Raiders’ stunt emphasizes seriousness of virus

Chargers’ Lynn still touting Taylor as starter

Jon Gruden has long been known to play up the drama, but he set a new standard in a recent meeting with his Raiders players.

The team logged on for a video meeting last week expecting to see Gruden leading the call. Instead, NFL Network reports, they got special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, who had a somber message: Gruden had been hospitalized due to complications from the coronavirus.

The players responded with an appropriate level of seriousness and concern. But unbeknownst to the players, Gruden was actually perfectly healthy: He had called upon Bisaccia for a little play-acting.

The head coach was, fortunately, using the meeting (and the fear it induced in the players) as a reminder for his team that the virus can affect anyone — all the more reason to be extremely careful, both inside team facilities and out in the world.

“So, the point to the players was ‘you’ve got to stay ready,’” NFL.com reporter Mike Garafolo said. “Everybody has got to stay ready because this virus that Gruden himself said they want to crush could pop up and it doesn’t discriminate. So this is something we could face some point in the season whether it’s our head coach, our starting quarterback, whatever.”

When he met with reporters last week, Gruden also struck a tone of seriousness about the virus, albeit in a way you’d expect of the man whose life revolves around the game.

“I want to dominate when we leave the building,” he said then. “We want to crush this virus.” LEAGUE OFFICE: The NFL is preparing to return most of its employees to team headquarters in Midtown Manhattan later this month and staffers going back to the office will have to take saliva COVID-19 tests every two weeks.

No more than half of the 780-member staff will be allowed to work on any given day at 345 Park Avenue, said Dasha Smith, the NFL’s Chief People Officer.

In a staff memo obtained by The Associated Press, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday wrote, “With our players and clubs safely back in the workplace, we too must continue to advance our return to the workplace. This will ensure we are collectively in the best position to execute our season.” CHARGERS: Coach Anthony Lynn is trying his best to quiet any doubts that Tyrod Taylor will be the QB to start the season.

“He hasn’t started in a couple years, and he’s going to get that opportunity this year. I think he’s gonna be just fine,” Lynn said Wednesday.