At least two Buccaneers players have tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In keeping with privacy laws, the team has not disclosed the identities of the positive players.
One Bucs assistant also tested positive earlier in the week, raising concerns about viral spread in the organization. The list of positive cases in the NFL seems to be growing larger and larger. COVID-19 has struck one 49ers player, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson, Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, and many more – most of whom have remained anonymous.
The growing number of cases has the NFL considering an expansion of its contagious disease containment policy. Roster changes are also likely on the way – the league may move practice squads from 12 to 16 players because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci is pushing for a “bubble” strategy, one that would isolate players and NFL personnel from the community at large during the season.
For now, the NFL says it will test players three times per week in advance of training camp and possibly test more during the season. A single-location for games – like what the NBA is doing – is not currently being considered.
It seems like it would be a LOT more difficult for the NFL to do a bubble than for the NBA. Nothing is impossible if you put your resources to it, of course, but so many difficulties come to mind quickly, and I’m sure there are many more lurking under the surface.
They should adopt the ring experiment the NBA is doing.
Are people just licking each other as they pass on the street down in Tampa?
The NFL does not need to do a bubble. The other sports do, but football does not. They only play 8 road games each. They play once a week. Better to just fly in on private planes and ride in private buses.
The other sports need bubbles because of the volumes of games they need to play in a short time frame.
Unless the NFL is changing the once a week schedule, the bubble concept for the NFL is just putting lots of eggs into a small number of baskets…a risk the other sports have to take to play so many games. Football doesn’t.
The virus has been spreading like nuts in Florida. It does not surprise me, but also, there are 2 other Florida teams. Are the Bucs doing something they are not supposed to??
It’s the flu, it’s why the flu does.
Agreed
Fauci is a deep state fool who has been wrong at every step of this process.
Florida and Texas never really experienced the first wave back in March
Or under-reported their numbers.
I assume that there is a number of infected players that the NFL has to put its “emergency” plan into action, whatever that may be. I’m curious to see what that looks like-I assume that the single stadium idea would be part of that, as a last resort option before shutting down the season.
I wonder what the requisite number of positive tests would be for them to decide that. Also, how will infected players be treated? Special form of IR that prevents them from affecting roster space but does not have a restriction on their return when they have recovered?
I hope Brady doesn’t have it because older people are more susceptible to the virus.
Zing
It’s Brady’s fault