‘We’re not ready for football’
Odell: NFL should not start amid pandemic
Odell Beckham Jr. doesn’t believe that it’s safe to play football in the middle of a still raging pandemic.
In an interview with WSJ. Magazine, which took place before the start of training camp, the ex-Giant said it didn’t make sense to play the season right now.
“Obviously with everything that’s going on, it doesn’t make sense why we’re trying to do this,” said Beckham, now with the Cleveland Browns. “I can understand basketball was already in the playoffs. Five-onfive basketball in an arena is going to be more intense than regular-season games.
“Hooping is different than playing an eleven-on-eleven contact sport where there’s 80 people in a locker room,” Beckham continued. “We’re not ready for football season.”
An Editor’s Note was included at the bottom of the article, stating the interview took place before the NFL and NFLPA agreed to COVID-19 precautions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Beckham reported to Browns training camp on time on July 28.
The NFL has had a few speed bumps en route to starting the season. The NFL and NFLPA still have not put pen to paper on the COVID-19 adjustments to the CBA.
Two starting quarterbacks have been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew both made their way onto the list over the weekend.
Minnesota and Detroit have been hit particularly hard in the lead up to the season. The Vikings have had to place starting linebacker Anthony Barr and first round pick Justin Jefferson on the COVID-19 list. In addition to Stafford, the Lions placed starting cornerback Justin Coleman on the COVID-19 list.
Being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list does not necessarily mean that players have contracted the disease, but at the very least they have spent time around someone who tested positive for coronavirus.
Jets star linebacker C.J. Mosley opted out for the season, joining New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower as high profile players that will not be taking part in the 2020 season.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told his team that he tested positive for the virus on Sunday night, but has not shown any symptoms up to this point.
“I can still run this team virtually,” Pederson said to reporters on Monday. “I’m confident in the protocols we have in place. We need to protect ourselves when we’re in the community.”