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sports Diahuebs 31 December 2020

NFL cites outside influences for recent positive tests

( AP ) - The NFL cites
outside influences for the “We're doing calls with the
most recent set of positive teams headed or potentially
coronavirus tests, includ- headed to the playoffs,” he
ing exposures during the said. “To share what we have
holiday season. learned over five months and
how we can double down
There were 21 new con- as we enter the playoffs. We
firmed positive tests among had a call last night looking
players and 37 among other at planning for the offseason”
personnel in the league’s lat- for such items as cadence of
est round of testing for CO- testing and contact tracing.
VID-19. Dawn Aponte, the league's
chief administrative offi-
Dr. Allen Sills, the league's cer for football operations,
chief medical officer, referred stressed that the “protocols
to three sources of exposure: will not change as we head
household, outside medical into the postseason.”
providers, and community/
social settings. “We also issued a memo that
covered post-elimination
“We shared that message with protocols," she said. "They
all our clubs and the play- apply for seven days follow-
ers association,” Sills said ing (a team's) elimination,
Wednesday, noting that the and include daily testing
holiday season is not over. and other protocols that will effort.” Of those 240 games, 102 had ensure our fans could attend
He also mentioned that there remain in place. Following fans on hand, and the NFL the games, and safely,” said
has been widespread testing those seven days, the testing “From a football perspective, hit the million mark for at- Jeff Miller, the league's exec-
with family members “and as would be handed over to the one of the key things was the tendance last weekend. It utive vice president of com-
we've seen the numbers rise, club for how they would like ability for them to under- expects to have seven games munications, public affairs
clubs have seen that and tried to conduct that.” stand how these things were with fans in the stadium on and policy.
to test more family mem- working,” she said of the pro- Sunday when every team fin-
bers.” The NFL has played all 240 tocols, which continuously ishes the regular season. “As we are thinking about
Sills and his staff conducted games scheduled through were enhanced through- Feb. 7 and getting to the Su-
a call with the 32 clubs on Week 16, although there have out the season. “It has re- “These are testaments to per Bowl, we all think about
Tuesday as the league looks been several games moved to ally helped as well in people protocols and the clubs for the many weeks it has taken
toward the postseason for 14 new dates because of COV- following them and staying working so closely with pub- to get here with an apprecia-
teams and the offseason for ID-19 issues. safe.” lic health (backslash)officials tion and gratitude.”
the rest. Aponte called it “a Herculean and with health experts to

Browns delay practice for Steelers after 2 positive tests

(AP) — The Browns didn't begin first time since 2002 with a win. that previously this season. virus.
preparing for the Steelers on the
field, but via Zoom calls. The team has not yet identified the Cleveland's COVID list has been “That is 2020,” he said. "We are all
positive player and coach Kevin Ste- growing daily. The team is still with- prepared to adapt as necessary, really
Hardly ideal before their biggest fanski would not reveal which of his out its top four wide receivers, start- just take this thing day by day and fig-
game in decades. staff members may have to miss the ing safeties and two linebackers. Start- ure out a way to make sure that we
season finale. ing linebacker B.J. Goodson, whose are getting our work in.”
Cleveland had two more positive After learning of the positive tests, positive test was followed last week
COVID-19 tests — including one for the team closed its facility to do con- by numerous players being ruled out Stefanski did not have an update on
an assistant coach — on Wednesday, tact tracing and Stefanski said play- of the game against the New York Jets rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills, who
throwing their schedule into disorder ers were doing virtual meetings — because of close contact with him, was held out Sunday with COVID-
as the team gets ready to play Pitts- something that has become standard will sit out the regular-season finale. like symptoms. He was briefly on
burgh on Sunday with a spot in the in 2020. the reserve list last week before being
playoffs riding on the outcome. Three players — safeties Andrew activated and then getting sick. Ste-
The NFL is monitoring the Browns' Sendejo and Karl Joseph and tight fanski expects Wills back, but doesn't
The Browns, who have nine players situation to determine whether the end Harrison Bryant — were added know when.
currently on the COVID-19 reserve game needs to be moved. to the reserve list Tuesday. Sendejo is
list, will make the postseason for the also expected to be out Sunday. Stefanski said wide receivers Jarvis
“We will follow the medical guid- Landry, Rashard Higgins, Dono-
ance,” said Dawn Aponte, the league's Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s Chief van Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel
chief football administrative officer. Medical Officer, said the league is in- Hodge and linebacker Jacob Phillips
"At this moment we are planning to vestigating the rise in cases with the remained on schedule to return to
play on schedule and will take it from Browns. practice Thursday as long as they test
there. As always we try to remain negative once again.
flexible and adaptable, and everything “To date we don’t see any evidence of
remains on the table. As we continue transmission within the facility," he Joseph and Bryant can return for
to get the info, we will address it and said. "“I don’t think it would come Sunday's game if they continue to test
assess it accordingly.” as a surprise for a positive test in that negative.
market. The county that the Browns
Stefanski was awaiting word from the play in is one of the highest for inci- The Browns did have a good devel-
league as to when he can hold prac- dent rates in the country.” opment as starting right guard Wyatt
tice. It’s possible the Browns will do Teller was cleared to practice after
their on-field workouts in shifts — For Stefanski, chaos has become the missing two games with a sprained
offense and defense alternating time norm as the Browns (10-5) have been ankle. Cleveland's running game
on the field — as they’ve had to do among the teams hit hardest by the hasn't been the same without Teller.