Posted on 08/08/2020 4:07:57 AM PDT by Kaslin
With the pandemic affecting most every manner of entertainment this year, one of the anticipated breaks in the entertainment void has been the return of professional sports. Over the past couple of weeks Major League baseball, the NBA, and the NHL have restarted their schedules, with some mixed results. To go along with some softening of interest from fans due to the political activism on display, there have also been coronavirus outbreaks on a number of the baseball teams interrupting the schedule.
Also gearing up is the NFL, as training camps opened this week while the league is still grappling with how it will manage the coming season. As of now the schedule will begin without fans in attendance and there are varying measures on how badly this will affect the NFL and individual team owners. Estimates range that league-wide losses could be about $5.5 billion, and possibly as high as $7 billion. Now there is another challenge for teams as the number of players who will not participate has been determined.
On Thursday the players’ union had its deadline for players to announce if they would elect not to participate this coming season over Covid concerns, and 66 players declared they will opt out from playing this season. The league reached an agreement for compensation payable to those who declared they would be opting out from play. If the player has a verifiable medical cause they will be paid out a stipend of $350,000, and those choosing to sit out due to concerns will be paid $150,000 against future salary payments. Following Thursday’s deadline, anyone who removes themselves due to a medical reason can get the stipend payment, but voluntary options are not reimbursed.
Those declines affect the rosters of most every team, with the exceptions being the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Los Angeles Chargers. Most impacted are the New England Patriots, which following the departure of some notable free agents -- including mega-star Tom Brady -- now see eight players refusing to join the team this season. The Kansas City Chiefs are also particularly affected. Running back Damien Williams will not be playing. Also out is starting offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, and his possible replacement would have been the new draft pick, Lucas Niang, except he has elected to bypass his rookie year over concerns.
The majority of those players who chose not to play were logically found to be linemen. Between the OL and DL positions, those involving the most assured physical contact, there are over 30 players listed.
While these departures will present challenges to coaches, the longer impacts felt by the franchises are yet to be measured. The stadium revenues vary widely by team, but you get the sense of the impact when the top three franchises -- Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giants -- receive over 50% of team revenue from stadium operations. The Raiders will lose significantly as they were poised to begin play in their new home of Las Vegas, and questions are in the air for the Rams and Chargers, as they are set to begin play in a new stadium. Also uniquely affected is Tampa Bay, as they just signed Tom Brady and saw a significant rise in season tickets as a result. The night it was announced he was signing with the team 7,000 requests for season tickets were placed; now that will be unrealized revenue.
The full list of teams and players is available here.
These guys sitting out are only getting $150,000, a small percentage of what theyd earn. The players cant take a chance on another guy breathing on them as theyre tackled but will let some minimum wage cook, waiter and busboy handle their food. Screw em, I hope they all get the sniffles.
I have watched maybe 20 minutes of the opening day baseball this year then turned it off. I couldnt stand them constantly yammering on about BLM or the weird combination of trying to pretend it is normal to be playing in an empty stadium while simultaneously also trying to not mention the stadium is empty by using fake background noise.
$150,000...I didnt know that. Thanks. Another freeper had a great point. A waiter, bartender, whatever is ok to handle their food and drinks but God forbid they get breathed on. Common sense has just totally gone out the window.
I wonder if a widespread refusal to play could be considered a strike/job action that could be used to void their current contract...
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They were given permission to do this under an agreement between the NFL and the players union.
What these idiots refuse to recognize is that there are millions of people who work in close close quarters who never stopped working, who are going back to work, who will be going back to work, who would love to be able to go back to work...
The NFL will get zero sympathy or support from them.
Keep digging, guys.
Certain players were given permission or all of them?
If it’s the former, that’s going to require some explanation from the league, I think, and will open up yet another can of worms.
Especially since the CDC’s definition of close contact requires 15 minutes of contact with someone within 6 feet of range.
If that definition is good enough for the CDC why isn’t it for the NFL?
Nobody, even linemen, get that much time in someone’s grill during a game.
It was for everyone. They had a deadline of August 6th (I think) to opt out of the season. No explanation was needed. I dont want to risk infection was all the reason they needed.
Proof that playing football doesn’t make you a man. 66 woosies.
If the NFL has players getting paid for doing nothing while others risk career-ending injuries for their paychecks, this won’t end well for the league. They’re creating a caste system for players. That will inevitably create animus within teams that will not go away.
If the NFL is smart either all play or nobody does.
They’d be better off in the long term if they just cancel the season.
I wouldnt trust the CDC definition of anything. They throw these numbers like 15 minutes and 6 feet around with no basis in any fact.
I do watch golf and a little nhl.
I used to enjoy college football, but it doesn't look like that will happen.
I don't consider soccer a sport that is designed for Americans to watch, although it is a good sport for kids to play.
Final score 0-0.
No winners, no losers, trophies all around. Just great for chad and karen.
GOOD! Who CARES!
F Football. (all sports)
Most of these are pretty obscure names from what I can see ... because theyre probably not giving up much this year by accepting only $150,000.
Not to mention the NFL players just arrested for criminal activity——
That only leaves 1,630... The NFL isn’t going anywhere. They’re going to play all 16 games and then they’re going to have a playoffs and a Super Bowl.
‘F Football. (all sports)’
all sports , huh...? got something against children and youths, the majority of whom play sports of some kind, having a little bit of fun...?
here’s an idea; let them all stay in their basement and type on keyboards all day long, right...?
they've been off collecting money for 6 months now, and they STILL need time to prepare...
what the Freak were they doing these last 6 months?...oh that's right, not being teachers and living it up....
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