The NFL Proved That You CAN Stomp Down This Virus......With One Big IF

[ChoppinBroccoli]

As a huge NFL fan, I was skeptical that there was going to be a season this year. At the very least I thought maybe they'd TRY to have a season, maybe have a few weeks of games, and then give up and cancel as the numbers of infections went through the roof. I played football, so I know how difficult (nay, IMPOSSIBLE) it is to socially distance on a football field, in a huddle, while leaning on people on every play, etc. So I figured there was no way this season was going to happen, especially after MLB had so many problems keeping the virus down.

Except as of right now, the way the NFL has handled the TrumpVirus has been a rousing success. Only FOUR players in the entire league are currently in the protocol (meaning they tested positive). That's 32 teams, each with 80-man rosters, and who knows how many coaches and support staff, and they have FOUR positive tests. I attribute this to the fact that the NFL teams are strictly enforcing the wearing of masks, cleaning and sanitizing facilities, etc., nearly constantly, socially distancing when they can, and testing pretty much every day (and when people test positive, they spring into action and take steps to make sure the virus doesn't spread).

This just proves that you CAN control this virus.........IF.......and this is key..........you do...............SOMETHING. Trump has tried doing NOTHING for the last 6 months, and it hasn't been working. The NFL tried doing SOMETHING and is experiencing wild success right now. Let this be a lesson.

[RockRaven]

1. The NBA also "proved it" to a similar degree, but the MLB has shown the hazard to the NFL

The NBA has smaller rosters and has fewer teams involved because they were approaching post-season play. But the hazard does not scale linearly per player, it is worse than that. And one stationary bubble is different than 30-ish teams travelling all over the place all the time. MLB has already had some major cancellations, and the NFL schedule is so very much less flexible than the MLB one.

MLB can add more games in a week and can play games after the last scheduled day of the season because it is a near-daily thing not a weekly thing, plus they are used to rescheduling for weather. Traditionally the NFL doesn't stop games for weather except for lightning, and then they just delay and still try to finish the game that day. They might reschedule because of an outbreak this year, but it will be a BFD and debated about for years by whichever fandom feels like they got robbed based on the outcome.

The NFL has not started having games yet. At the moment you've got 32 separate hundred (or so) pseudo-bubbles. Once games start those bubbles will all serially intersect weekly, plus travel, plus kids being in school, plus cold/flu season being coronavirus's usual salad days.

It might all turn out decently well, but the results now are not representative of conditions that will be the conditions going forward. So expect the results to worsen as the conditions worsen.

That said, your point that actually having a plan and actually following it are much, much, much better than doing fuck-all -- as Trumpland is advocating -- is 100% correct.

[Volaris]

3. I cant imagine why the NFL wouldnt sequester themselves into

1 or 2 venues like the NHL did. Just run double bookings for sundays, play saturday games, run a 25 week season, whatever, but LIMIT TRAVEL.

seems like a no brainer to me, but I'll also admit to not really being a fan and so dont know the nuances.

It also means I can be talked down. Knock yourselves out lol!!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Thank you for posting. You gave me information I did not otherwise have.

I honestly thought that MLB would have ended several weeks ago, and clearly I was wrong about that.

I am only something of a fair weather fan. There is a team I pay attention to, and I hope they do well this year, so long as the season happens.

I'd honestly been thinking that this year's SuperBowl might well be the last one for several years. Perhaps, or maybe I should say hopefully, I am wrong.

[TeamPooka]

4. Give it time. Viruses are very patient.

[genxlib]

5. I partially agree with you

Rapid and frequent testing is the key and gives them a chance for success.

But it is VERY early to declare success. The part where they actually travel and play games will be a great deal more complicated.

But I am hoping for success.

[genxlib]

6. I partially agree with you

Rapid and frequent testing is the key and gives them a chance for success.

But it is VERY early to declare success. The part where they actually travel and play games will be a great deal more complicated.

But I am hoping for success.