League plans to scale back players’ COVID-19 testing

The NFL is curtailing daily testing of all players, vaccinated or unvaccinated, for COVID-19.

In a memo sent to the 32 clubs and obtained by the Associated Press, the league said Friday that medical experts from the NFL and the players’ union agreed to the change. Those doctors have seen enough evidence of a decrease in positive tests in the last month to feel comfortable with dropping daily tests.

Last month, weekly testing for vaccinated players and personnel was stopped, but anyone who reported symptoms of COVID-19 or was part of targeted surveillance still was subjected to testing.

“Following consultation with our jointly retained infectious disease experts, the NFL and NFL Players Association have updated the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols to eliminate the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated players to determine testing cadence,” the memo said. “Effective immediately, all players and tiered staff will be subject to strategic and targeted testing.”

The league will continue symptom-based testing and screening for symptoms.

Fournette back; Bucs waive Bell

A year after his captivating postseason performance that spawned a smorgasbord of nicknames, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tailback Leonard Fournette appears ready for his encore.

Fournette was activated from injured reserve Saturday and is eligible to play in Sunday’s NFC division playoff against the Rams after missing the past four games with a hamstring injury.

To make room for him on the roster, the team released veteran tailback Le’Veon Bell, who signed in December. Bell had eight carries for 18 yards, and four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown, in three contests.

Vikings eyeing two GM finalists

The Minnesota Vikings have targeted two finalists for their general manager job: Cleveland vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kansas City executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles.

According to a person with knowledge of the process, speaking Friday to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team was not announcing the requests, the Vikings have invited both AdofoMensah and Poles for a second interview.

Poles and Adofo-Mensah also have interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ GM opening, while 1985 championship team member Leslie Frazier, a former Bears cornerback who has spent the past four years as the Bills defensive coordinator, for their head coaching job. Frazier also has interviewed with the Giants.

The 36-year-old Poles played offensive tackle at Boston College and is in his 13th season with the Chiefs, his first in his current role. He was a finalist last year for Carolina’s general manager vacancy and a finalist again this week with the New York Giants, who hired Buffalo assistant GM Joe Schoen instead for their open job.

The Vikings also conducted head coach interviews Friday with Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd

Bowles, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. They’ve met virtually with seven candidates in the first round of talks, with one interview remaining with San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.

Ravens part ways with Martindale

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday night he is parting ways with defensive coordinator Don Martindale.

Martindale’s departure comes after only the second losing season in Harbaugh’s 14 years as Baltimore’s coach. The injury-riddled Ravens lost their final six games following an 8-3 start and missed the playoffs.

The 58-year-old Martindale departs after a decade with the Ravens. He began his tenure coaching inside linebackers in 2012, the season Baltimore won the Super Bowl. He became defensive coordinator in 2018.

Steelers’ Butler decides to retire

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler retired on Saturday, less than a week after his 19th season with the team ended in a blowout playoff loss to Kansas City.

The 65-year-old Butler, who spent 10 seasons as a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks in the 1970s and 80s before getting into coaching, helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls and reach another during his nearly two decades with the team. He served as the linebackers coach from 2003-14 and was promoted to coordinator in 2015 after Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau’s contract was not renewed.