Both sides of the ball: Trump, Fauci differ
President optimistic about 2020; scientist pessimistic
LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci often have different takes on the coronavirus, so perhaps it makes sense they don’t agree on how the NFL season might unfold.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, told CNN that “football may not happen this year” unless the NFL isolates players and team staff, and tests them daily. Fauci fears a “second wave” of coronavirus outbreaks ultimately could doom the season. Trump doesn’t agree. “Tony Fauci has nothing to do with NFL Football,” Trump tweeted Friday. “They are planning a very safe and controlled opening. However, if they don’t stand for our National Anthem and our Great American Flag, I won’t be watching !!!! ”
It remains to be seen what measures the NFL will take in ensuring its players stay healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With training camps opening next month, the league is expected to announce more protocols aimed at increasing safety for players and team personnel.
Fauci seems more or less convinced the NFL will have to adopt an isolation strategy with teams — similar to what the NBA is doing with its Orlando “bubble” — in order to protect players and staff sufficiently.
“Unless players are essentially in a bubble — insulated from the community and … tested nearly every day — it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall,” Fauci told CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
The Washington Post editorial board is calling on Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to change his football club’s name. Under the headline, “Change the name of the Washington NFL team. Now,” the newspaper says in an editorial posted online Friday that if Snyder won’t switch the nickname, the professional football league itself ought to do so.
“This should be an easy call. Mr. Snyder
— or, if Mr. Snyder refuses to back down from his declaration of “NEVER,” the NFL — should take advantage of this singular moment in history to get on the right side of history,” the Post says. “Change the name. NOW.”
Snyder has owned the team since 1999 and has steadfastly vowed to keep the name, despite calls to reconsider, a push that has resurfaced during the ongoing national reckoning over racism.
An unidentified San Francisco 49ers player has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 after an informal workout with teammates in Tennessee.
The NFL Network reported Friday that one player who took part in the workouts this week in Nashville has tested positive. All the players who were there will now get tested to see if there is any spread.
The team declined to comment, citing federal and state privacy laws about the personal health of employees.
Several 49ers players have been working out this week in Nashville while team facilities are shut down because of the pandemic.
Quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard, star tight end George Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and receivers Kendrick Bourne, Deebo Samuel, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis and Brandon Aiyuk are among them.