exposed to other people isn't going to work with the level of COVID flying around out there. 

[UncleEarl]

4 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

The fastest vaccine ever done in the past is about 4 years and we are not even 6 months into COVID. Not to mention IF they do ever get one, it has to be tested and tested and then put out to 7 Billion people? Years and years. 

The simple answer is there is way more money chasing this vaccine.  The complicated answer is you really don't know how this works.

[|SF2|]

17 minutes ago, UncleEarl said:

Not really.  The NBA and NHL are in bubbles.  The NHL just reported zero positive tests last week and now they are effectively quarantined.   Trying to run a league where the players are exposed to other people isn't going to work with the level of COVID flying around out there. 

Yep, the baseball strategy never looked like it would work well and it isn't.  They really don't have a way to easily make up games either due to the compressed schedule.  NBA only needs one superstar on a team to get it to end that team's  season.  Leonard or LeBron get it and their team is probably out of the playoffs.   

 

NFL teams can get away with some players getting it save maybe the QB.   Most NFL teams are used to losing a few very good players during the season due to injury.

 

If an NHL team loses their best player it doesn't hurt them all that much. 

[Le Tigre]

NFL Players Who Contract Coronavirus at 'High-Risk' Events Subject to Discipline, Lack of Pay

As part of the league's new rules surrounding COVID-19, NFL players who contract the coronavirus while attending "high-risk" events will be subject to team discipline and potentially not receive pay checks, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

 

 

Graziano reports that a memo sent by the NFLPA to agents goes over several rules regarding player contracts, opt-out provisions and the ramifications of a canceled season. The final language of the agreement is still being worked out, but what has been agreed upon is that players will be held accountable for how they interact in public settings as the pandemic persists.

 

The memo obtained by ESPN outlines examples of what would be considered high-risk events, including indoor nightclubs or bars (other than picking up food to-go), indoor music concerts, professional sporting events and house parties, all with an upper limit of 15 people. Also included is attending indoor religious services that are attended by 25% of the venue's capacity.

 

Should a player contract the coronavirus as a result of engaging in these activities, his team could challenge the status of a COVID-19 diagnosis as a football injury, and therefore allow the team the option to not pay him. The memo says that this issue "remains open."

 

The following issues were also addressed in the memo:

• If at least one week of the NFL season is played, players who are on a team's Week 1 roster or practice squad will receive a full year credited for the purpose of pension and free agency eligibility.
• $17 million in player benefits were canceled, though they will be repaid through a new benefit after 2023.
• Players who opt out because they are in a higher-risk medical category will receive a $350,000 stipend and a year toward free agency. Teams must offer separate housing to a player who has a high-risk person living with them.
• If the 2020 season is canceled before teams make their final training camp cuts, players who are on training camp rosters and earned a 2019 season credit or was a draftee in 2020 will receive a $250,000 stipend and health insurance. Players who were not undrafted in 2020 or did not receive full credit in 2019 will get a $50,000 stipend.

[Le Tigre]

3 more NFL players opt out of season as COVID-19 outbreak strikes MLB

As MLB deals with a COVID-19 outbreak, NFL players continue to opt out of the upcoming season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that New England Patriots linebacker and team captain Dont’a Hightower is choosing to opt out of the 2020 season, and Patriots RB Brandon Bolden is choosing to do the same. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirmed that Patriots OT Marcus Cannon was opting out on Monday night.

 

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Monday that wide receiver and return specialist De'Anthony Thomas has been added to the team’s reserve list as a voluntary opt-out. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Seattle Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Cowboys corner back Maurice Canady will also exercise their options to opt out for the season.

 

New England Patriots fullback Danny Vitale is also opting out, according to his agent. As is Patriots guard Najee Toran, according to the Boston Globe. In total, five Patriots players have now opted out of the 2020 NFL season.

 

Meanwhile Washington defensive end Caleb Brantley was granted a “high-risk” opt-out, a designation that allows him to collect a $350,000 stipend and an accrued season. Players not granted the designation receive a $150,000 advance on their 2021 contracts and don’t accrue a season. Why Brantley was granted the waiver is not clear.

 

They all join Kansas City Chiefs lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who on Friday became the first NFL player to opt out of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The players who opted out Monday and Tuesday have not publicly spoken about their decisions.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/as-covid-19-outbreak-strikes-mlb-2-more-nfl-players-opt-out-of-season-210342707.html

 

[Le Tigre]

First Cincinnati Bengals player put on reserve/COVID-19 list

Charlie Goldsmith

Cincinnati Enquirer

 

Before the official start of training camp, the Cincinnati Bengals preseason has already been impacted by the coronavirus.

 

Undrafted free agent defensive end Kendall Futrell was one of the first six players placed on the new reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday.

 

By being on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Futrell either tested positive for the coronavirus or has been in close contact with an infected person, according to an NFL statement.

 

Bengals rookies reported to the team facility for coronavirus tests last week, and Futrell was likely a part of the initial group of tests. 

 

The Bengals veterans will report to Paul Brown Stadium to be tested on July 28, and each player must test negative twice before entering the team’s facilities.

According to the NFL’s updated Collective Bargaining Agreement, players who are diagnosed with the coronavirus will have that condition treated as a football related injury.

 

In a statement Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL worked with medical directors of the NFL and NFL Players Association as well as public health experts from the CDC to develop a plan to play the 2020 season.

 

“We have worked collaboratively to develop a comprehensive set of protocols designed to minimize risks for fans, players and club and league personnel. The season will undoubtedly present new and additional challenges, but we are committed to playing a safe and complete 2020 season,” Goodell said.

 

Futrell started all 12 games at East Carolina University last season and finished the year with 63 tackles and 11 sacks. He signed with the Bengals shortly after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded.

 

Five other players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday: Baltimore Ravens defensive back Nigel Warrior, Cleveland Browns running back Dontrell Hilliard and defensive back Javante Moffatt, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jon’Vea Johnson and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Aleva Hifo.

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/07/27/cincinnati-bengals-kendall-futrell-reserve-covid-19-list/5516412002/

[Le Tigre]

Opinion: NFL season could hinge on new layer of self-discipline amid coronavirus pandemic

Personal responsibility looms as perhaps the ultimate X-factor as the bulk of NFL teams open training camps this week in preparation for a season unlike any other.

 

With COVID-19 spreading, there are protocols and checkpoints. Daily testing and the ubiquitous presence of hand sanitizers. Warnings and more warnings.

 

What’s good for NFL players is good for all of us: Wear a mask. Wash your hands.

 

Yet as the nation’s most popular sports league ramps up with a massive effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the chances of the NFL pulling off its season could come down to how diligent hundreds of young men are at minimizing risk.

 

Not to say that the pro football lifestyle depicted on HBO’s fictional series "Ballers" represents the bulk of NFL players, but the temptation of the fast lane is hardly fiction.

 

Given the buzz this week following the revelation that Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams visited a famed Atlanta strip club, Magic City, while granted permission to leave the NBA’s bubble in Orlando, there’s fresh material for NFL coaches to use in their typical camp-opening monologues about behavior.

 

Then again, with this coronavirus, a person can flow in the slowest lane possible and still get stricken because they ventured to the wrong place – a grocery store, bank, fast-food restaurant, dry cleaners, or any mundane location that can be frequented on a ho-hum day – at the wrong time.

 

The threat in an NFL context is that an infected person, maybe asymptomatic, somehow slips through the cracks of the virus safeguards and ignites an outbreak.

 

“It’s hard to say what it would take to shut everything down, but I’d imagine if you had a mass breakout, you’re going to have some big questions,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday as he christened the opening of camp. “We’ll have to see. In the meantime, we’ve got to make sure we’re following all the protocols that have been set forth by the CDC and by the NFL and (NFL Players Association). We’ve got to be really careful with this and be smart.”

 

An ominous warning sign has come from Major League Baseball, forced to postpone several games and suspend the Miami Marlins’ season after more than a dozen players and staff tested positive for COVID-19. The specific source of the Marlins’ outbreak is unclear, though Jill Roberts, an infectious disease expert at the University of South Florida, told USA TODAY’s Gabe Lacques, “Chances are really good this came out of Miami.”

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians downplayed concern that his team could be victimized by a certain kind of outbreak: “I don’t think our guys are going to get sick in the locker room. I don’t think they’ll get sick in our facility. Everybody here is tested, they’re clean. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen outside the facility.”

 

Surely, that’s what the NFL is waging high stakes on, with daily testing for at least two weeks and perhaps longer. The threat, however, could escalate with, say, a faulty test result.

 

Perhaps it is only a matter of time before the NFL is addressing an outbreak of its own. League officials are mulling several factors that could prompt postponing or canceling games, or even suspending the season, a person with knowledge of discussions told USA TODAY Sports. The person did not want to be identified because plans have not been finalized.

 

Factors that could prompt the application of the league’s Emergencies and Unfair Acts policy include postponing a game because an entire position group was stricken by COVID-19. If 10 or more games in a given week cannot be played, the NFL could reschedule the entire slate of games for a week. Also, if six or more clubs can’t play for multiple weeks, it could potentially prompt the NFL to suspend the season.

 

None of the factors are etched into stone as policy at this point, but the markers give an indication of how the league might address COVID-19 outbreaks during the season.

 

It’s clear, though, that regardless of the contingency plans, the onus on players to reduce risk is significant. The Bill Belichick mantra “do your job” means more than holding a block.

 

When the Detroit Lions reported for camp, they were greeted by signage at their COVID-19 testing trailer that included: Do your part. Protect yourself. Protect your team.

 

Such expectations are also spelled out in the COVID-19 labor pact struck recently between the NFL and NFLPA. Players are subject to discipline if it is proved they contracted the coronavirus by engaging in “high-risk” behavior that includes presence at nightclubs, bars, house parties and religious services that have  more than 15 people.

 

Seems the NFL and the proactive players union have covered it all.

 

The COVID-19 playbook is rolling with self-discipline. Now we’ll see just how well the human element can match up in fighting the coronavirus.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/07/29/nfl-season-coronavirus-players-2020-rules/5531294002/

 

[Le Tigre]

League wide Opt Out Tracker:

 

https://www.rotoworld.com/article/numbers/nfl-opt-out-tracker

 

 

[Le Tigre]

Cowboys cancel season tickets for 2020, will significantly limit capacity amid COVID-19 pandemic

There won't be anything near a packed house in Arlington this season

The latest shoe has dropped in the battle between the NFL and the again-surging COVID-19 pandemic, this time by way of a decision from the Dallas Cowboys that was rightfully expected by many. With teams around the league being forced to significantly reduce fan capacity in 2020, the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones had yet to issue a statement on how they'd handle the matter. In early June, Texas governor Greg Abbott declared sports venues like AT&T Stadium would be permitted a seating capacity of up to 50 percent, and while there has since been a massive spike in the number of coronavirus cases -- leading to a paused reopening in the state -- Abbott hasn't peeled back that proclamation.

 

So while it's still unclear how many fans will be allowed at AT&T Stadium this coming season, what's now clear is being a season ticket-holder won't necessarily get you to the game. The Cowboys have announced the cancellation of season tickets in 2020, noting the program is set to resume in 2021.

 

"The safety of our fans, players and employees remains a top priority," the team said in an official statement. "The Dallas Cowboys are committed to working closely with the NFL, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of Texas and public health officials to ensure that proper policies and procedures are put in place to maintain a safe environment at AT&T Stadium. Because of the current pandemic and associated NFL and governmental restrictions limiting capacity at AT&T Stadium, season tickets will not be available for the 2020 season and will resume with the 2021 NFL season."

 

A "limited number" of single-game tickets that become available will be granted to season ticket holders first, however, assuming they opt in for them, via Seat Geek. An email will be sent to those who opt in when/if the single-game tickets become available.

 

Any season ticket holders who opt out can choose to remain in a holding pattern and simply pick up where they left off when 2021 rolls around, which means retaining their tenure, seat location and benefits.

 

Those who have already paid their season ticket invoice have several options, which include either requesting a full refund, forwarding the totality of their credit toward the 2021 season, or using parts of their credit to cover any 2020 single-game tickets they've chosen to opt in for. Additionally, fans with a seat option agreement will be granted another year on their term, to balance out the loss of their 2020 benefits. Anyone requesting a full refund will begin seeing it after September 1. 

 

Those who are champing at the bit to see a Cowboys game in-person can take solace in the team's optimism that at least some will be allowed in, a move that is in stark contrast with teams like the New York Giants and New York Jets -- both having been banned from allowing a single fan into MetLife Stadium this season. With AT&T Stadium having one of the largest capacities in the NFL, routinely blowing pass 100,000 on any given game day, the Cowboys need now only decide if they'll push the envelope to the currently allowable 50 percent capacity, or if they'll err on the side of caution and go with a lesser number. 

Given the current state of affairs surrounding COVID-19, the latter seems a more likely possibility. 

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-cancel-season-tickets-for-2020-will-significantly-limit-capacity-amid-covid-19-pandemic/

 

[Jamie_B]

Eagles Head Coach Doug Peterson tested positive for COVID19

[Le Tigre]

Raiders' Allegiant Stadium will be closed to fans for 2020 season

The Las Vegas Raiders will open their new stadium without fans.

 

The team announced in an email to fans Monday that it plans to conduct the 2020 season in Allegiant Stadium sans fans.

 

"There is nothing more important to the Raider Organization than the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff, stadium workers and fans," the club said in the statement. "After intensive consultation with healthcare officials and state and community leaders, we have made the difficult decision to play the Las Vegas Raiders 2020 inaugural season at Allegiant Stadium without fans in attendance. This decision is based on our commitment to protect the health of our fans and the entire community in response to the coronavirus pandemic affecting us all.

 

"This decision also ensures fairness to you, our PSL holders, given the challenges and potential inequities associated with determining who can and cannot attend specific games if the stadium were to operate at a reduced capacity. While the current situation is not how any of us envisioned celebrating the opening of Allegiant Stadium, when circumstances permit we look forward to sharing an unparalleled game day experience in the magnificent stadium you helped build."

 

It's a bummer for Raiders fans and the team, which is slated to kick off its home slate in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.

 

Owner Mark Davis previously told The Athletic that if fans aren't able to attend home games, he would not go either.

 

The Raiders already planned to postpone the opening ceremony for the stadium to next year.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-allegiant-stadium-will-be-closed-to-fans-for-2020-season

 

[Jason]

All Bengals were covid free.

[Le Tigre]

NFL, NFLPA agree to revised CBA with changes to bonus proration, practice squads, injured reserve, and more

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-nflpa-agree-to-revised-cba-with-changes-to-bonus-proration-practice-squads-injured-reserve-and-more/amp/

 

[Shebengal]

Right now, no fans allowed at Bengals, Browns or Buckeyes games. 

 

https://247sports.com/Article/Ohio-order-prohibits-fans-at-contact-sports-games-OSU-Buckeyes-football-Cincinnati-Bengals-Cleveland-Browns-149820529/

 

 

[|High School Harry|]

1 hour ago, Shebengal said:

Right now, no fans allowed at Bengals, Browns or Buckeyes games. 

 

https://247sports.com/Article/Ohio-order-prohibits-fans-at-contact-sports-games-OSU-Buckeyes-football-Cincinnati-Bengals-Cleveland-Browns-149820529/

 

 

Thank you for posting. +1

 

However the article is about The OSU and the Bengals are only noted without comment.

Seems like the Bengals would have had some comment by now.

 

Opening kick off is six weeks from this coming Sunday and it seems like the Bengals would have something in place

for attendance.

Enquiring minds and season ticket holders' bank accounts want to know.