The NFL has postponed the Titans/Steelers game to later in the season due to an outbreak among the Titans players. This could end up creating a major disadvantage for teams like the Steelers, who will likely be the playoff hunt, but would have to make up a game late in the season with limited time available and on short rest. The NFL is not like MLB or NBA. Games cannot be shuffled around or canceled altogether, or the entire fairness/balance of the season is disrupted. With only 16 games, each carries significant importance. It would not be right for a team to qualify for the playoffs only playing 15 games at 9-6, but a team playing 16 games at 9-7 misses out. Nor would it be right for a team having to play 3 games in 10 days in December in order to finish out their schedule and qualify for the postseason. My solution would be to require a team to forfeit the game if a certain number of players have tested positive in the week leading up to the game. Yes, I would say this if it happened to the Bears. This would incentivize teams to strictly follow the Covid guidelines and ensure no one is put at a disadvantage at any point during the season because of one team's stupidity or carelessness. Thoughts?
My solution would be to require a team to forfeit the game if a certain number of players have tested positive in the week leading up to the game. Yes, I would say this if it happened to the Bears. This would incentivize teams to strictly follow the Covid guidelines and ensure no one is put at a disadvantage at any point during the season because of one team's stupidity or carelessness. Thoughts? Sounds like the Game will be played on Monday/Tuesday night .....I'm OK with that. I'm not in favour of Forfeit a game.........The Titans had cases from the Vikings game but oddly enough Minnesota players have all tested Negative. The problem is Travel.....and this (Tenn/Minn) could just be the Tip of the Iceberg......stayed tuned this could get ugly.
I would be ok with that too, but that's not actually happening: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...ns-game-played-week-4-two-more-positive-tests Game is postponed to later in the season. Just seems like the Steelers are getting screwed over due to the Titans not taking proper precautions.
I have a thread on the main board about this and everyone is killing me for suggesting the forfeit option over scheduling later in the season. I like the idea of moving it to Monday night and apparently the networks do to as CBS will broadcast it nationwide.
The forfeit option would apply only if the game can't be played that week +- a few days. So yeah, ideally the Monday/Tuesday option would work, but the NFL has decided against it in this case.
The Titans are still having more players show us positive so they don’t want them to take the field. The Steelers are getting screwed because if the Steelers were to have a problem with covid how the hell would they make up another game. Forfeit the Titans this week if they can’t play.
Just seems like the Steelers are getting screwed over due to the Titans not taking proper precautions. Where does it say the Titans did NOT follow Proper Precautions ???
I don’t like it at all. How are they going to reschedule all games if it happens to ten teams. What if the Steelers have it happen the week they would play the titans later in the season. The Titans would then have to forfeit seeing how that was supposed to be the Steelers actual week off? The Titans should forfeit now and any team that has to cancel a game should forfeit to keep the season fair. I don’t believe they can make up for all the potential without extending the season. What if a team doesn’t have any rescheduled game for the season and make the playoffs. They are going to wait to play a game for 3-4 weeks? WTF
These players love being the center of attention. I’m sure that we will learn sometime in the future that one of the Titans players broke protocol to bang some Hotty
I’m sure that we will learn sometime in the future that one of the Titans players broke protocol to bang some Hotty NO..........don't make up stories Gidi........YOU don't know what happened......to Blame the Titans is wrong. It takes 14 days to develop.........because of Travel this could become a HUGE Problem for the NFL......then where will the Blame Game lie ???
14 days to show symptoms, not for a test to come back positive or negative. In this case the Vikings being negative via *tests* means the burden is on the Titans. Id rather they make up games, but a forfeiture when the sick party is clear? Sucks but would be more fair than just not playing the game at all.
I don't like the idea of making teams forfeit games over this. You'd undermine the credibility of the every final standing cos it will then be at least part based on covid and not football as it should. That said, you make a very good point. Having a punishment like this hanging over a team does create a very powerful incentive. I mean is anyone that surprised one of the teams in the middle of this right now are the Raiders? Outside of X's & O's Jon Gruden is a dummy and has always been a dummy. Stupid coaches usually lead to stupid teams. Clowns like this you have to keep it real simple. You don't take the covid guidelines seriously and then have an outbreak in your team, you forfeit the game. Simple.
Agree, but you undermine the credibility of the final standings and playoff picture even more if you either 1) cancel games that are not made up or 2) force a team to play an unhealthy number of games at the end of the season without adequate/fair amount of rest, just to get to 16. I should clarify that I fully support making up the games during bye weeks, if that can be arranged. But there will come a point in the season when a team has had their bye, and then what?
@Willie posted this on the NFL General Discussion board: NFL is willing to put teams in hotels for the rest of the season; will the NFLPA agree? Events of recent days make it more and more clear that the best way (perhaps the only way) to get all 256 regular-season and 13 postseason games played this year will be to put all teams in hotels, immediately. Per multiple sources, the NFL gladly would do that. The question is whether the NFL Players Association would agree to it. As one source explained it to PFT, the NFLPA balked during July negotiations at a Thursday-to-Sunday team-by-team bubble. The union likely would balk at a continuous bubble for the balance of the season. The players may feel differently. Faced with game checks that will be lost for good if games are cancelled, staying in a hotel for the next three months seems to be an acceptable sacrifice. The NBA is doing it. The NHL has done it. If the NFL wants to have a full and complete season, the NFL needs to do it, too. As another source noted earlier today, putting all players, coaches, and essential personnel in a hotel for the rest of the season should re-open the window on opting out, with some sort of financial benefit if they choose not to embrace staying in a hotel for the rest of the year. But even if another cluster of players decides to tap out as 32 bubbles form, that’s better than eventually having to cancel games or entire weeks or, as a worst-case scenario, to end the season prematurely. NBC
I only like your idea if it’s proven the players broke protocol by not socially distancing and so on. What if a player gets sneezed on by a ball boy that got it from his grandma...and 7 seven other players catch it? I can’t justify punishing the playing or the team.
