Earlier this month, Raiders backup running back Devontae Booker was placed on the Reserve/Covid-19 List. On Thursday, they added two more players to the list, with one of them being a top defensive player. Second-year defensive end Maxx Crosby and running back Rod Smith were placed on the list, which means that they either tested
First big-name, high-profile Raiders player lands on Reserve/Covid-19 list
This is why Gruden did what he did. It is important that every player must do their level best to stay safe, to stay healthy. The back-up players must be ready to step up should a starter test positive for COVID. Maxx needs to test negative twice in 7 days to leave the COVID list. Imagine this happened during the season, before a key, critical game. And, imagine the flu or a cold is working its way through the locker room at the same time.
More importantly, the NFL needs to acknowledge the COVID test is not an accurate test. The test the NFL is using to provide a “next day” result is known to be less accurate. Waiting for a 2-3 day test result, or longer, is of little to no clinical value. A 20% fail rate is very high. Your typical, rapid test for strep or flu at the doctor’s office is 99% accurate. The 15 min rapid COVID test done at the hospital is fairly accurate, but is primarily used as a confirmatory since a person is already exhibiting COVID symptoms.
This season will be abbreviated. Only a question of number of games cut short
The teams have 80 players on their roster, countless staff and coaches, and several other employees who come and go each day to/from the practice facility. Now, for each of those people, they go home to another set of people who interact with yet another set of people who interact with another set of people . . . feels like a Faberge shampoo commercial (Google it, youngsters!). That’s alot of people who may have been in contact with or have the virus. Not to mention all of those who touched a surface before them. That really makes me wonder how the NFL really thinks they are going to pull this off safely.
Love your reference to the Faberge shampoo commercial. What you said is so true, Michelle.
Left unsaid, though, is how many other players were in contact with Maxx, that is in the same room, how close, physical contact, etc. Are those people who were in contact with Maxx in a 14-day quarantine too? If not, why not? Will they be tested too? It is a mess of a “plan.”