Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

We are already back in the 30k range in case numbers, that's only going to continue going up. With the fact that football season coincides with flu season, it's going to be a logistical nightmare. I think college football is in more doubt than the NFL, but the NFL is definitely in jeopardy.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I'm a little worried myself. They're playing soccer in Europe without fans, but don't know that would work for the NFL. Lot more people on the sidelines. Lot more players to get tested and keep separated.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I don't personally care if there is an NFL season or not, anymore, but to whom it still concerns, I wouldn't pay attention to the fake case numbers. Because they are just that... Fake. Not every single case, of course, but it is greatly exaggerated.

The NFL won't miss out on their money. Unless, of course, someone says football is racist. In which case, the league would fold immediately and forever.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I don't see any safe way to keep the players safe. If just one player or coach tests positive the entire team would be quarantined. How in the hell will that work?

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

There isn’t going to be a season. I accepted it long ago in order to avoid the disappointment.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I think the season will be fine. Just may be less fans in attendance than what we're used to seeing and less $$$ coming in and the NFL will have to come to terms with that. I try to tune out the MSM's fear mongering regarding covid. Honestly I'm more worried about the economy/jobs/housing situation than a second wave.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

If 1 or 2 players catch it, they will shut it down. And if 1 or 2 get it, its likely several more will too.

There will be no season in my opinion, which is fine if they were gonna start disrespecting my flag and anthem with their political nonsense.

Seems like I lose either way.:(

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Foreverfan would say something like this.

Prepare expectations for the worst, and be grateful when things turn out better.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I'm hopeful. :)Hopeful a regular school year. Regular football season.
I am hoping for herd immunity.
If a player or coach catches it, carry on. It is not going to stop or help or heal .
No, numbers or cases are not exaggerated. Be thankful it is not you and yours. Everyone, just stay positive and hang in there.:bng:
This too shall pass.










( i dont know what da fokc i am saying:( )

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

They are planning on players (and all other personnel) and their immediate families to stay pretty much in lockdown for the season. Players and all other personnel will be tested daily. And any individual that does test positive is to be isolated, monitored and treated (if needed) until deemed clear and can then return.

There is not going to be any mass quarantining. Rosters and practice squads will be increased to handle temporary loss of individual players.

There is also a good possibility that much of the league will already have had the virus by the beginning of the season and shouldn't be an issue come season. So far all of the reported player cases have been either asymptomatic or extremely mild.

It is still almost three months from the beginning of the season. I have little doubt the season will take place and can't wait.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Also heard A.J. Hawk and Brady Quinn a couple of days ago both saying that quite a few players they have both talked to are saying they are fine with going ahead and contracting the virus right away so it won't stand in the way of the regular season.

This of course wouldn't be the case for players with comorbidities such as asthma and sleep apnea.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

That sounds like the ideal scenario for me to get to watch my beloved Saints play football this year. The only problem is it is beginning to look like you can catch it several times. Although here's another thought for these athletes.....COVID does damage to healthy lungs......

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

As far as they know only in severe cases.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Antibodies dropping a few weeks after infection does not mean you are open to infection. The immune system doesn't work that way. While there are potential ways that infection could occur, I'd guess that they are rare circumstances. Of course, there may be something unique about the virus that causes our immune system to do something strange or mutations may occur or something... that's possible. For the most part though, there's not really any real evidence that reinfection occurs.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Mutations could possibly reinfect, but mutations are likely to be more infectious, but far less invasive. That is the pattern of virus spread. In other words, it is possible to contract a variation but is is most likely it will be far less intrusive or even symptomatic at all.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

For a mutation to cause reinfection, it'd have to be one that changed its spike proteins, which is the epitope that the neutralizing antibody attaches too. The virus is not really mutating that rapidly of a pace, much slower than influenza viruses do. Covid-19 is more sophisticated than than influenza, has better error checking mechanisms etc... which ironically make it less likely to mutate. It could happen, but it's very doubtful.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I simply don't see how players can avoid the virus once the seasons starts.

More coaches, players and/or a family member will get sick.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Yep. Was speaking with my neighbor the other day who happens to be a Doctor (6 feet distance ;) ) this past weekend as I took a walk with my daughter and dog. According to her info, she is more concerned about our youth's health ... long term. Covid lungs could possibly become a serious pulmonary issue. Long term quality of life I'm referring to.

Unlike the common cold or flu, Covid could do more permanent damage to ones pulmonary system. Personally, I don't see how there is a "safe" measure in place to have a full season of football at any level.

Just thought I'd share this since my info came from a health care professional.

Stay safe and protect yourself folks :bng:.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Easy, you sequester them. Sounds crazy but I'd gladly allow myself to be sequestered for 4 months for anywhere from $500k-$30MM. Wouldn't you?

Heck, I did it for less than $500 a month for the US ARMY.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

So how does a team and/or coach prepare for half of their team having to quarantine at the drop of a hat? Or the older, more susceptible coaches on the staff?

Again, I don't see how the NFL will pull it off in 2020.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

From what I am hearing there will be daily testing upon entering the facility. They are saying that there will be rapid testing readily available by then ... especially with pockets as deep as the NFL's. If they are tested positive, they would be isolated immediately and monitored (and treated if necessary) until ready to return. The only way for half the team, and or staff to have it all at one time would for them to get it from outside sources independently at the same time. The exposure for the players should not be from other players, but rather their contacts outside of the facilities and stadium. It is also being said that players will have to agree to sheltering in place and avoiding people outside of their immediate families though the course of the season.

Players are going to get it. There is no doubting that. But, with expanded rosters and practice squads it can be handled. There is far too much money on the line for everyone involved for there NOT to be a season. I also heard today that several hundred pro and college players have tested positive already in preliminary testing. I haven't heard of any that were not either asymptomatic or sporting very mild cases.

Don't forget that early on only people showing obvious signs of the illness were getting tested.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

My guess is that the NFL will closely monitor the NBA's approach to starting the season however the biggest obstacle here will be logistics (in terms of size).

From my reading, the NBA's format is to allow 37 people including players per team. Let's say from a NFL's perspective, they have at least 55 players which is a rough total of at least 100 (trainers/coaches/etc) per team. Outside of the playing fields, you need the capacity to put 3000+ people in a "bubble".

That alone seems to be a potential logistical nightmare for the league.

But from a financial angle & aspect, I totally get it.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Speaking of money ...

Here is a quick read and the financial implications if teams were to play without fans. By the way, the Dallas Cows franchise is a monster in terms of revenue.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeoza.../#a03b597691ad

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Tests are so inconsistent I doubt they would do much to stop the spread. My mom got three false negatives three days in a row and on the fourth day she tested positive. Unless there are major advancements in testing by then I don’t see how testing can help.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

That is definitely a huge issue, and one of the reasons I'm skeptical any sport can restart other than doing it via a very restrictive bubble(and even then it would be difficult). A lot of times the viral load where the test sample from(nasal passages/esophagus) may be low, but it may already be working it's way through the body and deeper into the bronchial tubes and lungs. Testing is incredibly unreliable, and while it may lower the chances of a big outbreak occurring... in the long run I don't see testing actually stopping it from preventing it from spreading through teams. Once that occurs, everything is pretty much ****ed. I don't even know if the NBA can do it. Football is going to be far more difficult to keep everything in a bubble. I think there is almost zero chance of a college football season occurring, and I think the chances of an NFL season playing to completion are below 15%(and that's being incredibly optimistic). I know a lot of people on here and throughout the football world want to be optimistic(I get it, football being cancelled would really suck) and think it can be done, there's just too many variables to control and I just don't see it happening.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Major advancements are expected. I would imagine, however, that the rapid return tests that the league would be using wouldn't be as economically reasonable as tests offered to the general public, nor as unreliable. All part of those deep pockets I mentioned earlier.

That was a caveat according to what I had heard. Fast, reliable testing that could accurately support daily testing.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I think you are actually being quite pessimistic in your estimate. There is a ton of money on the line for owners and players alike. I see little chance of the season NOT taking place. Most players are not only not concerned about being infected, they appear to be quite open to it. Several former players on NFL Radio have mentioned that most players they have talked to would just as soon get it before the season so they wouldn't have to worry about it later. That seem to be a popular thought process from that age group, especially given the mildness of what other players have experienced recently.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I have no doubt they'll attempt it. They will fail though. I think the season will start, but then a few weeks into the season a wave of infections will hit the league and they won't know what to do with it. I know that a lot of money is on the line. That's why I said a complete season.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

The young people have always thought that they were indestructible. I did too but now I'm beginning to question if I'm indestructible or not.

Seriously though, These athletes who want to go ahead and get it before the season are willing to put themselves in grave danger so that they don't get it during the season. That's a questionable move to me. COVID does lung damage and you can get it more than once. That is not the way I think. I've been in lock down for months. The rugby teams are practicing again....not me! I guess I'm getting too old for this ****! :p

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Or you should say that COVID could cause lung damage. It has been tied to severe cases, but as of yesterday there is no evidence that it can be a result of asymptomatic or mild cases. And also, as of another article I read yesterday, there is no evidence that a person can get the virus more than once. It may be some time before that can be denied or confirmed.

Most players appear to not be very concerned about their own welfare and unless one or more of the discovered cases is somewhat serious I would expect that their concerns will become even less so. But to date none of the cases found in any of the athletes from any sport has been significant. At least none have been reported as such to my knowledge.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

More NFL news ...

NFL cancels Hall of Fame Game, Class of '20 enshrinement postponed due to coronavirus

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ed/3256131001/

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

First of many unfortunately.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

I really don't see it happening. I am generally optimistic but at this point I don't even feel confident about basketball. Hope I am wrong.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

That was totally expected. The plan, although not finalized, has been to only have two preseason games, one home and one away, for each team starting in what would have been the second week of preseason. This will give an off week before the start of the regular season. It will also give each team a dry run on safety protocols for both home and away prior to the start of the season.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Unfortunately if you value preseason games. Very few in the game do value them much at all anymore. The proposed elimination of two of the four preseason tilts is being welcomed by coaches and players alike. There's been talk of eliminating the HOF game itself for years now.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Eight billion dollars in guaranteed revenue will assure that the season takes place. They discussed this yesterday on NFL Radio. The concern is not for the players, but for some coaches, personnel and mostly the fans. That $8 billion guaranteed comes with zero fans in the stands for the entire season. That would totally negate the concern for fans. The rest can be controlled via protocols. There is FAR too much revenue to be lost for the games to not take place. Somewhat the same with the NBA and MLB, but to a much lessor extent.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Pre season games & cancellations are probably the "easiest" obstacle to tackle right now for the league. I go back to my previous post as it relates to having a full season of football ... logistics.

There is no baseball or restart of the NBA since Covid 19. NFL is a major operation & need to be very careful here. IMO I don't see a full season of football being played for 2020.

The best thing the league has on their side right now is time.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

Exactly. They have time. MLB would have restarted sooner if it wasn't for their disagreements on how the players were to be paid and how many games were to be played. "Spring training" is to begin July 1st with the "regular" season starting July 26th, I believe. The NBA is targeting July 30th as their start date.

Re: Starting to think NFL season not feasible
 

August. I am hoping and waiting for best outcome. A lot can change in a month.