No Practices Until August
July 20th, 2020
There’s fresh news in the quest to safely return Bucs football — and all NFL football — on time for the start of the 2020 regular season.
NFL.com has typed up a story on the latest agreements, and there are more to come, between the league and the players union.
In short, when veterans report on July 28, they’ll be looking at getting a Coronavirus test and then getting kicked out to go home and study online with teammates.
The final testing protocol agreed to by the NFL and NFLPA extends to the initial screening timeline, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, as players will be tested on the first and fourth days of camp, with two days of remote education in between. The idea behind this protocol is that waiting another day will aid in capturing the virus as it incubates. Therefore, veteran players who report on July would get a physical no sooner than Aug. 1.
So once players are deemed virus-free, they’ll get the typical pre-training-camp physicals and start a conditioning period — one that will not include guys in pads in a few days knocking the crap out of each other.
There is expected to be a weeks-long conditioning period before players put on pads for a regular practice. And the sides are still discussing how many, if any, preseason games will be played.
Maybe the pads come on in practice by Aug. 16, and maybe there’s a one preseason game in late August before opening Sunday on Sept. 13.
That appears to be the current best-case scenario for us football-starved peasants.
July 20th, 2020 at 7:02 pm
“when veterans report on Aug. 28”
I believe you mean July 28.
July 20th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
Great info Joe, sad as it is. Thanks. But…gotta think it’s the right call.
July 20th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
I noted something like six other teams have formally stated their season ticket holders can “opt out” of 2020’s season with no penalty of losing their seats for 2021–refuned and/or credit for next year.
So I’m a little surprised at the Bucs. So far, after raising 2020 ticket prices as the COVID19 just began to take a grip on us, they have also slapped season ticket holders with a “COVID19 amendment” to their agreement that merely says they will get a refund for games not played provided the tickets were purchased through the Bucs or Ticketmaster. Hmmm.
So, I’m hoping that SOON Brian Ford and the folks at One Buc give the fans an option. I’ve already spoken with my ticket rep about it a couple of weeks ago, but nothing heard since.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
Roy – the rep I spoke with last week told me to expect this week a “major, major” announcement regarding their ticket policy. But he said nothing about a COVID 19 amendment to their agreement. Can you point me to the amendment – have not seen any mention of one on their website……thanks
July 20th, 2020 at 8:19 pm
No Preseason games at all this year. The NFLPA is destroying everything.
Also, this from PFT:
“The NFL and NFL Players Association have reached agreement on one of the biggest lingering issues regarding the approach to pro football in a pandemic.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL has agreed to conduct daily COVID-19 testing.”
July 20th, 2020 at 8:19 pm
On a positive note, ME13’s annual training camp hamstring “injury” shouldn’t be a problem.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Preseason is cancelled. So that’s two games the Bucs will have to refund.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Doosh
On another positive note…after seeing that pic and those horrid numbers at least our uni’s won’t make us want to puke
July 20th, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Perhaps the NFL should be doing antibody tests as well?
I’m not a doctor but I’m thinking that would be a good piece of information to have.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
The NFL has “agreed” to daily testing…duh…what else were they going to do?
If they don’t mitigate with this testing we could end up with one guy taking an entire team’s playoff chances off the table when he infects a team or too many players.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:57 pm
Whatcha gonna do when the liberal agenda runs wild on you? Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, wear your mask and maintain a 6 ft safe zone brother.
Seriously though these protocols are getting more ridiculous by the day. Why not just agree to play touch football this season but while wearing gloves of course
July 20th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
St Pete..yes, would have to if they are going to catch any asymptomatic players.
GP…this is what Harvard Medical Says about the Antibody test…
“Because the blood test for antibodies doesn’t become positive until after an infected person improves, it is not useful as a diagnostic test at this time.”
July 20th, 2020 at 9:10 pm
BucsFanForever…don’t think I can post a URL here, but go to bucceneers website and do backslash “seasonpassterms” and you’ll see it about halfway down…ALL CAPS, “COVID19 AMENDMENT.”
Thanks for the info…I am betting they let us opt out…they are good folks…but odd it took so long.
July 20th, 2020 at 11:06 pm
The situation is same for all teams. I get that we have new QB – but BRADY is the GOAT who dons 6 Rings — and will lead Bucs with loaded weapons across the board > talent like Brady has never had, so even with no pre-season games, Bucs will be fine. And expect, or I should qualify – “that I expect” for Coach Brady to run an iteration of his offense the first 4-5 games. Godwin will kill it in the slot. ME stats may suffer early. Fans need to breathe….Brady should be fine.
The *wildcard* is how opposing D-coordinators choose to defend the Bucs O. Pass D? Bull Rush? Or go after immobile Brady and take their chances on big play?
Dang – so much intrigue – popcorn ready for Saints game.
July 20th, 2020 at 11:18 pm
Someone made my point while trying to belittle it.
A player who has antibodies has already been infected and recovered, thus they are *safe* to play.
I’m curious how many will test positive for those antibodies. Of course, we will never know, because that is one of the data points that cannot be reported because it’s a positive.
July 21st, 2020 at 1:15 am
LOL yeah those 2 days will solve everything.
And what happens when a player who tests positive was practicing with 20+ teammates the day before?
We just field a 26 man team and hope for the best?
This is all sorts of fubar’d
July 21st, 2020 at 1:28 am
The idea about distance chips on their unis is next level.
They can track everyone the player comes in contact with.
Everyone on the field should have to wear one during a game.
About time they used technology for something in the NFL.
July 21st, 2020 at 6:19 am
I’m a season ticket holder and I copied this from the Bucs website.
Relocated or Unplayed Games: If fewer than ten (10) total pre‐season and regular season Tampa Bay Buccaneers games are played at the Stadium during the season due to causes or circumstances within our control, at our sole discretion we will either: (1) reduce the total amount due by the face value of the ticket, as determined by the Buccaneers in its sole discretion, for the game(s) not played at the Stadium (the “Face Value”); (2) credit Member’s Pass account for the Face Value; or (3) refund Member the Face Value. If any scheduled Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game at the Stadium played without spectators, cancelled and not rescheduled, [or relocated outside of Tampa, Florida] (each, an “Affected Game”) due to any cause or circumstance whatsoever beyond our control, including but not limited to strike (including a National Football League Players Association strike), lockout (including an NFL lockout), civil violence, inability to procure material, failure of electricity or other utilities, restrictive governmental laws or regulations promulgated subsequent to the date of this Agreement, riots, insurrection, wars, inclement weather, fire or other casualty, acts of god, acts or threats of terrorism, global health emergencies, pandemics, epidemics and/or actual or anticipated public health crisis’ (each a “Force Majeure Event”), then Member remains obligated to pay all sums due under these Terms but we will credit your Pass account for the Face Value of such Affected Game. Any credit hereunder shall be applied towards the payment of season or single game tickets for the immediately succeeding NFL season. Any unused credit will expire after that NFL season and shall be forfeited. If any portion of a Buccaneers home game is played and subsequently cancelled, such game will not be deemed to have been “cancelled” for the purposes of this Agreement.
COVID-19 AMENDMENT – NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT FOR THE 2020 NFL SEASON, SHOULD ANY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HOME GAME(S) AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM BE CANCELLED OR PLAYED UNDER CONDITIONS THAT PROHIBIT FANS FROM ATTENDING, MEMBERS WHO PURCHASE SEASON PASS MEMBERSHIPS [EXCLUDES SUITES, HALL OF FAME CLUB, LEGENDS CLUB, OR ANY OTHER TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PREMIUM LICENSE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS TO SELECT EVENTS AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, EACH OF WHICH ARE GOVERNED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE AGREEMENTS] DIRECTLY FROM THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS OR TICKETMASTER AND WHOSE TICKET IS CANCELLED WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER (I) RECEIVE A FULL REFUND OF THE FACE VALUE PLUS ASSOCIATED FEES FOR ANY IMPACTED GAME; OR (II) APPLY THE FACE VALUE PLUS ANY ASSOCIATED FEES FOR ANY IMPACTED GAME TO A TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TICKET PURCHASE FOR THE 2021 NFL SEASON (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY).
July 21st, 2020 at 6:33 am
Antibody rest are very inaccurate. Even if a person receives an accurate antibody test result, researchers still don’t know whether having antibodies to the new coronavirus provide any immunity to reinfection.
July 21st, 2020 at 7:08 am
gp
Sadly as you correctly point out we do not know all that we need to know….thankfully new information is coming online daily with two vaccines getting close and therapeutics improving dramatically.
One thing we do not yet know however is how long the antibodies provide protection from reinfection…months…years..lifetime? They’ve already documented..including one young guy Covid cases in people who have already have it.
The problem with our debates here is that at the beginning there was far more that we didn’t know than we did…that is changing but it is taking time.
But I salute you GP for making the effort to stay informed.
July 21st, 2020 at 9:10 am
if I’m reading the #’s right from WHO and CDC this scare is blown way out of proportion…Less than 1% of people have ben infected with the virus and only 5 out of 100,000 have to be hospitalized while .04% have died from it with well over 70% being above 65 and them most younger have preexisting conditions that make them susceptible to said virus. I’m not saying don’t be cautious but I am saying society is being a little paranoid about getting sick from this.
July 21st, 2020 at 10:11 am
gp…didn’t try to belittle your question. Just thought you might want to know the answer to your question. I don’t hold grudges…. just giving you the answer to your question from Harvard Medical.
And because we don’t know how long the antibodies last to prevent future reinfection, it really doesn’t solve any problem regarding the potential for future infection.
July 21st, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Grace…in America is is .04. which is 4 percent.
Actually what I find kind of humorous, in a sad way, is that these players have access to the best doctors in the world to help them make their decisions. But we don’t. Yet some of us question their concern and their decision making process, and downplay things. Bizarre.
July 21st, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Gp
Sadly the antibody test is even more inaccurate than the regular covid test. Something on the order of 50% error rate. Not sure if its the test or sloppy lab work.