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COVID-19 Test Irregularities, False Positives Causing NFL Teams to Take Precautionary Measures
After Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had to deal with all of the ramifications of a positive COVID-19 test, it was revealed that he never actually had the virus after all.
The NFL community was hoping that this scenario, which put the entire Stafford family under a lot of distress, would be a one-time occurrence. After all, what good are all these coronavirus tests if you can't trust their reliability?
Unfortunately, Stafford and the Lions aren't alone, and it seems that the culprit this time is one testing lab in New Jersey which has differed significantly from other labs in terms of test results.
Several NFL teams are altering or cancelling football activities today after irregularities in results from Saturday’s COVID-19 test results from the same lab in New Jersey. Statement from the NFL: pic.twitter.com/RhwzHQVsUA— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 23, 2020Among the teams that are taking precautions and that have received false positive results are the Chicago Bears, whose nerves were understandably rattled following a recent batch of test results.
Bears had nine players/staff text positive for COVID but, upon further review, nine results were false positives, the team said. Out of an abundance of caution, they postponed this morning’s practice to this afternoon at 1:30pm.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2020The Bears are joined by the Cleveland Browns, who chose to delay practices and other team activities in order to remain as safe as possible.
#Browns have cancelled practice due to COVID situation. Team planning statement shortly.— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) August 23, 2020However, good news came out of Cleveland in the afternoon, as every player who received a positive test came back negative in the next round of testing.
Update: We are reopening our building and will resume football activities this afternoon.Statement » https://t.co/QOClnceJD3 pic.twitter.com/LOrvQ5cjqv— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 23, 2020NFL insider Ian Rapoport mentioned that it was not just limited to these two teams, saying that "several teams received several positive results," all from the aforementioned New Jersey lab. However, he's spinning the story with some optimism, calling it a "test run" for the regular season in case a similar situation occurs.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane says that the Bills are one of the many teams affected, and that a few players will be sitting out of practice due to these positive test results (via Maddy Glab). In addition, he mentioned that there are nine or 10 other teams who have been impacted by these irregular test results.
The Jets are one of those organizations, according to head coach Adam Gase. Brian Costello of WFAN shared what Gase informed the media.
Gase said the Jets had to cancel their walkthrough last night because of the COVID testing issue that is affecting many teams around the league. #nyj— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) August 23, 2020Gase said they had 10 positive tests yesterday. #nyj— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) August 23, 2020They all came back negative in subsequent tests so the Jets went ahead with practice today. #nyj— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) August 23, 2020After the news about the Jets' results broke, another team was affected in a similar quantity.
So after the Bears had nine false positive tests this weekend, and the Jets 10, the Vikings now have 12 presumptive positive tests from the same New Jersey lab that produced the other testing results.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2020Head coach Mike Zimmer said that eight players, one coach, and three staff members were the recipients of the positive test results, and that they'll be held out of practice on Sunday (via ESPN's Courtney Cronin). He also shared Rapoport's glass-half-full perspective about the timing of the incident.
Zimmer: "Honestly for us, it’s probably good that it happened now because we were able to adjust and adapt and figure out the kinds of things that would happen if did happen during the season and what we would do from there."— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) August 23, 2020The Patriots also learned of false positive tests, according to reporter Jeff Howe, who says that there were several absences from practice as a result.
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Thursday’s Game in Miami Postponed as Two Mets Test Positive For COVID
Just when it looked like MLB had all its COVID ducks in a row. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that Thursday’s Mets/Marlins series finale in Miami will no longer take place.
Mets have a Covid case. Game tonight postponed.— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 20, 2020The game was postponed after two Mets—one coach and one player—tested positive for COVID-19. With the team likely stranded in Miami, the Mets' upcoming three-game set against the Yankees is also in jeopardy with Friday's series opener already postponed, per beat writer Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Official, from MLB: Tomorrow's Subway Series opener between the Mets and Yankees has also been postponed.— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 20, 2020The Mets, winners of three straight, become the 15th team to have a game postponed over COVID concerns. Seth Lugo (in what would have been his first start since 2018) and Marlins rookie Daniel Castano had been the scheduled starters for Thursday’s 6:10 first pitch. Per Heyman, the Mets will return to the Big Apple later tonight. The player and coach who tested positive, along with any teammates who were in close contact, will not accompany the team back to New York.
It’s unclear when the Mets will receive the green light to resume playing. So far, COVID hiatuses in MLB have ranged from as little as four days (the Reds) to as many as 17, which is how long the Cardinals were shelved before making their return last weekend against the White Sox. The Mets released a statement regarding Thursday’s postponement, acknowledging their COVID outbreak without revealing the identities of anyone who tested positive for the virus. No makeup date has been announced for Thursday’s postponement. The Mets aren’t scheduled to return to Miami this season, though New York is slated to host the Marlins for a three-game set in Queens next week.
#Mets statement regarding tonight’s and Friday’s game. pic.twitter.com/rtLqGZnCaw— New York Mets (@Mets) August 20, 2020LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter I Facebook I Instagram
Retro Video Game Craze During COVID-19 Leaves Shortage of Every Kind of Accessory
Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and food topped shoppers' lists as COVID-19 pandemic fears settled in across the country, including in Minnesota. Another item added to that list of "must haves" was and continues to be video games.
The demand for video games, both new and old, started even before most of the country went on lockdown.
"Right before everything shutdown in March, while everyone was buying all the toilet paper up, our numbers spiked-up tremendously," Gamerheadz owner Tony Dear said. "Our numbers were on the level of Black Friday. I couldn't believe it. I was like 'people are really going to get their toilet paper, sit in their bathroom, and play Xbox."
These trades just keep coming! #Gamerheadz #NewArrivalsPosted by Gamerheadz on Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Like most businesses, Gamerheadz, which sells new and used video games, was closed inside Edina's Southdale Center from early March into mid-May as the COVID-19 pandemic brought a statewide stay-at-home orders and crippled the state's economy. When Dear was finally able to reopen his store on May 17 the demand for classic games remained strong.
"There was this boom for retro games and now they're really scarce," Dear said. "What I discovered during the pandemic is that everyone wants the same thing. All those people who were quarantining, social distancing, and staying at home were breaking out their old gaming systems like the Nintendo 64 and sharing them with their kids."
Dear said there is one issue with the demand as older systems regain popularity.
"People are realizing they don't have enough controllers or other accessories," he said. "There's a shortage of every kind of accessory like controllers and memory cards. It's not just old stuff, either. Gaming has picked up so much that you can't even find used controllers or accessories for the newer systems."
It's not just casual gamers that have turned to video games during the COVID-19 pandemic. eSports were able to take center stage as major sports leagues were put on hiatus due to safety concerns. Minnesota's professional Call of Duty team, Minnesota ROKKR, still competed in the professional Call of Duty League.
"We have the ability to compete online and have done that since April," ROKKR chief operating officer Brett Diamond said. "Shifting to online-only events isn't as easy as it sounds in the eSports world because you're still competing in a live event and need to conduct it at the highest possible level."
Rokkr athletes had dedicated business Internet lines installed in their apartments just so they could maintain their competitiveness.
"Truly that's how good at this these players are," Diamond said. "Literally the millisecond in an Internet connection can be the difference between winning and losing in a competitive match."
With the playoffs right around the corner, here's a quick #TBT to the start of the season. We picked up the boys and got straight to work 😈 #ROKKR pic.twitter.com/qfsy49Zu46— Minnesota RØKKR (@ROKKR) August 13, 2020Major sports leagues also turned to eSports while on hiatus to give fans something to watch and athletes a way to compete. NASCAR hosted several televised iRacing events in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, The series featured professional race car drivers. Major League Baseball used popular game MLB the Show to host the MLB the Show Players League.
Gaming's popularity is one that Dear believes won't be slowing down anytime soon, especially as Sony and Microsoft prepare to release their newest gaming systems in time for the 2020 holiday season.
"People continue to trade-in games here, but I wish I had more trades," Dear said. "If I pound the pavement and go to garage sales to find that inventory, it will keep me in business."
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At Least One Teammate Has Threatened to Opt Out if Indians Reinstate Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac
A quick peek at the AL Central standings would suggest the 13-9 Indians, who trail the division-leading Twins by a single game, are firing on all cylinders. Of course, looks can be deceiving. Though it has yet to affect the Tribe’s on-field product, Cleveland’s locker room finds itself in a state of disrepair stemming from the turmoil caused by starting pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac, who were both quarantined and subsequently demoted for breaking curfew during the team’s recent trip to Chicago.
Clevinger and Plesac, who seemed less than apologetic for eschewing the league’s COVID protocols (Plesac exacerbated the situation with an ill-advised rant on Instagram, calling out the media for framing him as a villain), have drawn the ire of teammates, who expressed their frustration in what ESPN’s Jeff Passan described as a “testy” team meeting held Friday. Per Passan, the anger in the room was “palpable” with one player—veteran reliever Oliver Perez—threatening to opt out if and when Clevinger and Plesac are reinstated. Though both tested negative for the virus, Clevinger and Plesac put their teammates including fellow starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco—who battled Leukemia as recently as last year—at risk of infection. That carelessness and seeming lack of remorse exhibited by Clevinger and Plesac clearly didn’t sit well with teammates.
“They hurt us bad. They lied to us,” said Adam Plutko, who was promoted when Clevinger and Plesac were optioned to the team’s alternate site in Lake County, where they will remain for at least 10 days. Perennial All-Star Francisco Lindor was similarly outspoken, alluding to Clevinger and Plesac in comments made last week. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror. And it’s not about the person we see in the mirror. It’s who's behind you.”
Francisco Lindor, on Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac and being selfless: pic.twitter.com/njXpjQEqR8— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) August 11, 2020Beyond the atmosphere of tension in Cleveland’s broken clubhouse, Clevinger and Plesac’s uncertain standing with the team could also have significant financial ramifications. If Clevinger’s demotion lasts longer than 19 days, his service time would be affected, delaying his eventual free agency. The same goes for Plesac, who was slated to be arbitration-eligible in 2022 but, depending on the length of his demotion, may have to wait an extra year.
A faction of the team has accepted Clevinger and Plesac’s apologies, but if the damage to the locker room can’t be undone, Cleveland could look to shop one or both players ahead of the August 31 trade deadline. While that would be a worst-case scenario—Cleveland’s preference would surely be to retain both Clevinger and Plesac, a pair of talented starters on affordable contracts—there is some precedent for this. Eccentric right-hander Trevor Bauer earned a well-deserved lashing from manager Terry Francona for angrily hurling a ball into the center-field seats last season. He never made another start for the Tribe, who traded him to Cincinnati in a swap that brought Yasiel Puig to the Rock and Roll Capital.
"They sat here, in front of you guys, and said things publicly that they didn't follow through on,” said Plutko. “It's gonna’ be up to them. It really is.”
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NCAA Chief Medical Officer: No Way to go Forward With Sports With Current Way of Testing
The NCAA’s chief medical officer weighed on the feasibility of a fall season for college athletics during an appearance on CNN early Sunday morning, and the conclusion he drew was not optimistic.
Dr. Brian Hainline painted a bleak picture on the possibility of fall sports, including college football, being able to be played this fall.
“The pathway to play sports is so exceedingly narrow right now,” he said. “Everything would have to line up perfectly.”
Among the biggest concerns for college athletes is getting the proper amount of testing in order to compete. Professional athletes have collectively bargained to be tested frequently, but the problem, Hainline says, is that there is not enough testing available to allow athletes to safely compete.
“Right now, if testing in the US stays the way it is, there’s no way we can go forward with sports,” he said.
The FDA is, however, just a “game-changing” saliva test that is supposed to return results faster could be beneficial for all students on campus at universities but availability is scarce.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 have already postponed college football and fall sports with hopes to be able to play in the spring.
The SEC, ACC and Big 12 are still planning to move forward with college football in the fall while players and parents of student-athletes of the other Power Five conferences petition for the others to change course and reinstate the season.
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Coronavirus-Linked Heart Condition a Factor in Big Ten Suspension: Report
A health complication seen in some people who have contracted coronavirus reportedly played a key role in the pending suspension of the Big Ten football season.
Myocarditis, a condition defined as inflammation of the heart muscles, was observed in at least five Big Ten student-athletes who tested positive for COVID-19, as well as several other athletes from other conferences, ESPN reported.
The condition previously sidelined Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez for the entirety of the shortened 2020 MLB season after he tested positive for the virus during summer camp.
The relatively rare ailment can sometimes occur in cases of the common cold, flu, or mononucleosis, the report said, but has been found with greater frequency in patients diagnosed with coronavirus.
If left untreated, myocarditis can cause heart damage and could lead to potentially fatal cardiac arrest.
Several doctors specializing in sports medicine and affiliated either with top athletic programs or professional leagues registered their concern about the heart condition, the article said.
Dr. Matthew Martinez, the league cardiologist for MLS, the New York Jets' team cardiologist, and a consultant for the NBA players' association, said he has heard from physicians from at least a dozen schools who identified at least 12 cases of myocarditis among student-athletes.
While myocarditis was initially considered to be not serious as long as symptoms weren't severe, Martinez said the thinking on that is changing.
"Initially we thought if you didn't have significant symptoms that you are probably at less risk," Martinez said. "We are now finding that that may not be true."
Several cases of myocarditis were detected among players in college football's Mid-American Conference, which abruptly cancelled its season over the weekend. Those cases were among many factors in the suspension, ESPN reported.
"What we don't know was really haunting us, and that's why we came to our final decision," Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier said on Saturday. "That's part of the data that our presidents used. ... That stuff is extremely scary."
Report: MLB Revisiting Postseason Bubble Amid Recent COVID Outbreaks
MLB’s corona-abbreviated 2020 season has gotten off to a rocky start with two teams—the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals—playing catch-up in the wake of recent coronavirus outbreaks. Both clubs were admittedly lax in following league protocols but even if Miami and St. Louis are more attentive going forward, the possibility of further COVID complications across MLB still exists. Just this past weekend, the Indians were forced to reprimand—and subsequently quarantine—two of their starting pitchers for going off premises during their trip to Chicago.
With those concerns in mind, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that MLB is considering a playoff format similar to the “bubble” models successfully adopted by both the NBA and NHL. MLB workshopped constructing its own bubble environment as early as April (Phoenix was considered the favorite to host games) but the idea was ultimately back-burnered after the league faced significant resistance from players, many of whom had no interest in being away from their family for the better part of four months. But with over a billion in TV revenue at stake, baseball can’t afford any more setbacks. MLB needs the postseason to go off without a hitch and restricting cross-country travel by playing all of its games in the same general vicinity would seem to accomplish that.
A neutral-site World Series would be unprecedented but with home-field advantage already essentially meaningless in a year without fans, now seems as good a time as any to break with tradition. If MLB does opt for a postseason bubble, the league would likely follow the NHL’s lead in establishing two or more “hub” cities where games would be held. New York and Chicago each have two venues at their disposal, though Los Angeles is probably the more likely host site given the comparatively warmer climate of Southern California.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, one proposal being considered would be for the National League to stage games at Dodger Stadium with the American League playing its October slate at Angel Stadium in nearby Anaheim. With MLB debuting an expanded 16-team postseason in 2020, Dodger and Angel Stadiums may not have the bandwidth to hold all those games, which is why Petco Park in San Diego (roughly two hours south of Los Angeles) could serve as a third site, at least for the best-of-three Wild Card round. Bay Area parks in Oakland and San Francisco could also be called upon if the league requires additional stadium space to accommodate its 16 playoff teams.
Though MLB seems to be leaning toward Southern California for hosting duties, East Coast and Midwest hubs have also been discussed. In that scenario, Citi Field (Mets), Yankee Stadium, Citizen’s Bank Park (Phillies), Nationals Park and Camden Yards (Orioles) would comprise MLB’s proposed East Coast hub with Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox), Wrigley Field (Cubs) and Miller Park (Brewers) the favorites to host the league’s Midwest slate.
Passan acknowledged logistical challenges in adopting a postseason bubble. Among other issues, the league would have to navigate earlier-than-usual start times (before noon local time in some cases), limited practice availability and enough time between games to thoroughly disinfect clubhouses. But in the absence of a better idea amid the most harrowing year of our collective lives, October baseball in Southern California could be where the 2020 season is headed.
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Phillies and Marlins Set to Play Five-Day, Seven-Game Series in September
Let’s play two … or seven. Usually seven-game series are reserved for the playoffs, but with 22 games to make up following the league’s recent wave of COVID outbreaks, MLB schedule-makers have gotten increasingly creative with their methods. Beginning September 10, the Phillies and Marlins will embark on an unprecedented seven-game set in Miami comprised of games Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday with doubleheaders slated for both Friday and Sunday.
The teams will get a slight reprieve thanks to MLB adopting seven-inning doubleheaders for the remainder of 2020, shaving a combined eight innings off Friday and Sunday’s twin offerings. To accommodate the NL East rivals, who are making up for lost time following last week’s coronavirus-necessitated hiatus, the start of Boston’s series in Miami was pushed back from September 14 to the following day.
It’s going to be a hectic finish for the Marlins, who close the season with an exhausting 27 games in 23 days. According to the Associated Press, that includes a frantic span of four doubleheaders in 10 calendar days. Miami’s weeklong layoff and subsequent roster shakeup amid a rash of positive COVID tests gives the Fish little margin for error. Luckily, Miami’s seven-game meetup with Philadelphia will be staged at retractable-roof Marlins Park, preventing weather from further complicating an already-ambitious schedule.
The Marlins and Phillies aren’t the only ones being stretched thin. To make up for last week’s string of postponements, the Cardinals and Brewers have added three doubleheaders to their September slates. In a rare scheduling quirk, Milwaukee will serve as the nominal home team for Game 1 of September 25th’s planned twin bill at Busch Stadium.
With five doubleheaders on tap for the each of the Phillies, Cardinals and Marlins—and maybe another one in the hopper for St. Louis following Friday’s scrapped game against the Cubs—there won’t be much rest for the weary in MLB. Such is life in the COVID age.
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Citing COVID Concerns, World No. 2 Rafael Nadal Won’t Defend US Open Title
One of tennis’ marquee names will not be making the trip to New York later this month. Nineteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced he will not defend his US Open title, citing ongoing concerns over the coronavirus.
“After many thoughts, I have decided not to play this year’s US Open,” said Nadal, the world’s second-ranked player behind Serbian star Novak Djokovic. “This is a decision I never wanted to make but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I’d rather not travel.”
After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US Open. The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it.— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year.— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020All my respects to the USTA, the US Open organisers and the ATP for trying to put the event together for the players and the fans around the world through TV.— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel. pic.twitter.com/8VA0aSACVy— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020Nadal has not taken the court since February when he won the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, defeating American Taylor Fritz in the finals. After a five-month layoff, the ATP Tour will resume August 22-28 with the Western & Southern Open (usually held in Cincinnati) to be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The US Open, the second of three Grand Slam events in 2020 (Wimbledon was canceled while the French Open was postponed to September), will be staged at the same venue the following week. Nadal had hoped to compete in the Madrid Open in his native Spain next month, but that too was canceled.
“The situation is very complicated worldwide,” the 34-year-old explained Tuesday in a series of tweets. “The COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it.” With Nadal’s longtime rival Roger Federer also missing the US Open (he’s recovering from knee surgery), this will be the first Grand Slam event without both Nadal and Federer since 1999, according to Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press. Top-ranked women’s player Ash Barty will also be skipping this year’s Open.
Nadal will now have to wait until the French Open—or perhaps longer if he bows out of that as well—to chase his 20th grand slam title, which would tie Federer for the most all-time. The U.S. Open will begin August 31 with the finals slated for September 13 in Queens.
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NFL Insider: ‘High-Risk’ Undrafted Rookies Entitled to $350,000 Stipend if They Opt Out of 2020 Season
DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - We've already seen several players opt out of the 2020 NFL season over COVID-19 concerns, but there's about to be a lot more, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero said Tuesday morning on 105.3 The Fan.
Pelissero broke the news Monday evening that the NFL and the NFL Players Association had agreed to some changes to the CBA in the wake of the pandemic.
As Pelissero noted on Shan and RJ, one of the agreements will have a massive effect on the depth of teams' rosters this season.
"You are going to see more opt-outs in the coming days, I guarantee you. I was on the phone late last night with agents who were preparing their paperwork for some guys because they'd be waiting to see the language on, for instance, if you have a player who didn't earn an accredited season last year, or is an undrafted rookie, and he's high-risk, does he get the stipend? The answer it turns out, (is) yes.
"An undrafted rookie, if he's considered high-risk definitionally by the CDC, then he's entitled to a $350,000 stipend with no offsets. For a lot of guys on the bubble, that's going to sway them. There's no question about it. Then you got some star players, too, that are still continuing to look at this and wanting to gather all the information they can before (the) deadline."
You've already seen several star players, such as New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and New York Giants center Nate Soldier, opt out of the season. Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence considered sitting out, but he reported to training camp last week, and all indications are that he will play.
The growing list of opt-outs also includes several players on the roster bubble. The Cowboys, for instance, lost special team's ace (and fullback) Jamize Olawale for the season when he opted out this past weekend. He followed in the footsteps of undrafted rookie Stephen Guidry and veteran cornerback Maurice Canady, who already announced their intentions to sit out due to the coronavirus.
Both of those players were facing an uphill battle to make the roster as the Cowboys have several options ahead of them at their respective positions on the depth chart.
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