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Diahuebs 8 OctOber 2020

NFL looking at "several" protocol incidents with Titans

(AP) — The NFL's investiga- "The virus is still very much a threat
tion into how Tennessee turned not only to our season, but to the
into the league's first COVID-19 safety of everyone in our communi-
outbreak found “several specific ty,” Mayer said in a statement.
incidents" of the Titans possibly Buffalo coach Sean McDermott is
breaking protocols dealing with busy preparing his Bills until told dif-
the coronavirus pandemic, ac- ferently. He said no one's perfect and
cording to a person with knowl- they're all fighting an uphill battle
edge of the probe. with how easily COVID-19 spreads.
His Bills have had no positives after
Also, the headmaster of a private beating the Raiders 30-23 in Las Ve-
school in Nashville confirmed to gas last week.
The Associated Press on Wednesday “We have a lot of trust and faith in the
that several Titans, including quar- league,” McDermott said of playing a
terback Ryan Tannehill, practiced game in Tennessee.
on its field Sept. 30. That was a day Pushing Bills-Titans to Monday
before the NFL first postponed Ten- night is challenging because Buffalo
nessee's game with Pittsburgh before is scheduled to host Kansas City on
rescheduling to Oct. 25. Thursday, Oct. 15. That would force
the NFL into further rearranging of
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the schedule.
warned all 32 teams Monday that fol- on condition of anonymity because got it. The White House has got it. The Bills aren't thinking of a forfeit
lowing league protocols is mandatory the investigation is ongoing. The NFL has got it," Zimmer said. right now.
and that violations forcing changes in “It’s a crazy time.”
the schedule could lead to forfeiting The league is attempting to play a full The Patriots are dealing with their “We’ll handle that when the time
games. schedule amid the pandemic without own COVID-19 cases. Cornerback comes,” Bills safety Jordan Poyer
Tennessee had two more players test teams isolated in a bubble as other Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Defen- said. “Right now, we’re acting like
positive Wednesday, a person familiar sports have done to protect players sive Player of the Year, announced on we’re playing. And when that mo-
with the the situation said. The Titans and staff from the virus. No games social media he had tested positive ment comes, where they tell us this,
placed starting wide receiver Corey were affected through the first three and is asymptomatic. Quarterback that or the other, I think that’s when
Davis on the reserve/COVID-19 list weeks of the season. Cam Newton was placed on the re- we’ll worry about it.”
hours later, bringing their total to 22 Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medi- serve/COVID-19 list Oct. 3, with Bills quarterback Josh Allen said this
cases with 20 returned since Sept. 29. cal officer, told Judy Battista of the a defensive tackle from the practice virus can be as simple as one person
NFL Network the league has looked squad added Tuesday. going to a grocery store, and Balti-
The Titans cannot return to their fa- into everything from video inside the New England canceled practices more wide receiver Marquise Brown
cility before Saturday at the earliest, Titans' facility, interviewing everyone Wednesday and Thursday. They are said the test results show how cau-
needing back-to-back days without a involved and even studied seating scheduled to host Denver on Sunday. tious players must be away from the
positive test result. They haven't been charts on buses and planes. team facility.
on a field since beating the Vikings Sills also made clear the league ex- The NFL already postponed the Pa-
31-30 on Sept. 27. The NFL has to pected positive cases all along. triots' last game a day before New “It’s not just about you,” Brown said.
decide if they play Buffalo (4-0) as England lost in Kansas City 26-10 on “It’s about the whole NFL.”
scheduled Sunday, postpone and re- “The exercises are not just about did Monday night. The Chiefs host the Asked about the chances of the NFL
schedule or forfeit. someone follow the protocols or not Raiders on Sunday; Las Vegas placed completing this season, Miami quar-
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Tues- but, are there vulnerabilities we can defensive tackle Maurice Hurst on terback Ryan Fitzpatrick said he
day any discipline would be some- tighten up, what can we learn and the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. thinks everyone is very interested in
thing for the NFL to discuss. where can we get better and how can what happens the next few days.
we improve going forward,” Sills said. Newton and the Titans make up the “Everybody’s confidence level is
“I don’t expect anything either way,” “And we’ve already made a number of 11 confirmed positive tests among probably a little less than a few weeks
Vrabel said. those changes.” players from testing last week. The ago,” Fitzpatrick said. "Two weeks ago
The Titans were featured with “sev- Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said NFL also said there were 15 new everybody was riding high. It’s amaz-
eral specific incidents” during a call his Vikings went over the new proto- confirmed positives among personnel ing to see what happened in Tennes-
Monday with the league’s general cols Wednesday for clubs having been in results announced Wednesday out see so quickly.” Cleveland quarter-
managers and coaches, a person with been exposed to a team dealing with a of 37,002 tests given to 7,981 players back Baker Mayfield had a simple
knowledge of the NFL’s investigation COVID-19 outbreak. Having played and team personnel last week. suggestion to keep all of the NFL
said. Another person familiar with Tennessee helps his Vikings under- Both Sills and Dr. Thom Mayer, the playing. “Just wear your masks,”
the call said photos from the Titans’ stand the significance of following NFL Players Association's medical Mayfield said. "We all want to play
cafeteria were shown. the league's guidelines to stay safe. director, said the key is everyone fol- football. Everybody has to do it. Just
Both spoke to The Associated Press “You look at the Pentagon, they’ve lowing the protocols. do it.”

Jimenez's penalty gives Mexico 1-0 win over Netherlands

(AP) — Wolverhampton striker Raul Ji- It was De Boer's first match in charge of the na- the break, but Jimenez shot across the face of the
menez converted a penalty to give Mexico a tional team since succeeding Ronald Koeman, goal in the 12th minute and Jesus Corona shot
1-0 victory over the Netherlands on Wednes- who quit to join Barcelona after two years of re- just wide after a poor clearance by Krul. The
day in a friendly that marked Frank de Boer’s juvenating the Dutch squad. Dutch keeper made amends in the second half
first match as the Dutch coach. “Of course it's a bad feeling. You always want to when he pulled off a sharp save to deny Corona.
win,” De Boer said, although he added he did not At the other end, Talavera saved shots from De-
Jimenez scored from the spot on the hour mark play his strongest side with an eye on two Nations pay and Steven Berghuis in the goalless first half
after Nathan Ake had fouled him in an empty Jo- League matches over the next week. and had little to do after the break until the final
han Cruyff Arena. The Netherlands twice came He picked two debutants, left back Owen Wi- minutes against a Dutch attack lacking the flu-
close to equalizing in the 88th minute, but sub- jndal and midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. He also ency it developed under Koeman.
stitute Luuk de Jong headed straight at goalkeeper gave goalkeeper Tim Krul his first international
Alfredo Talavera and Memphis Depay smashed start in five years. The Netherlands takes on Bosnia in Zenica on
the rebound against the bar from close range. Sunday and Italy in Bergamo on Wednesday in
The visitors had two good opportunities before the UEFA Nations League.