Without a 'Bubble,' N.F.L. Season Might Not Happen, Fauci Says

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Without a ‘Bubble,’ N.F.L. Season Might Not Happen, Fauci Says

The nation’s leading infectious disease expert said the only way to guarantee safety from the coronavirus would be to play in an enclosed environment.

By Ken Belson
June 18, 2020

The N.F.L. must seal off players, coaches and team staff members in an enclosed community to safely play the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the country’s highest ranking specialist in infectious diseases, said on Thursday.

“Unless players are essentially in a bubble — insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day — it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN.

Dr. Fauci said if a second wave of cases sweeps the country, as many experts fear, “football may not happen this year.”

The N.B.A., Major League Soccer and other leagues have announced plans to create enclosed campuses where their players, coaches and staff members will live and play full time in venues without fans. The N.B.A., for instance, will house teams at the Walt Disney World Resort next month near Orlando, Fla., so it can finish the 2019-20 season.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/sports/anthony-fauci-nfl-bubble-coronavirus.html

[exboyfil]

1. It is impossible to put the NFL in a bubble

I think it is also impossible for MLB even with the shortened season.

Maybe the NBA playoffs will happen (far fewer participants).

The only way it is going to happen is if the sports teams decide to roll the dice. Minimize exposure during competition (possible for MLB - unlikely for NBA and NFL) and keep vulnerable adults (ie the older coaches and other support staff) in a bubble and communicate via radio with the younger coaches having body cameras with audio feed. They might even go as far as allowing players who test positive still play so long as they are healthy enough to compete.

[Soxfan58]

4. God doesn't want

Brady playing with anyone but the Patriots.

[tazkcmo]

2. Works for me!

If the season is cancelled then the Chiefs can become the first NFL champion 2 years running by winning just one Superbowl!

[exboyfil]

3. Last year a cheap Mahomes

Are you sure you don't want to roll the dice? Deebo Sanders just broke his foot which is going to put a real challenge with the 49ers. The Ravens are really the only other team that could match up with KC in the AFC.