On Thursday the Raiders were stripped of a sixth-round pick and fined another $650,000 (between Gruden and the organization) for recent COVID-19 protocol violations.
On Thursday night the NFL decided not to delay the Packers/49ers game, despite widespread COVID-19 outbreaks in both locker rooms.
To the surprise of no one, a Packers player (who played last night) has tested positive for COVID-19 and potentially (or very likely) exposed other players, coaches, and referees to the virus.
So why did the NFL, who spreads the message that they are so mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk having an event like Thursday Night Football hours after they fined the Raiders on account of a presumed-healthy player not following protocol?
The answer of course: money.
Had the NFL moved Thursday night’s game, there were no options to replace the game. The league moved quickly to move the Raiders forward three weeks ago because they could move another game into the Sunday night spot. But that wasn’t an option for Thursday night because they couldn’t move a Sunday game forward by three days.
And for that reason the NFL was willing to put players on the field that they knew were probably going to be exposed to the coronavirus.
It’s eye-opening, really.
From public office all the way down to the NFL (though the two haven’t been separated by much in recent months), how many messages for public consumption are more about rhetoric than truth?
So far the Raiders have lost a draft pick and have been fined more than $1.2 million for COVID-19 protocol violations. Sure sounds like the NFL cares about controlling a pandemic, right?
But they don’t.
On Thursday night we learned what really matters to the NFL.
They wanted a game played between two coronavirus-depleted teams, even with the understanding that players on both teams had a good chance of testing positive in the hours after the game – which they now have.
Look for the NFL to make an aggressive move to appear more proactive in the days ahead, but they showed their hand this week. As long as the money is rolling in, they’re happy to stretch their own rules… regardless of who it might affect.
twitter: @raidersbeat
The NFL has ALWAYS and in ALL WAYS screwed the Raiders. Both in the corporate arena and on the field by horribly biased and obvious ref calls. The NFL is no better and probably less believable than the WWF when it comes to the Raiders
The NFL is beginning to act like Trump is at the helm. To be fair, there have been idiotic calls on players for other teams this year. But the mask rule has been flagrantly violated by other head coaches with not even a peep from the Head Office. And just how are players all over the league getting the virus without violating the protocol? Makes a fan want to revolt. Hang in there Mark. Your father never bowed his head to the weiners in the Head Office.
If it were up to me, I would give the NFL one chance to take back the penalties or at the very least greatly reduce them. If not, I would sue them. I’m not even one that advocates lawsuits, but I am tired of unfairness. This would not happen nor is it to other teams.
Greed greed greed… shame on the NFL for their on going mishandlings of covid protocols & discipline handed out. Anything they can do to take money out of the pockets of one of the most popular franchises in the sports world they’ll do it. I’d like to know how Andy Reids surgical shield protects him or others from the spread of the disease but you fine coaches for not properly wearing masks, don’t strip draft picks from teams that have straight disregarded protocols during practices! Give me a break NFL… you can’t fine us fans for calling you out on your ways but yet again you’ll continue to taint the game & show your true colors.
The NFL offices must be listening to PFT too much.
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