By: Rhianna Dozier
The nation was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief once sports started again. Hockey resumed, football began, and the MLB and NBA picked up right where they left off. We were able to witness three championships: the NBA finals, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup finals. However, it is questionable if we will make it to the Super Bowl in 2021.
With football players constantly touching each other as they tackle one another to the ground, it's hard to keep Covid protocols in check. The players can't wear masks under the helmets because then they can't breathe. So, to keep an eye on the teams, the NFL tests players for Covid every single day. Every day. My God, what a waste of so many tests.
Even with all the testing, teams are still getting caught for not following protocol. In Week 5, three teams had to postpone games twice because players continued to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. But why is this happening? Because the teams are still hosting practices even with players who are sick. They are hungry for the trophy and are on the hunt for a spot in the Super Bowl, but at ridiculous costs.
The league is desperate to regain control and is again stressing the importance of following Covid protocols to guarantee the season can continue as scheduled with little to no contractions brought on by the disease. For the first time in NFL history, the league is threatening forfeiture of games if a team cannot participate due to the coronavirus spreading as a result of not following protocol. Along with forfeit of a game, the league also included loss of draft choices as part of the new punishment.
Now, I know what you angry fans are thinking: Who did this?
Well, you have the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots, and the Kansas City Chiefs to thank.
The Titans were forced to push back their game against Pittsburgh which then forced Pittsburgh to reschedule their game against the Ravens, resulting in less than a week for the Steeler's to recover. The New England Patriots had to reschedule their game against the Chiefs from Sunday to Monday, and for the first time in years, the NFL aired a Tuesday night game.
To ensure that the cases are kept under control, the NFL has changed its player protocol to banning all gatherings outside of the club facility, limiting the number of tryouts permitted per week for the free-agency tryouts, and implementing a league-wide video monitoring system to ensure compliance.
Hopefully these new protocols will be seen as a wake-up call for all 16 teams, and they will welcome the new implementations with open arms and abide by them. I know I want to see a 2021 Super Bowl, so let's hope the players feel the same way.
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