NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I believe the only money split equally amongst all 32 teams is TV revenue (plus some generic NFL sponsorship money). Gate receipts are split 60/40 between the home and away team respectively.

 

Several teams changing, altering activities following testing irregularities

Multiple NFL teams are changing or canceling football activities on Sunday following irregularities in results from Saturday's COVID-19 test results from the same lab in New Jersey, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.

The NFL released the following statement:

"Saturday's daily COVID testing returned several positives tests from each of the clubs serviced by the same laboratory in New Jersey. We are working with our testing partner, BioReference, to investigate these results, while the clubs work to confirm or rule out the positive tests. Clubs are taking immediate precautionary measures as outlined in the NFL-NFLPA's health and safety protocols to include contact tracing, isolation of individuals and temporarily adjusting the schedule, where appropriate. The other laboratories used for NFL testing have not had similar results."

The Cleveland Browns are one of the teams who have canceled practice, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. The Browns later released a statement.

"After consistently receiving encouraging results from daily testing since returning to the facility in July, the Cleveland Browns' COVID-19 testing process conducted yesterday initially indicates multiple individual presumptive positive cases that include players, coaches and support staff. Although, we have received indication from the NFL that they are investigating irregularities in lab results that have also impacted other clubs, out of an abundance of caution, we will immediately follow our comprehensive Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan and pause any activity in our building today and conduct meetings virtually. As per plan procedure, the team is also diligently reviewing proximity data for contact tracing and instructed self-isolation for those who tested positive and others as appropriate even though they all remain asymptomatic. Our facility is currently undergoing a thorough deep-cleaning and disinfecting process and is closed to all personnel for the day. We will provide updates as testing results are confirmed and more information is available."

Another team that adjusted activities was the Chicago Bears, who released their own statement:

"This morning we learned yesterday's COVID-19 testing identified nine players/staff as positive. We followed additional NFL-NFLPA testing protocol and confirmed all nine results as false positives. Out of an abundance of caution, we postponed this morning's practice to this afternoon at 1:30 p.m."


More than 100,000 novel coronavirus tests have been conducted since training camp began, Pelissero added, with a positivity rate that's a fraction of 1 percent and dropping. "A sudden flood of positives from different testing sites, all processed by the same lab," Pelissero said, "raises a red flag."

NFL.com

 

Said it 1000x, when a team (Seattle) is willing to move on from a great player there is often a reason that isn't public. Earl sounds like a real asshole.

 

These moronic fans in Kansas City need their heads examined and they should have been removed from the stadium. They are going to ruin it for everybody if this isnt enforced.


I agree Will.........the NFL has to make it Mandatory.

 

There was a short discussion on the Ravens board last season about how to handle Earl going into 2020.

Chuck Clark is going to be a solid starter at one safety spot which opens up the door for one of the young guys to step up and assume the other role.

By the end of 2021, I expect that guy to be Geno Stone. Chuck is capable of playing either safety spot but having him play FS and lining Geno up at SS makes too much sense when looking at the back of that defense.

 

Ravens release Earl Thomas



And that’s that.

The Ravens, unable to find a trade partner under the circumstances, have released safety Earl Thomas.

“We have terminated S Earl Thomas’ contract for personal conduct that has adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens,” the team has announced.

The move undoubtedly will result in the team refusing to pay his $10 million salary, which is otherwise fully guaranteed. The language of his contract contemplates a suspension for conduct detrimental that would void the guarantees before a release; the Ravens have decided to make the move in one fell swoop.

Given the stakes, the NFL Players Association undoubtedly will challenge the move, via a formal grievance.

Even without this year’s salary, Thomas exits Baltimore with $22 million for one year of service with the Ravens. And he becomes an unrestricted free agent as of 4:00 p.m. ET, when the move appears on the official transaction report.

PFT

 

I know a team that could use some help at Safety...

 

Ravens players have been clamoring for DeShon Elliott.

 

It's reported his contract has offset language. So the Ravens could see some salary relief if/when he signs somewhere else.

 

If Thomas was released outright, Baltimore would have taken a $15 million salary-cap hit this year and $10 million in 2021. By voiding his $10 million guaranteed salary for conduct detrimental to the team, he will count $5 million against the cap this season and $10 million next year.

AP

 

The Browns added a Super Bowl MVP to their roster on Sunday.

Linebacker Malcolm Smith has signed with the team. Smith, who worked out for the team last week, was the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP after totaling 10 tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception for a touchdown for the Seahawks in a 43-8 rout of the Broncos at MetLife Stadium.

Smith left the Seahawks after the 2014 season and has spent time with the Raiders, 49ers, Jaguars and Cowboys over the last five seasons. He split last season between Jacksonville and Dallas and recorded five tackles and a forced fumble in four games.

The Smith signing comes days after linebacker Mack Wilson was carted off the practice field with a knee injury. Wilson went for a second opinion on the injury and it’s not yet clear how long he will be out of action.

PFT

 

He’s gotta stay healthy, but he’s an interesting player.

 

I just watched the Indianapolis 500 on TV. There were zero spectators in the seats at the Brickyard. You know what?

• The race strategies were still the same.
• The competitiveness was still the same.
• The order of finish is still official.

 

I just watched the Indianapolis 500 on TV. There were zero spectators in the seats at the Brickyard. You know what?

• The race strategies were still the same.
• The competitiveness was still the same.
• The order of finish is still official.
• You missed one Lyman......the Race ended on a Yellow.

Boo Hiss........

 

That's their rule. Not a fan of that rule, but . . .

 

Watched it too.

My guess is that if there were 300,000 fans in the stands, they would have thrown a red flag, stopped the race, and fix the wall so the race could finish under green. But they already got the TV money so they let the clock run out under yellow.

 

New Jersey lab generated 77 false positives

The numbers are in. And they’re significant.

Per a league source, a BioReference laboratory in New Jersey generated false positive results for 77 NFL samples.

Point-of-care testing conducted as to each of the individuals involved generated a negative outcome. Also, each of the 77 sample are being re-tested; so far, each one has come back negative.

Five labs are being used for the NFL’s 32 teams. This weekend’s incident affected 11 teams.

The league continues to investigate the situation. Whatever the explanation, it undermines the overall credibility of the company the NFL is using to conduct the tests, and it creates real questions as to when or if something like this will happen when the season begins.

More importantly, what will the NFL do if a rash of suspected false positives emerges the day of a game? If/when that happens, the league can’t say it was unforeseen.

PFT

 

Well hell, fire that company and set up a Plan B.

 

Are you in favor of empty stadiums? Isnt racing with fans and a sport like the NFL, apples n oranges? Not looking for an argument, just clarification.

In my opinion, a driver cant even hear or barely see a crowd and thats different at the NFL level, where crowd noise is a factor at times.

By the way, in racing, some venues allow fans, some dont, so why not make it universal, one way or the other?