NFL Forced to Reschedule Games Due to COVID
photo from WGRZ
In the wake of the recent COVID outbreak plaguing the NFL, the superiors of the League have opted to reschedule games rather than forfeiting them.
Before the 2021-22 season started, the NFL made it clear that if there were to be a significant increase in COVID cases amongst a team, that team would have to forfeit. However, the NFL is not going by their original precedent.
The changed games were the matchups between the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Football Team.
The Browns and Raiders game was moved from Sunday to Monday at 5:00 pm, while the matchups between the Seahawks and Rams were moved to 7:00 pm--same with the Eagles and Football Team.
The Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams were the two teams that were hit the hardest with COVID cases. At one point, the Browns were expected to have 20 active cases on their team—not good. It is also believed that the Rams and Browns were extremely close to forfeiting—The Football Team was not too far from that fate either.
With the games being pushed back, it gives teams and players a chance to come back under the NFL’s rules in regards to COVID.
It is expected that an extra day or two should help the teams distinguish the true positives from the false positives—this would allow them to continue play.
Raiders linebacker K.J Wright makes a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals reciever Tyler Boyd (photo from Browns Wire)
Though the NFL may have given the teams a chance at play, some players are unhappy with how the NFL is going about the rescheduled games.
Raiders linebacker K.J Wright tweeted out his thoughts on the rescheduled games.
"I pay my player dues just to get lied to, and the rules bent!
@NFL @NFLPA If it was the other way around, I swear we would be playing tomorrow."
Agreeing with Wright was Eagles' cornerback Darius Slay. Slay tweeted his thoughts on the matter, too,
"That's crazy.. we play Tuesday night, then turn right around and play Sunday!! No Days off double up on massages this week."
"Damn, I thought the team would have to forfeit!!! This crazy."
Earlier in July, the NFL released a memo stating if the NFL couldn't reschedule a game due to a COVID outbreak amongst a team, that team's play that week must be forfeited.
Tom Pelissero tweeted out this information months ago, and it is accessible through his Twitter account.
Photo from NFL
With only four weeks of play left, the NFL regular season is almost finished. The League is trying to avoid limited capacity at games at all costs, and it may have to come to that.
Many professional Canadian teams in Ontario and British Columbia have already been told to play games at half capacity--British Columbia has enforced this rule until the end of January. In Montreal, the Canadiens have been playing games with no fans. It would be devastating if the NFL had to resort to that during the playoffs.
The NFL needs to remain cautious if they plan to keep things the way they are this season.