Page 26 - Florida Sentinel 6-25-21

Sports
Tampa Bay Bucs 2021 Tickets Are Sold Out
Joe Mixon Criticizes NFLPA For Accepting Restrictions For Unvaccinated Players
Winning the Super Bowl was good business for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs will play at full capacity this season and have already sold out all eight regu- lar-season games, plus both preseason games.
The arrival of Tom Brady created high demand for tick- ets last offseason, but the Buc- caneers didn’t play in front of a full stadium because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as they won the Super Bowl on their home field, the Bucs played in front of only 24,835 fans, or about 38 percent of
TOM BRADY
the 65,890 capacity at Ray- mond James Stadium.
This is believed to be the earliest in franchise history that the Buccaneers have sold out all their games.
The NFL announced up- dated COVID-19 protocols for the 2021 season, and it’s pretty clear that at least one player isn’t happy with them.
The new protocols, agreed upon by both the league and the NFLPA, lift most restrictions for fully vaccinated players, including the elimination of daily test- ing and mask requirements and full access to facilities such as weight rooms and spas. However, players who
JOE MIXON
have not been fully vacci- nated will still be required to undergo daily testing and wear masks. Those players
are also prohibited from eat- ing with teammates and en- gaging in marketing and sponsorship opportunities. Their travel will also be heav- ily restricted, as will their contact with friends, family, or other outside guests.
This did not sit well with Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon, who re- sponded to the new proto- cols by claiming that the NFLPA “is not for the play- ers.”
Calais Campbell Considering Retirement After 2021 Season
Sparks ESPN-Fox Bidding War With All-Time Audition
Been Interviewed By NFL
Robert Griffin, III
Deshaun Watson Has Not
Baltimore Ravens defen- sive lineman Calais Camp- bell is thinking about calling it a career after the 2021 sea- son.
Campbell, who remains a Pro Bowler entering his 14th NFL season, admitted re- cently that he has thought about retirement after the up- coming year.
“That’s something I’m still figuring out, I guess,” Camp- bell said, via Clifton Brown of the team’s official website. “Ikindoftakeitoneyearata
CALAIS CAMPBELL
time. I know that I’ve got this year in me for sure. I’m going to give what I have this year, and then we’ll reevaluate once the season ends.”
ROBERT GRIFFIN, III Robert Griffin, III has
emerged as a top target for both ESPN and Fox in football TV free agency.
ESPN has upped its offer after Fox showed heavy inter- est in Griffin as an NFL and college football analyst. Now both networks are waiting to see whether Griffin will try to play again or retires from the NFL to move into TV. Even if Griffin does decide to play, TV will be waiting for him when he ultimately retires.
The way Griffin, 31, has elevated his status as a poten- tial broadcaster is interesting. Though he does have impres- sive credentials as a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Rookie of the Year who has spent seven seasons in the NFL, he has not had a Peyton Manning-type pro career that makes him a no-brainer atop TV wish lists.
The NFL is conducting its own investigation into the sex- ual assault allegations against Deshaun Watson, but the Houston Texans star has not yet been given an opportunity to tell league officials his side of the story.
Rusty Hardin, Wat- son’s attorney, told KPPRC 2 in Houston this week that Watson has yet to be inter- viewed by anyone from the NFL. Hardin also said there are no talks ongoing about po- tential settlements with any of the 22 women who have filed civil suits against Watson.
Many assume Watson
DESHAUN WATSON
will either be suspended by the NFL or placed on the Commis- sioner’s Exempt List. The league probably wants to come to a decision before the start of the season, even if the lawsuits against Watson have the po- tential to drag into next year.
About Sexual Assault Cases
Saints' Alvin Kamara Joins NASCAR As Growth And Engagement Officer
Alvin Kamara an- nounced Sunday he was part- nering with NASCAR as a "growth and engagement advi- sor" for the racing body.
What Kamara will be doing in this new role is un- clear. But it isn't the New Or- leans Saints running back's first connection to the sport.
In February, the juice bar chain The Big Squeezy—co- owned by Kamara—part- nered with JD Motorsports to sponsor Gary Keller's No. 6 car driven by Ryan Vargas.
And he told reporters later in February that he was hoping to see NASCAR become more inclusive and diverse.
ALVIN KAMARA
"We've been hitting it on the head: It’s about di- versity," he said. "Just opening the gates to wel- come in new fans and new people that
may have had interest but did- n't feel comfortable or people that don't even understand the sport and may be indifferent about it but willing to give it a chance. I think there's a whole new set of possibilities that can come with what's going on right now."
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