It looked like it was just a matter of time before a Covid-19 outbreak put the entire NFL season in jeopardy, and, unsurprisingly, it only took 4 weeks. And now, to make things even worst, the Tennessee Titans broke the league’s health and safety protocols.
The league had to reschedule the Titans’ Week 4 game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelersand pretty much reshape their entire schedule after multiple players and staff members tested positive a couple of days before the game.
Later, they deliberately broke the protocols by conducting a clandestine practice session even though the league had specifically stated that they had to shut down their facilities and suspend in-person workouts immediately.
Source: 5:20 pm CT Sept. 30, #Titans DBs worked out at Belmont. pic.twitter.com/IMYbtnxhRU
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 7, 2020
Tennessee Titans Could Face Unprecedented Punishment Over Unauthorized Practice
That’s why, according to NBC’s Pro Football Talk, the Titans are on the verge of a historic punishment from the NFL. The league, apparently, is even considering punishing the other teams for their outbreaks.
This league memo, dated 10/1, continues to circulate as evidence that Titans players were informed not to gather only after their workout @ MBA. But a league source confirms @PaulKuharskyNFL report that Titans (+Vikings) were told on 9/29 that in-person activities were prohibited pic.twitter.com/XjWbGzieEp
— Erik Bacharach (@ErikBacharach) October 8, 2020
“The Titans already faced a potentially significant punishment for alleged protocol breaches that fueled an outbreak of COVID-19. Given the news that the team apparently gathered to practice last week after expressly being told not to do so, the Titans could be facing a consequence the likes of which the NFL has never seen.There’s buzz in league circles of possible “historic” punishment for the Titans given the various violations,” the report read.
The story continued by stating that the Titans’ punishment could make the Patriots’ fines look like a parking ticket. Even so, the fact that this is happening even though the league had 6 months to prepare for this situation in advance is an embarrassment.
Hopefully, enforcing a huge financial penalty will be enough for teams to finally start taking this virus seriously and stop putting the players, staff members, and even the season in jeopardy.
