Steelers - Thumbtacks game moved out

[Chucktownsteeler]

Mike Tomlin On Potentially Playing 13 Straight Games: ‘We Do Not Care’

Mike Tomlin was short, sweet, and to the point. And oh so abundantly clear. Despite the unfairness of the Pittsburgh Steelers having their schedule changed due to the COVID outbreak in Tennessee, potentially forcing Pittsburgh to play 13 straight games, the black and gold are marching forward. Led by Tomlin.

Though the NFL hasn’t officially announced when they’ll reschedule the Steelers/Titans game, one solution is to push the contest to Week 7. Tennessee has a scheduled bye that week. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are slated to play Week 7 but both have byes in Week 8, meaning the game could get pushed back to accommodate Steelers/Titans. If that’s the league’s solution, Pittsburgh would play 13 straight games from Week 5 to Week 17 plus any potential playoff run they seem poised to embark.


No question such a scenario would be unfortunate, not to mention unfair, to the Steelers. But the league’s goal is to complete the season so if Pittsburgh has to fall on the sword, so be it. Tomlin made it clear he was disappointed by the news.


“I’m disappointed because we were preparing to play. We worked extremely hard for what we thought was a game against an undefeated team in their venue. We’re getting a bye week, so we’re going to make the best of that.”

There are upsides to the Steelers having an earlier than anticipated off week. They’ll have a chance to get healthier. FB Derek Watt was going to miss this game with a hamstring injury while WR Diontae Johnson has a much higher chance of passing through concussion protocol without sitting out a game. The Steelers won’t be playing on a short week when they face Philadelphia October 11th like they would’ve been had the game gone on Monday or even Tuesday night.


Tomlin and the Steelers focus now shifts to the Eagles.



“We have every intention of getting appropriate rest and taking care of those that need to be mended in any way. More than anything just kicking back and gaining a little bit of perspective in terms of watching others work and we’ll come in at the beginning of next week and lean in on Philadelphia.”



And Pittsburgh’s won in the face of long seasons before. In their 2005 Super Bowl winning season, they had a Week Four bye, playing 17 straight to win one for the thumb. In 2008, they had a Week 6 bye. In 2010, it was Week 5. Not to mention the fact for most of NFL history, there was no such thing as a “bye week.” Those didn’t become a fixture of the league until 1990.

Different circumstances, of course. Those were scheduled of weeks not played in the middle of a pandemic. But Tomlin is the ultimate make-no-excuses coach. He sure isn’t starting now.

Read more: https://steelersdepot.com/2020/10/mike-t...-not-care/

[Vitriol]

That is the dumbest approach possible.  Shuffling 3 teams' schedules around vs using the practice squad to fill COVID impacted positions. 
What was the point of having the expanded practice squad, if not to supplement the team due to expected, sporadic COVID outbreaks.  I thought with the isolation being put in place throughout the week, that infections risk to the opposing team would be minimized.  COVID infections should be treated like injuries. 

I understand it wasn't the Titans decision, but the Titans should be expected to play the game as scheduled or forfeit.  Shifting to Mon or Tues, would be the next best thing.

This new schedule shift not only helps the Titans but it also gives the Ravens an advantage over the Steelers by moving their bye-week to before the Steelers game.  The Steelers get a half-assed bye week since they've already been practicing all this week, then they will have to play without a break for the rest of the season.  The Ravens will come into the Steelers game rested and healthier. 
They were able to shuffle the games around, THIS TIME.  What happens when they can't move things around like this, especially later in the season?  This solution can't be consistently implemented across the season.

[dbsfgyd1]

The problem with shuffling PS players into an outbreak is that there may be more players of the original 53 that have become infected but don’t know it.

If there is an outbreak, the best process is to 1, isolate the infected, 2nd, the rest should be quarantined for 14 days from the last exposure to the virus. Any other way will likely cause additional outbreaks.

[Vitriol]

The problem with shuffling PS players into an outbreak is that there may be more players of the original 53 that have become infected but don’t know it.

If there is an outbreak, the best process is to 1, isolate the infected, 2nd, the rest should be quarantined for 14 days from the last exposure to the virus. Any other way will likely cause  additional outbreaks.

I understand the 14-day quarantine as being the most effective way to prevent further exposure.  The NFL isn't following that in any case and is not being consistent.

Cam Newton tested positive on Saturday.  Nobody else tested positive on the Pats on Sunday, so they moved the game to tonight. 
If Cam brought it to practice on Friday or exposed anybody on Saturday, with a 4-14 day incubation period before showing symptoms, other members of the team & staff could already be infected but just not showing it (i.e. pre-outbreak).  Using the 14-day rule, the Pats shouldn't play this week (2 days) or next week (9 days), or even practice next week.

Same applies for the Chiefs because a practice squad QB tested positive.  Same timing. 

The Titans had a dozen positives cases and are being investigated.  As of now, they will play next weekend.  They'll likely practice this week.  Those "contact" gatherings are well within the 14-day time when the team had previously assembled with COVID carriers present.

Shuffling games is not sustainable for the rest of the season and won't be equitable.  I'm just wanting some consistency.

My humble opinion:  If a game can't be played due to COVID on one team or both, it should be cancelled - meaning 15 games for that team this season (fewer if multiple cancellations).  Playoff standings should be based upon W-L percentages, not total # of wins.

If the NFL investigates and finds a team was negligent in its practices that may have promoted an outbreak, then that team should forfeit.

Probably a good thing that I'm not in charge.

I've already sworn off any money going to the NFL this year (satellite (Gameday), Pay-per-view, going to a bar to watch, or purchasing any NFL gear). 
I've watched parts of 2 Steelers games only because we picked it up for free via antenna.  Joined late because I was shooting on the range with my son...Maybe I should follow suit of the others and not even watch free games.

As a matter of risk, the players are at a low risk of serious complications from COVID.  The heart issues we heard about in athletes, is from undiagnosed/untreated cases.  I still stand by treating COVID cases as injuries. 

Again, probably a good thing that I'm not in charge.

[Chucktownsteeler]

This will work once for any team provided they still have a bye week. What is the NFL going to do then? What happens in the play-offs? Super Bowl?

This season may not finish. You can't keep moving games out. Logically it just doesn't work.