The Saints are "trying to do something about" the lack of a league bubble by "inventing a semi-bubble," according to Peter King of NBCSPORTS.com. The team beginning Wednesday has "contracted with the Loews Hotel to rent four floors of the fashionable borderline French Quarter hotel, so that most of the team's 100 Tier 1 and 2 employees (all but some of the team doctors, cafeteria workers and security people) and many of the players would be able to quasi-quarantine in the luxe hotel till opening day." Saints coach Sean Payton on Saturday said, "It's not a bubble. It's a sequester." King notes the Saints have "about 180 employees" including Tier 1 (coaches, GM, personnel people), 2 (facilities, doctors, support staff) and players (80). Meanwhile, the Panthers are "using Bank of America Stadium in some odd ways." Every one of the 80 players reporting in camp "has his own suite on the loge level of the stadium, with open windows to ensure air circulation; in the suites, players use tablets to attend virtual team and position meetings" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/3).
