NFL: News and transactions

dcdrew10

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Dec 8, 2005
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Vaccinated people can transfer the virus too guys. We don’t need to over complicate it.
We also don't need to over simplify it either. There is plenty of evidence that shows vaccinated individuals have a much lower transmission rate than unvaccinated. Yes they can transmit it, but most studies are showing a 70%+ reduction of transmission of the Alpha variant of COVID-19 by vaccinated individuals and a 60%+ reduction in transmission of the Delta variant. The Omicron variant is a wild card, because there are some small sample size studies that came out in the last couple of weeks that show Omicron reduces the antibodies of and is more likely to infect folks who have had the Pfizer vaccine (these study subjects were not boosted). Without more evidence it's hard to know what the surge is caused by and the best course of action for reducing infection. That said there are some pretty simple steps like getting vaccinated, boosted, using masks indoors, hand washing, social distancing, etc that will help until there is more info.
 

B H Kim

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Its not clear how much worse the Browns can get on offense but they may give it a shot next weekend. If all these guys are out, this could be the worst offensive team fielded in an NFL game that I can remember.
I doubt they'll be as bad as the Broncos team that had to start Kendall Hinton at QB last year. The Browns are reported trying to sign Jake Dolegala as a backup, so they should at least have a real QB on Saturday, even if Mullens goes down.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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I’m not saying they don’t. My main point is that it’s likely the players/staff are putting themselves in higher risk situations than they should be.

Do you have any evidence of this?
As one obvious data point, players and staff not wearing masks at all times when in close quarters counts as "higher risk situations than they should be." To the extent you were referring to more outside-ish activites, we dont know as much.
 
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Bowhemian

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Get Kevin James to play him this weekend.
I was just going to post something very similar, but I was having a brain fart and couldn't remember Kevin James' name.
Anyway, it's a shame that Payton won't be able to coach his team. I say that whilst dripping with sarcasm, because I am not his #1 fan.
 

BigSoxFan

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I was just going to post something very similar, but I was having a brain fart and couldn't remember Kevin James' name.
Anyway, it's a shame that Payton won't be able to coach his team. I say that whilst dripping with sarcasm, because I am not his #1 fan.
Not remembering Kevin James’ name is to be commended…
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
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Can we just put Mac Jones in a bubble like The Bubble Boy for the next 2 months and only let him out 1 hour before gametime?
 

cornwalls@6

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Making no comment/judgement on the ethics of it, think that's better discussed in V & N, but, strictly from a practical standpoint, it appears more and more likely that they will have to allow vaccinated, asymptomatic positive players to suit up if they want to keep the business operating, and put any kind of credible, competitive product on the field for the next several weeks. Same goes for coaches.
 

Mystic Merlin

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What exactly will be their methodology for deciding when to reschedule games? This is rife with the possibility of arbitrary decisions that someone will feel fucked over by.
 

Greg29fan

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The NFL is clearly trying to get through this week 15 slate by any means necessary and along about Wednesday of next week we'll have a big announcement on a thorough reduction in testing and the allowance of asymptomatic players to compete going forward.
 

BigSoxFan

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The NFL is clearly trying to get through this week 15 slate by any means necessary and along about Wednesday of next week we'll have a big announcement on a thorough reduction in testing and the allowance of asymptomatic players to compete going forward.
Yup. And that is why the NFL is such a clown show. Here are all these punitive measures for teams if you break protocol but then they’re trying to go around them, when convenient.
 

Pxer

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Making no comment/judgement on the ethics of it, think that's better discussed in V & N, but, strictly from a practical standpoint, it appears more and more likely that they will have to allow vaccinated, asymptomatic positive players to suit up if they want to keep the business operating, and put any kind of credible, competitive product on the field for the next several weeks. Same goes for coaches.
This seems like a fair decision. If I were the NFLPA, I'd lobby for players who want to opt out of the season the ability to. That way, players get to decide for themselves and their families what type of risk they want to take on.
 

joe dokes

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The NFL is clearly trying to get through this week 15 slate by any means necessary and along about Wednesday of next week we'll have a big announcement on a thorough reduction in testing and the allowance of asymptomatic players to compete going forward.
I thought so as well. But that tweet (the NFLPA's response) suggests a battle ahead. (I have to concede ignorance here; can the NFL act unilaterally on this?)
 

Greg29fan

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I thought so as well. But that tweet (the NFLPA's response) suggests a battle ahead. (I have to concede ignorance here; can the NFL act unilaterally on this?)
No, they'll definitely have to work with the NFLPA on it, but I think the PA will go along with it when the alternative is playing Tuesday and Sunday instead.

Also, different sport, but I would bet Draymond's take is shared by a lot of athletes, let alone society at large.

View: https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1471564603415048199
 
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Pxer

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No, they'll definitely have to work with the NFLPA on it, but I think the PA will go along with it when the alternative is playing Tuesday and Sunday instead.

Also, different sport, but I would bet Draymond's take is shared by a lot of athletes, let alone society at large.

View: https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1471564603415048199
Seems like Draymond has a fair take. If anyone is more worried about their personal situation or would prefer to stay at home all day, they have that option.
 

Sandwich Pick

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What exactly will be their methodology for deciding when to reschedule games? This is rife with the possibility of arbitrary decisions that someone will feel fucked over by.
Like the Eagles, who have actually done their job with regards to COVID protocols? They now lose 2 days of practice to prepare for a Giants team they really have to beat if they want to make the playoffs.
 

BigJimEd

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big announcement on a thorough reduction in testing and the allowance of asymptomatic players to compete going forward.
Are you saying positive asymptomatic players will complete or just that they won't test any player unless they show symptoms?
 

Greg29fan

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Are you saying positive asymptomatic players will complete or just that they won't test any player unless they show symptoms?
I think it'll be the first one immediately with the addendum that they'll no longer be testing asymptomatic vaccinated players.
 

Red Averages

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Apr 20, 2003
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As surmised, the NFL is done testing fully vaccinated, asymptomatic players/staff

I’m sure they will get push back, but the reality is this is how most industries are handling things. Most offices, restaurants, etc are not forcing employees to test weekly. Certainly some are, but it’s not like this is the first of its kind.

Back to our conversations earlier in the season, being vaccinated is going to be a competitive advantage. Asymptomatic unvaccinated players will be forced to miss at least 1 game at a critical time of the year. Asymptomatic vaccinated players will continue to play as normal. Given how many cases of Omicron are asymptomatic or mild, there is a significant chance this becomes impactful. As always, these unvaccinated players can change their status literally any day they want to…
 

RedOctober3829

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I’m sure they will get push back, but the reality is this is how most industries are handling things. Most offices, restaurants, etc are not forcing employees to test weekly. Certainly some are, but it’s not like this is the first of its kind.
It could also turn into a gigantic crapshow. For this to work, they are relying on players to self-report symptoms. I'm not sure that is going to work.
 

Jungleland

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I think the optics are obviously not great, but this might be reasonable? Vaccinated nfl players have to be, for the most part, among the healthiest people in the world. Not getting regularly tested for them is probably not putting them at great risk. This does make it some degree of less safe for the unvaxxed guys, but I will hope it leads to more fence sitters finally getting the shots than fence sitters getting seriously sick.

As a side note, at least a couple patriots took their bills presser in a mask. Here’s hoping that if that means they haven’t gotten it, they’ll be changing their minds in between these two games.
 

johnmd20

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It could also turn into a gigantic crapshow. For this to work, they are relying on players to self-report symptoms. I'm not sure that is going to work.
Minor symptoms will undoubtedly be hidden. Major ones are impossible to hide.

I think this is the right strategy. Pretending you can eradicate covid with testing is approximately 23 months too late. Covid is here. It will be here. The best way to fight it is to get vaccinated.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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So if you don’t test, you don’t have cases?
I think you are working under an assumption that vaccinated players/staff are relatively protected against the worst sequelae of contracting COVID, but that unvaccinated folks are another story.
 

Red Averages

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So if you don’t test, you don’t have cases?
Not a single person has said that. Do you realize how much of the population is vaccinated that isn’t testing weekly without symptoms, while still doing activities ? Why are NFL players so special that they need to test? Are they more at risk of a health issue when vaccinated than the avg vaccinated person? More likely to lead to a systemic health care crisis when interacting with the, what, 150 people vs the millions interacting with each other at sports/concert/religious events, restaurants, offices ,gyms etc?
 

RedOctober3829

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Minor symptoms will undoubtedly be hidden. Major ones are impossible to hide.

I think this is the right strategy. Pretending you can eradicate covid with testing is approximately 23 months too late. Covid is here. It will be here. The best way to fight it is to get vaccinated.
I don't think the theory behind testing is to eradicate covid. It's to prevent spreading it around. The prudent thing to do is to remove the infected from the situation, but with this system there will be players or staff that are walking around the building as they're positive. Just like in other areas of society, it's not the best practice if you're looking to limit exposure.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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I don't think the theory behind testing is to eradicate covid. It's to prevent spreading it around. The prudent thing to do is to remove the infected from the situation, but with this system there will be players or staff that are walking around the building as they're positive. Just like in other areas of society, it's not the best practice if you're looking to limit exposure.
Limiting exposure is secondary to playing games. I'm not even editorializing, just stating a fact.
 

Red Averages

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You could reword this sentence about every other aspect of our society and it's why we're in this position.
Limiting exposure makes sense when you have an inability to prevent severe harm to an individual or systemic risks. If every single person stayed in their house the catastrophe of the Great Depression would lead to significantly more harm for decades. Please inform us how testing asymptomatic vaccinated players is necessary when 100 million vaccinated Americans aren’t testing themselves weekly.
 

RedOctober3829

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Limiting exposure makes sense when you have an inability to prevent severe harm to an individual or systemic risks. If every single person stayed in their house the catastrophe of the Great Depression would lead to significantly more harm for decades. Please inform us how testing asymptomatic vaccinated players is necessary when 100 million vaccinated Americans aren’t testing themselves weekly.
I'm not advocating for all Americans to get tested weekly although it would not hurt. You know how we'd solve this at least a lot better than we have to this point: if the people who haven't gotten vaccinated would do so, limit unnecessary indoor outings and gatherings, and when out to take proper precautions. To keep this within sports, there are way way way too many people who are at indoor games and events, ignore mask mandates, and are there without wearing a mask.
 

Red Averages

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I'm not advocating for all Americans to get tested weekly although it would not hurt. You know how we'd solve this at least a lot better than we have to this point: if the people who haven't gotten vaccinated would do so, limit unnecessary indoor outings and gatherings, and when out to take proper precautions. To keep this within sports, there are way way way too many people who are at indoor games and events, ignore mask mandates, and are there without wearing a mask.
What does any of that have to do with the NFL testing or not testing vaccinated asymptomatic players weekly?
 

RedOctober3829

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What does any of that have to do with the NFL testing or not testing vaccinated asymptomatic players weekly?
I already explained in an earlier post why I think they should be testing players weekly. You could have people who are vaccinated and asymptomatic but also are carrying the virus around with them. The NFL does not have to worry about the cost of the tests given their deep pockets so why not test everybody? My above response was in regards to how we as a society could finally start to get out from under this situation as I think players and staff are bringing the virus in the building from their off the field activities. In response to your question as to why not for the 100 million other Americans, with Omicron more prevalent in vaccinated individuals I do think there should be some sort of weekly testing for the rest of the country.

Yes, let's get back to football discussion.