Protocols face scrutiny
Titans may have broken rules; Pats’ COVID list grows
The NFL’S investigation into how Tennessee turned into the league’s first COVID -19 outbreak found “several specific incidents“of the Titans possibly breaking protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, according to a person with knowledge of the probe.
Also, the headmaster of a private school in Nashville confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that several Titans, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, practiced on its field Sept. 30. That was a day before the NFL first postponed Tennessee’s game with Pittsburgh before rescheduling to Oct. 25.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell warned all 32 teams Monday that following league protocols is mandatory and that violations forcing changes in the schedule could lead to forfeiting games.
Tennessee had two more players test positive Wednesday, a person familiar with the the situation said. The Titans placed starting wide receiver Corey Davis on the reserve/covid -19 list hours later, bringing their total to 22 cases with 20 returned since Sept. 29.
The Titans cannot return to their facility before Saturday at the earliest, needing back-to-back days without a positive test result. They haven’t been on a field since beating the Vikings 31-30 on Sept. 27. The NFL has to decide if they play Buffalo (4-0) as scheduled Sunday, postpone and reschedule or forfeit.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday any discipline would be something for the NFL to discuss.
“I don’t expect anything either way,” Vrabel said.
The league is trying to play a full schedule amid the pandemic without teams isolated in a bubble as other sports have done to protect players and staff from the virus. No games were affected through the first three weeks of the season.
The Patriots canceled practices Wednesday and Thursday and are slated to host Denver on Sunday. The NFL already postponed the Patriots’ last game a day before New England lost in Kansas City on Monday night.
The Raiders, stated to visit the Chiefs on Sunday, placed defensive tackle Maurice Hurst on the reserve/covid -19 list Tuesday.
Buffalo had no positives after beating the Raiders last week, but pushing Bills-titans to Monday night is challenging because Buffalo is scheduled to host the Chiefs on Thursday, Oct. 15. That would force the NFL to further rearrange the schedule.