Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged he did not fully adhere to the policy during Week 1GETTY IMAGES
The NFL has sent a memo to teams "reminding them that face coverings and social distancing are required for everyone with bench-area access," according to Gary Klein of the L.A. TIMES. Rams coach Sean McVay "acknowledged he did not fully adhere to the policy" during the "SNF" matchup against the Cowboys on NBC. McVay: "I've been getting blasted all day about it." He admitted, "I know I was definitely one of the main culprits of not following what the league wants, and I will definitely be aware of that and do better next week" (L.A. TIMES, 9/15). More McVay: "I figured that memo was directed at me." ESPN.com's Lindsey Thiry noted in contrast to McVay, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, when shown on the NBC broadcast, "appeared to wear his mask throughout the 2-hour, 56-minute game" (ESPN.com, 9/14). Raiders coach Jon Gruden had a response similar to McVay's, saying, "I'm sure they’re directing that at me. I've got to do a better job of keeping my mask over my face. It was really hot. You have a headset on and it's hard to communicate at times with that mask" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/15). ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted the "sharply worded message," written by NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent, came in response to "wide variance in compliance" during Week 1 (ESPN.com, 9/14).
THROUGH THE FOG: In K.C., Pete Grathoff reported Sleepnet Corporation President & CEO Tom Moulton, whose New Hampshire company makes face masks and shields, was "chagrined" to see Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s face shield fogging up on Thursday night. So, Sleepnet Corporation "shipped a couple of face shields to the Chiefs on Friday morning," so Reid "could have them for Sunday’s game against the Chargers if he so chooses." Moulton said that the company "previously sent masks to the Atlanta Falcons." Grathoff notes the "key to the anti-fogging aspect of a face shield is a gel that keeps the wearer’s vision clear" (K.C. STAR, 9/15).
