The Awesome World of NFL 2020 NFL

[David76]

Antonio Brown has been suspended for eight games without pay, the NFL has announced. The free-agent can sign for a team but will be suspended for half the season. Brown, 32, was investigated by the NFL for several off-field incidents, including two sexual misconduct allegations that he denies. An NFL statement said the suspension was for "multiple violations" of the league's personal conduct policy.

In June, Brown was given two years of probation and 100 hours of community service, as well as being ordered to attend a 13-week anger management course, after being charged with burglary and battery.

........when I have but to read the comments on social media is it any wonder the USA is in the mess it's in.

The season should be called off at this stage. End up with a half a season with half rosters and someone like the Giants or Jets or Bears winning it and having to put an asterisk on the whole thing.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Matthew Stafford has been placed on the COVID-19 list by the Detroit Lions.

 

[Dylan]

As part of the agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association reached late last week to begin playing during the coronavirus pandemic, players have been given the choice to opt-out of the 2020 season. The NFL and NFLPA are working to finalize a deadline for players to give written notice of their decision; the deadline is expected to be within the next six days.

Players who choose to opt-out will fall into two categories, according to a memo sent to teams:

• Higher Risk: Players who are deemed to be at higher risk for developing severe complications from COVID-19 can opt-out and receive a $350,000 stipend. To qualify for this higher-risk group, players must have had a previously confirmed diagnosis for one (or more) of 15 risk factors listed by the Centers for Disease Control, including cancer, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and serious heart conditions, among others.
• Voluntary / Non-High Risk: Players who played in 2019 or are drafted rookies in 2020 and choose to opt-out will receive a $150,000 stipend that will be considered a salary advance and will count against the team's 2020 salary cap. Undrafted rookies can opt-out, but they are not eligible for the $150,000 stipend.

All opt-outs are final. If a player has a family member hospitalized because of (or pass away from) COVID-19 during training camp or the season, he can opt-out at a later date for the remainder of the season and will be eligible for the $150,000 stipend, which will be offset from any salary he had already earned. Players have not necessarily disclosed yet if they are a medical opt out (high risk) or voluntary.

Those players known to be high-risk opt-outs are denoted with an asterisk.

Baltimore Ravens: OT Andre Smith, KR De'Anthony Thomas
Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei
Carolina Panthers: LB Jordan Mack
Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman
Cincinnati Bengals: OT Isaiah Prince, DT Josh Tupou
Cleveland Browns: G Drew Forbes, OT Drake Dorbeck
Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry, FB Jamize Olawale
Denver Broncos: DL Kyle Peko*
Detroit Lions: DT John Atkins
Green Bay Packers: WR Devin Funchess
Houston Texans: DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Al Woods, DE Lerentee McCray
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Damien Williams, OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has been working on the frontlines at a long-term care facility in Quebec.
Los Angeles Rams: OT Chandler Brewer*
Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce
New England Patriots: RB Brandon Bolden, S Patrick Chung, OT Marcus Cannon*, LB Dont'a Hightower, C/G Najee Toran, FB Danny Vitale, WR Marqise Lee
New Orleans Saints: TE Cole Wick*, TE Jason Vander Laan
New York Giants: WR Da'Mari Scott, OT Nate Solder, who is a cancer survivor and whose son is currently battling cancer.
New York Jets: LB C.J. Mosley, OL Leo Koloamatangi
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin
Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack
Tennessee Titans: OT Anthony McKinney
Washington Football Team: DL Caleb Brantley*

 

[David76]

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for Covid-19.

Matthew Stafford has been placed on the COVID-19 list by the Detroit Lions.

Confirmed now too that Stafford has indeed tested positive for Covid-19, although he is asymptomatic at the moment. So could return in 5 days as long as he returns two negative tests, otherwise 10 days without symptoms before he can return.

 

[Tom]

49ers have signed Jordan Reed.

Great move by both sides, as a fantastic player when healthy on an incentivised contract and for Reed probably the best shop window out there if he performs.

I'll, however, squirm every time I see him take a hit and wish he'd chosen to retire.

 

[Fraser]

49ers have signed Jordan Reed.

Injured a lot when he was with the "Redskins". But earlier in his career was a very productive pass-catching tight end, George Kittle is better.

 

[Birdman]

49ers have signed Jordan Reed.

Great move by both sides, as a fantastic player when healthy on an incentivised contract and for Reed probably the best shop window out there if he performs.

I'll, however, squirm every time I see him take a hit and wish he'd chosen to retire.

Injured a lot when he was with the "Redskins". But earlier in his career was a very productive pass-catching tight end, George Kittle is better.

Seems to be on a "prove it" contract so low risk. Hopefully he can stay fit. Seems like he's signing might be to counteract the NFC West signing players to try and deal with Kittle.

 

[Micro Dave]

49ers have signed Jordan Reed.

Great move by both sides, as a fantastic player when healthy on an incentivised contract and for Reed probably the best shop window out there if he performs.

I'll, however, squirm every time I see him take a hit and wish he'd chosen to retire.

7 concussions in his career, and that's only confirmed/documented ones. With his last one keeping him in concussion protocol and out of football for over 6 months.

I think it's incredibly sad that teams are still allowed sign players with such an extensive and serious injury history. I don't know what the solution is, because any sort of prohibition or similar will just lead to an increase in the number undocumented diagnosis and players hiding their injuries. Perhaps the NFL needs to hire completely team-independent doctors and have them at each game and practice for concussion diagnosis. How feasible that is, I don't know.

But the 49ers - or any team making a similar signing - can hardly keep a straight face if they ever preach about player safety and well-being while giving out incentive laden contracts to someone with such an extensive and documented history of concussions. It's just sad, really.

 

[Dylan]

I'd say for the NFL the restart has gone even better than they could have hoped.

The opt out window is closed with none of the top tier stars have chosen to sit out and the numbers sitting out didn't even average 3 players per squad of 80. On top of that then also seeing well under 1% of players tests coming back positive and no sign of any issues of spread within teams.

Obviously full contact practice, games, and travel will be a lot riskier but things are looking a lot better than they could have been.

 

[Tom]

Derrius Guice has been cut by the Washington team following a whole heap of domestic assault charges.

7 concussions in his career, and that's only confirmed/documented ones. With his last one keeping him in concussion protocol and out of football for over 6 months.

I think it's incredibly sad that teams are still allowed sign players with such an extensive and serious injury history. I don't know what the solution is, because any sort of prohibition or similar will just lead to an increase in the number undocumented diagnosis and players hiding their injuries. Perhaps the NFL needs to hire completely team-independent doctors and have them at each game and practice for concussion diagnosis. How feasible that is, I don't know.

But the 49ers - or any team making a similar signing - can hardly keep a straight face if they ever preach about player safety and well-being while giving out incentive laden contracts to someone with such an extensive and documented history of concussions. It's just sad, really.

Agree with nearly all of that. Since Lynch and Shanahan arrived the 49ers have been a good bit better than league average on not signing scumbag players but the risk of long term health issues for this Reed signing doesn't sit right and leaves a bad taste.

The possible mitigating factors that I've talked myself into giving hope that the 49ers are a better landing spot for his health than other teams if he was going to end somewhere, is that he shouldn't have as big a workload, with Kittle and the young TEs, and Shanahan schemes guys open so well that it minimizes the number of contested catches and ones over the middle that leave players open to taking huge hits.

I'd have much rather he retired but as you said it is near impossible to stop a player that wants to play, be it from concussions or other life-threatening medical conditions. All you need is one team to clear them and in Reed's case, it appears there were several teams interested.

Confirmed now too that Stafford has indeed tested positive for Covid-19, although he is asymptomatic at the moment. So could return in 5 days as long as he returns two negative tests, otherwise 10 days without symptoms before he can return.

False positive apparently, so he's back on the active player list.