06-18-2020, 11:15 PM
(06-18-2020, 02:46 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: I think the NFL will do their best to try to start the season on time, whether it's playing with no fans or whatever form it takes. My concern is what happens if teams start getting hit with increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. What if a few teams get hit pretty hard, while other teams stay relatively free of cases?
It seems like it could lead to a competitive balance issue. I'm sure they've already talked about that and ways to deal with it, but it's going to be interesting to see how they address the different potential problems that may (and probably will) arise.
I listened to Mike Florio and Chris Simms talking about it. They were pointing out that like the strike season of 87 they are going to have to get replacement players on speed dial...but the issue is that you might have replacement players playing next to and across from NFL players. Basically the idea of having an NFL level pass rush coming at your QB when you have a replacement LT out there protecting his blind spot would be the issue.
During the strike you had replacement guys at every position, but the thought of putting a real NFL QB out there with replacement protection and so on is an odd thought. I'm optimistic for a 2020 season, but I don't see how NFL players aren't going to start missing games to the point where it's half an NFL team and half a taxi squad just trying to not get anyone killed.
Maybe even some high-profile players see the risk and say no way and the players try to get things called off.