Whether during training or on the sidelines, Gruden wears his mask like a chin bar most of the time.
I am doing my best, he said after his team won over the New Orleans Saints on Monday.
I had the virus. I am doing my best. I am sensitive to the issue, but I have to announce the games. I just want to communicate in these situations. I apologize and if I am fined, I will pay it.
As this was the last question at the press conference, there was no relaunch, but it was the first time Gruden has publicly said he has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
During training camp, he was absent, and one of his assistants told the players that the coach was hospitalized because of the coronavirus.
Rumors then circulated that Gruden wasn’t really sick, but just wanted to make sure his players were careful.
In any case, for a man who says he is sensitive to the issue of the pandemic, he acts rather haphazardly about it.
So it cost him dearly! Because, according to the ESPN network, after Pete Carroll, of the Seattle Seahawks; Kyle Shanahan, of the San Francisco 49ers; and Vic Fangio, of the Denver Broncos, who were once fined $ 100,000 for violating NFL face covering policy, now it’s the turn of Gruden and Sean Payton, of the La Saints. New Orleans, to have to pay the same amount.
In all five cases, their teams were also hit with fines of $ 250,000.
By the way, there have been five confirmed positive COVID-19 tests in the NFL in the past week. None among the players, five among the staff.
I wonder if the affected staff members were working with the recalcitrant coaches.
The second week hurt
Several big names fell in battle in Week 2 of NFL activity, and the list could go on.
The New York Giants have lost their attacking core, running back Saquon Barkley, for the remainder of the season to a ligament injury to his knee. As for the 49ers, they will likely have to do without their excellent defensive end Nick Bosa for the same kind of injury.
The Niners have yet to confirm Bosa will require surgery, but they have already signed free agent Ziggy Ansah, who will try to replace the one who was named defensive rookie of the year in 2019.
The Super Bowl finalists are particularly devastated. Besides Bosa, they lost the services of their quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the game against the Jets. They were already without star tight end George Kittle and running back Raheem Mostert.
After Sunday’s game against the Jets, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan complained about the synthetic surface at MetLife Stadium, which he called dangerous. Unfortunately for him, his team are playing there again this week, against the Giants this time.
Ultimately, the Carolina Panthers lost the services of their versatile running back Christian McCaffrey for several weeks due to an ankle injury.
When the season began, many wondered if the shortened and reduced preparation of the preseason games was going to have an impact on the number of injuries this year. The question will probably come to the surface with the list of injured people growing daily.
The kickers’ training camp is over!
After an appalling first week, NFL kickers have made a remarkable comeback.
In total, they made 56 of their 61 placements for a 91.8% success rate, a 20% improvement from week one.
Twenty-two of the thirty-two kickers were perfect, hitting all their punches and converting between the posts.
Better yet, the five kicks that missed the mark were all over 50 yards.
The weekend’s finest show of composure belongs to Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker. The player was blocked by a convert in the second quarter, but he recovered well.
In overtime, he had the opportunity to give the victory to the champions with a punt of 53 yards. He did it, but there was an illegal face-off penalty.
So we started again five yards further. It was still a success, but the Chargers asked for a time out.
We did it again, still with 58 yards. It was still perfect, and the Chiefs won.
Finally, maybe the kickers really needed preseason games.
