As businesses, restaurants, gyms and more are being shut down all over the country, the NFL is carrying on with little repercussions in a COVID-19 obsessed state of the nation. So little, in fact, it can be quantified. According to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity “because neither the NFL nor the Titans have commented on league discipline connected with the outbreak,” the Tennessee Titans have been fined a mere $350,000.
Between September 24th and October 11th, the Titans association had 24 people, including 13 players, test positive for COVID-19. In an effort to appear to care more about health and safety than ungodly amounts of money, the NFL postponed two Tennessee games and rescheduled “a game against Pittsburgh from Oct. 4 to Sunday and the second against Buffalo from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13” reported the AP.
In yet another “COVID-19 consideration,” the AP reported the “NFL and its players association sent officials, including infectious disease experts, to Nashville where they reviewed video and interviewed players, coaches and other personnel.” If only spending more money helped anything.
“But,” writes the AP, “the NFL found the Titans failed to wear masks at all times and were ‘insufficiently clear’ to players about not meeting or working out once the facility closed. That kept the loss of draft picks or a forfeit out of the possible punishments.” Oh, thank goodness.
The AP reported “the review says the Titans cooperated fully with the ‘comprehensive’ look into how the team had been following protocols.” There was also evidence that the Titans “spent significant time and resources during the offseason to prepare their facility to meet protocols agreed to by the NFL and the players association.”
“This is not about discipline” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell of potential repercussions. “This is about making sure we’re keeping our personnel safe. And that’s been our entire focus.”
