2020 Pats: Cam Tests Positive

johnmd20

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Well it was a fun season while it lasted.
It really was fun.

I am kind of amazed baseball pulled it off in the manner they did after the horrific start with the Cardinals and Miami. I am hoping football can do the same. I think every single player and coach really has to take it seriously and isolate in all situations outside of practice and games. Because if one person gets it, the dominoes topple.

You can't do anything else. This sucks for Cam, sucks for the Pats, sucks for me as a Cam owner. This fucking sucks. I really hope the NFL can find a way to continue to play.
 

Harry Hooper

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Can the NFL institute a 24-point mercy rule for this one? In addition to infection concerns, don't want any major injuries in a lost cause game.
 

Ale Xander

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So, none of Cam’s close contacts can travel. That is probably a significant number and likely includes Josh and could include the head coach. It probably includes the line. He is the QB.
That's the whole OL. We can't play without an OL
 

Captaincoop

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This game was pretty likely to be a loss either way, the real problem for the Pats is that, barring a slow-developing large outbreak on the team, they're going to have to play next week sans Newton.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Is there a case anywhere of transmission during a game? I don't know. If I were a Chiefs fan, playing the Pats without Newton (on one day's notice) sounds pretty good in and of itself.
OLmen and DLmen grunting and heavy breathing eight inches from each other's face for three hours?
 

Captaincoop

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We can't move the game to week 6 (bye) as Chiefs have Bills. Week 10 (Chiefs bye) Pats play ravens

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Move the playoffs one week later?
The Pats would be best served taking a forfeit if that's an option. No need to screw up the entire schedule right now for a game they had maybe a 20% chance to win.
 

Ed Hillel

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We said the same about baseball.
This is just different. Players are too close together, spit is flying everywhere, more people are out and about, and it’s Flu season. I think destiny is not on our side here.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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The assumption here is going to be that Cam got it first but that is not necessarily the right assumption. He could have gotten it from someone else on the team who has not yet tested positive but soon will. That he is the QB actually seems to make this not unreasonable since he has more contact than many others on the team I would think.

The bottom line is they cannot go on an airplane this afternoon. Even if you can identify all the close contacts there is no way there is not some other patient zero.
 

Harry Hooper

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Is there a case anywhere of transmission during a game? I don't know. If I were a Chiefs fan, playing the Pats without Newton (on one day's notice) sounds pretty good in and of itself.
What evidence is there of cases linked to playing a game anywhere -- basketball, soccer, rugby, Australian football?
 

Captaincoop

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OLmen and DLmen grunting and heavy breathing eight inches from each other's face for three hours?
I'm not saying it's impossible. Has it happened anywhere? Do any of the linemen even have the illness? The Pats and the NFL have a lot more detail about the timing and the contact tracing, they'll make the right decision.
 

Gash Prex

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"Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19. The player immediately entered self-quarantine," the Patriots said in a statement Saturday. "Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19."
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30029628/sources-new-england-patriots-qb-cam-newton-tests-positive-covid-19
Doesn't mean they won't test positive in the future - but its something
 

bosockboy

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This is just different. Players are too close together, spit is flying everywhere, more people are out and about, and it’s Flu season. I think destiny is not on our side here.
Yes. And you can’t play doubleheaders in football. That’s baseball’s ace in the hole.
 

DJnVa

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This is just different. Players are too close together, spit is flying everywhere, more people are out and about, and it’s Flu season. I think destiny is not on our side here.
i get it, but it appears there were no in-game transmission last week with infected players.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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So as I read the protocol none of the close contacts can be around anyone else on the team until 24 hours later with an overnight full test. So they can’t even test until tonight at the earliest. The way this reads they are going to blow off the protocol and just rely on the POC tests.
 

Mooch

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100% my opinion: They’re not traveling today for sure. If others test positive tomorrow, they won’t play.
 

Silverdude2167

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NFL network pushing game to be played. That is the NFL talking.
And the Pats not getting on the 1pm flight is the Pats talking. If there is a team in the league where prominent players would come out and say either postpone the game or we forfeit because we are not getting on a plane, it is definitely the Pats.
 

Harry Hooper

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So as I read the protocol none of the close contacts can be around anyone else on the team until 24 hours later with an overnight full test. So they can’t even test until tonight at the earliest. The way this reads they are going to blow off the protocol and just rely on the POC tests.
Maybe they'll go with a separate plane for the close contacts, who will wear scuba gear?
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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i get it, but it appears there were no in-game transmission last week with infected players.
Maybe but suppose the Patriots were 3-0 and were looking dominant. Would you want the playing Tennessee tomorrow? I wouldn’t. We know that a chorus was a super spreader event. The likelihood that no players getting it yet during games is just lucky certainly is on the table.
 

Captaincoop

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Maybe but suppose the Patriots were 3-0 and were looking dominant. Would you want the playing Tennessee tomorrow? I wouldn’t. We know that a chorus was a super spreader event. The likelihood that no players getting it yet during games is just lucky certainly is on the table.
There are youth, high school, and college games happening all over the country as well. Are there any examples of in-game spread across teams? Serious question. I've not heard of any.
 

PseuFighter

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literally cannot believe i'm on a plane right now to kc. lots of pats fans on the plane too. i know this isn't about me, but to vent, this year is just trash. we'll have to figure out what to do in kc for a couple of days if need be but dang.
 

Captaincoop

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literally cannot believe i'm on a plane right now to kc. lots of pats fans on the plane too. i know this isn't about me, but to vent, this year is just trash. we'll have to figure out what to do in kc for a couple of days if need be but dang.
Wow, that sucks. I almost did the same and if so, would have been in for about $2500 on tickets, flights, and hotel.
 

NickEsasky

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literally cannot believe i'm on a plane right now to kc. lots of pats fans on the plane too. i know this isn't about me, but to vent, this year is just trash. we'll have to figure out what to do in kc for a couple of days if need be but dang.
Maybe a pandemic wasn’t the best time to book an away game roadtrip?
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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They need to get a handle on this now. Either they get seriously draconian or they lose the season. Worse, a high BMI player or older coach gets seriously ill or a young star player has an Eduardo Rodriguez complication.
I'm going to soak up as many games as I can this weekend because I'm getting a feeling it's almost certainly coming to an end soon.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Nah. Steelers had no issue but PPD.

It seems like non-bubble sports might be too much with the second wave. MLB might be bubbling just in time.
 

cshea

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Don't see how they could play Monday or Tuesday. What is an extra day or two going to do? Isn't this plow ahead strategy what contributed to the Titans outbreak?
 

DeadlySplitter

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Yes, this is what they tried to pull off with Titans, then more positives came in. Very fluid situation.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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If just the Pats had the issue would it be a forfeit? But with both teams it could be postponement?
I think forfeits are the absolute last case scenario that they will consider given the relatively small number of games and the ripple effects that every loss has on everyone else’s chances and on tie breakers.
 

DJnVa

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Don't see how they could play Monday or Tuesday. What is an extra day or two going to do? Isn't this plow ahead strategy what contributed to the Titans outbreak?
It's likely just the first step.

NFL can push season out if needed.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Don't see how they could play Monday or Tuesday. What is an extra day or two going to do? Isn't this plow ahead strategy what contributed to the Titans outbreak?
Saying Monday or Tuesday is just a place holder. If it is truly contained and there are no other positives and all close contacts are accounted for maybe they play. But one more positive tomorrow and a whole new group of 36-48 hour close contacts will start a new clock.

Edit — what DJ said about first step