🔢 Key Takeaways
- The NFL faced a Covid-19 outbreak before the season began. Thanks to their disaster preparedness planning and attention to detail, the league was able to isolate and trace contacts. This highlights how planning is essential during a pandemic.
- The recent false positive COVID-19 tests in the NFL highlight the need for confirmatory testing, while the successful NFL season demonstrates the importance of collaboration and compromise for achieving a common goal.
- The NFLPA wanted to prioritize the health and safety of players and staff above everything else by creating a 'bubble' similar to the NBA's and NHL's, but the NFL was against the idea.
- The NFL is taking measures to prioritize the safety of its personnel during the upcoming season, implementing a virtual football bubble and consistent protocols for testing, screening, and PPE requirements while acknowledging the impossibility of fully eliminating risks.
- Certain ethnicities and high BMI increase COVID-19 risk for players. 69 players opted-out of season due to pandemic with financial compensation. Daily testing required for entering facility, and transmission risks depend on virus shedding status.
- The NFL's model for preventing outbreaks through testing, contact tracing, and technology partnerships can provide valuable lessons for other communities. However, the resource-intensive nature of the system and criticisms of medical resource consumption must also be considered.
- The NFL is committed to preventing false-positive tests and improving testing procedures. By focusing solely on NFL samples and adapting protocols, they can prioritize community medical resources while still safely keeping players and staff healthy.
- NFL is taking steps to reduce COVID-19 risks, but players' union is concerned about admitting fans to the stands. Attendance policies vary by state, making it unclear how games will play out.
- The NFL needs greater transparency and trust with its players in order to ensure their safety, as changes were only made after preventable deaths occurred and players still express concern and distrust.
- NFL players are comfortable with taking risks and making sacrifices, which has made them more willing to play during the pandemic. In contrast, other professions, such as teachers, may not have the same mentality towards risk and sacrifice.
- While football players face higher risks for limited career earnings, the New York City teachers union prioritized health concerns and negotiated for delayed in-person learning with limited testing plans.
- The culture of prioritizing players' on-field value over their health is changing. The current NFL chief medical officer is leading the league in implementing science-backed safety measures to protect players from injuries like concussions and Covid-19.
- Individuals need to take responsibility and comply with guidelines such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Real-time monitoring and safe decision-making are crucial to success.
- The NFL is trying to address systemic racism and has pledged $250 million towards social justice initiatives, but more needs to be done by all of us to work towards a more perfect union.
- The NFL needs to go beyond redirecting money and address its own lack of black team owners. Policies like supporting H.R. 40 can demonstrate their seriousness about creating change. Continued activism is crucial.
- Athletes have the power to use their platform and leverage for social change, even if it does not directly impact their economic well-being. They may refuse to play games if necessary, but ultimately have a responsibility to fight for social justice.
📝 Podcast Notes
How NFL's Covid-19 Protocol Passed a Major Test
The NFL's Covid-19 protocol faced a major test when 77 people, including 44 players and 33 club employees, tested positive before the start of the season. However, the league's meticulous disaster preparedness planning came into play. As the league implemented isolation and contact tracing procedures, suspicions grew about the lab testing facility in New Jersey, as all 11 teams that had positive tests were tested at the same lab despite being in different locations. Fortunately, the suspicions were confirmed when it was discovered that the positive tests were the result of a lab error. This episode highlights the importance of thorough planning and attention to detail in navigating a pandemic.
The Importance of Confirmatory Testing and Collaboration in NFL COVID-19 Protocols
The recent false positive COVID-19 tests in the NFL highlight the importance of confirmatory testing. As the NFL season begins, the rapid response protocol and daily testing have drawn attention, raising questions about the feasibility of similar strategies in other professions, like school teaching. The interests and incentives of NFL owners differ from those of players. However, collaboration is necessary to implement the negotiated set of protocols that have made the NFL season possible despite the challenges. The partnership between NFL and NFLPA officials is essential to achieve a common goal, despite occasional disagreements. The professional relationship between these two groups is an example of how compromise and collaboration can lead to success.
The NFLPA's recommendation of a Time-Limited Safe Compartment (TSLC) or 'Bubble' during covid-19
The NFL and NFLPA had an extensive process to negotiate Covid protocols, which involved consulting experts in various fields. After considering all the options, the NFLPA recommended a time-limited safe compartment (TSLC) or 'bubble' similar to the NBA's and NHL's. The TSLC would have been at club facilities, with hotels adjacent, and all players and staff would have stayed there for two to four weeks. However, the NFL was against the idea, and it remains unclear why. The NFLPA's guiding principle is following science, and they believe that the health and safety of players and staff should be a priority over everything else.
NFL's Virtual Football Bubble and COVID-19 Protocols
Despite concerns and calls for a bubble-like setup, the NFL opted for a virtual football bubble with consistent protocols for testing, screening, and PPE requirements. The league acknowledges that this is a risk-mitigation equation, not a risk-elimination one, given the impossibility of keeping people locked in one location over seven months. The league's 2,500 players, spouses or significant others, children, and parents are all part of the medical practice, ensuring that everyone can get advice from the same trusted source quickly. The league's testing demands a return within 24 hours so that positive cases are immediately removed from their environment. The bottom line is that the NFL prioritizes the safety of its players, coaches, and staff while recognizing that practicality and mitigating risks are crucial factors in navigating a seven-month-long football season.
The Risks and Precautions for NFL Players During COVID-19
NFL players are not exempt from COVID-19 risk, with those of African-American, Hawaiian Islander, and Hispanic ethnicity, as well as those with a BMI over 28 or over 30 being at a higher risk. 69 players chose to opt-out of the season due to the pandemic, and were given $350,000 as one-time payment from the league. Those who opted-out without medical reason but for family concerns received $150,000, which is an advance salary for next year. Daily testing is required for everyone entering the facility to prevent false negatives and the spread of the virus. Risks of transmitting the virus between individuals depend on their virus shedding status.
How the NFL is Limiting COVID-19 Transmission
The NFL has successfully created an ecosystem that limits the transmission of COVID-19 through rigorous testing, contact tracing, and use of technology, such as tracking devices and partnerships with expert companies. The league's success in preventing outbreaks provides a model that other communities, including schools and nursing homes, could learn from. However, it is important to note that the NFL's system is resource-intensive and may not be feasible on a larger scale. The league has also faced criticism for consuming significant medical resources during a pandemic, particularly in states with high infection rates. Overall, the NFL's approach demonstrates that a combination of discipline, technology, and expert partnerships can serve as effective measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
NFL Adapts Testing Protocols to Avoid False-Positive Tests
The NFL is conscious of not taking medical resources away from the community while conducting their testing. A false-positive incident occurred due to a contaminated biosecurity hood caused by mixing samples from NFL sources and non-NFL sources. To prevent this from happening again, the lab will no longer mix up samples and instead focus solely on NFL samples. The incident served as an opportunity for the NFL to test their protocols and improve their testing and laboratory procedures. The lab involved in the false-positive incident was Bio-Reference Laboratories, and the NFL plans to continue using them.
NFL Adapts Operations to Mitigate COVID-19 Risks, Players Union Cautious about Fans
The N.F.L. has adapted operations to mitigate COVID-19 risks, such as ensuring players who arrive on the field are not infected, using a mouth-shield product, limiting time spent around each other, and utilizing the open-air environment. While some team owners want to admit fans to the stands, the players' union considers it a risk that could increase the spread of COVID-19. The union is not against fans in the stands, but they want it to be done thoughtfully and in a way that doesn't come in contact with the players. With varying views on COVID-19 safety measures in different states, it remains to be seen how NFL games with different attendance policies will play out in the coming weeks.
The ongoing issue of NFL player health and safety
The N.F.L.'s handling of player health and safety continues to be an ongoing issue. The league's current chief medical officer, Allen Sills, was not hired until 2017, many years after players were dying from preventable injuries such as heatstroke. The Players Association has expressed their concern and distrust in the league's protocols due to the historic relationship between the two organizations. It took the tragic deaths of players to finally acknowledge that changes needed to be made. In light of Covid-19, protocols have been put in place, but the N.F.L.P.A. has made it clear that if players feel unsafe for any reason, they should never be punished. This ongoing issue highlights the need for greater transparency and trust between the league and its players.
NFL Players' Willingness to Play During COVID-19 Pandemic
NFL players are willing to take risks, including playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, because they have already made so many sacrifices to get to where they are. The sorting process in football selects players who are comfortable with acting against their own self-interests, making them more willing to tackle and take on risks. Although the league initially faced issues with testing and safety protocols, players now feel comfortable and confident with the daily COVID-19 testing. In comparison, teachers in New York City are discussing going on strike due to unsafe workplace conditions and inadequate testing. It is unclear why the NFL has had less friction with its labor force, but the player mentality towards risk and sacrifice may contribute to their willingness to continue playing.
Incentives and Risks: A Look at Teachers and Football Players
The incentives for teachers and football players are vastly different, with the latter often risking their health for higher earnings and a limited career. While the N.F.L. may show some empathy for their players, making money remains a higher priority than player safety. This is evident not only in the league's history of denying brain injury as a product of football, but also in how day-to-day injuries are handled. In contrast, the New York City teachers union decided against striking due to health concerns, and the city agreed to delay in-person learning. They are now the only major U.S. school district committing to in-person learning this fall, with plans for limited testing.
The NFL's Commitment to Data-Driven Safety Measures
The culture of football prioritizes the value of players on the field over their health and safety. This mentality can be physically and emotionally damaging, yet it still pervades the sport. Despite a history of questionable medical practices, the current NFL chief medical officer is committed to leading the league with data-driven, science-backed safety measures. This includes not only addressing known issues like concussions, but also navigating new challenges like Covid-19. While the macho mentality of pushing through pain may still exist to some degree, there is a growing effort to prioritize player safety and use medical data to make the game safer for everyone.
Personal Responsibility is Key to Success of NFL's COVID-19 Protocol
Personal responsibility and compliance are key factors in the success of NFL's COVID-19 protocol. Although tests diagnose and contain diseases, it is individual choices and behaviors that prevent sickness. NFL players and staff display personal responsibility by wearing masks, staying physically distant, washing hands, avoiding gatherings, and staying away from sick people, both at the team facility and away from it. The success so far of NFL's COVID-19 protocol is due to this individual accountability. The exact number of positive tests needed to shut down the league or a team is hard to determine since it depends on distribution and close contacts. Real-time monitoring and safe decision-making are crucial to NFL's protocol.
NFL's Evolution towards Racial Justice and Equity
As the NFL strives to complete its season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, former player and union president Domonique Foxworth highlights the league's recent evolution towards addressing racial justice and equity. With nearly 60 percent of players being Black and a majority of team owners and senior executives being white, the NFL's previous handling of Colin Kaepernick's protest perpetuated the systemic racism that the league is now attempting to rectify. While the league has pledged $250 million towards social justice initiatives, Foxworth argues that more needs to be done. As we exist in a broader society, it falls on all of us to strive towards a more perfect union.
The NFL's Attempt to Cleanse Its Image and Address Race Issues
The NFL's recent actions to redirect money away from controversy is an attempt to cleanse their image and appear as allies of progress. However, to make a real impact, they need to address their own issues with race, such as the lack of Black team owners. They should adopt policies that demonstrate their seriousness about creating change, such as supporting H.R. 40, which calls for the government to study and develop a reparations plan. While the NFL is no more racist than most American institutions, significant progress can still be made. The recent boycotts and protests by NBA, MLS, and WNBA teams highlight the importance of continued activism, and it will be interesting to see what actions NFL players take when the season starts.
Professional Athletes' Role in Social Justice Movements
Professional athletes have shown empathy and civic responsibility by exercising their leverage to fight for social justice, even if it does not directly impact their economic well-being. If there were to be police-involved shooting or racial implications, athletes may refuse to play games, as they understand the power they hold. Despite being willing to go on strike for justice issues, Foxworth believes that the NFL is likely to follow the lead of basketball and only shut down for a week. However, if the pandemic or social unrest reaches devastating levels, a shutdown becomes possible. Overall, professional athletes have a responsibility to use their platform and leverage for social change.