It is possible the Titans' game against the Bills on Sunday is moved to Monday or TuesdayGETTY IMAGES
More positive tests were reported this morning from within the Titans organization, and players on both the Titans and Bills “have been informed that the NFL is discussing multiple alternative scenarios” for Sunday’s scheduled game, according to sources cited by Dianna Russini of ESPN.com. Those options include “postponing it until Monday or Tuesday.” However, moving Sunday’s game “would create an issue for the Bills, who are scheduled to play the following Thursday night.” Sources said that if Bills-Titans is moved to Monday or Tuesday, the league “is discussing delaying" Buffalo's Week 6 game against Kansas City "until Saturday, Oct. 17” (ESPN.com, 10/8). NFL.com's Kevin Patra notes with the Titans' bye "burned last week and the Bills set to play next Thursday night, the league is in a tough spot trying to figure out how to play the game." The league is "reviewing and trying to concoct a pathway to play the game, but beyond adding an additional week at the end of the year, the options are thin" (NFL.com, 10/8). In Buffalo, Jay Skurski notes the Titans' headquarters "remain shut down Thursday for a 10th straight day, making it increasingly unlikely -- if not impossible -- that Sunday's game ... will go on as scheduled" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/8).
OPTIONS ARE LIMITED: The Washington Post’s Mark Maske notes if Bills-Titans cannot be played Sunday, there is “no convenient way for that game to be rescheduled.” The Titans “already are to play 13 straight weeks,” and options “would seem to include cancellation, forfeit or adding Week 18 to regular season” (TWITTER.com, 10/8). NFL Network’s Judy Battista notes a forfeit “hadn't been discussed” as of yesterday, but the latest positive tests brings into question “if that changes as the situation continues.” There is “no place to put a rescheduled game unless they create a week 18.” The Titans’ situation has “created a lot of anger around the league” (TWITTER.com, 10/8).
PENALITIES COULD BE COMING: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson cited sources as saying that the Titans are "expected to face some form of penalties stemming from safety protocol violations already uncovered during an ongoing review" being conducted jointly by the NFL and NFLPA. Sources said that the Titans' adherence to the use of PPE and Kinexon SafeTag devices -- which are used for contact tracing -- has been a "focal point." The sources also confirmed that the league and union are "investigating whether Titans players organized an unauthorized workout during the emergency bye week, after being told specifically by the league office not to engage in any in-person activities during a shutdown of team facilities." Two GMs indicated that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "appeared to make a pointed example of the Titans during at least part of Monday’s conference call with head coaches and GMs." The GMs added that the call "took time to drill down on a photo 'slideshow' that featured different scenarios in which franchises had violated mandated safety protocols." Both GMs said that following some of the information shared in the call, they were "adamantly in favor of the NFL levying significant punishments against franchises found to be violating COVID-19 protocols" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/7).
MAKING THEM AN EXAMPLE: ESPN’s Dan Graziano noted the NFL will make any discipline handed out to the Titans "well known to everyone so that other teams understand that there are consequences.” The league is "serious” about enforcing their protocols and meting out discipline, but the NFL needs "players and the staffers and the coaches and everybody to actually follow” the protocols. Graziano: "There’s some concern in Tennessee that’s not what happened” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/7). NFL Network’s Peter Schrager: “This is turning from, ‘This stinks for the Titans,’ to the NFL saying, ‘We might have to do some serious disciplinary action if this is what happened. Get your stuff in order here because the season lies in the balance’” (“Good Morning Football,” NFL Network, 10/8).
TIME TO FOR TEAM TO TAKE BLAME: Nashville-based Montgomery Bell Academy Headmaster Brad Gioia yesterday confirmed that the Titans "worked out together at the school on Sept. 30, which was a day after eight members of the Titans tested positive" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/8). In Nashville, Gentry Estes writes what "could have been largely explained by the Titans as honest mistakes and misfortune would no longer appear that way if the team or its players knowingly violated protocol after the onset of this outbreak." Players gathering on their own "would have extended the virus’ incubation period, endangered more players, lengthened the timeframe for COVID-19 to sideline the team and destroyed any Titans’ argument that they’ve followed the NFL’s protocols." If it "can be proven that the team's management was aware of players' actions, the Titans might want to brace for punitive carnage from the NFL." For the league, this "won’t be about penalizing the Titans as much as it will be setting an example for the rest of the league" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/8). NBC's Mike Florio said, "I’ve now decided to not extend the benefit of the doubt to the Titans. I’ve decided not to try to find a way to make this look like a witch hunt. We found the witch. Sometimes you find the witch” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 10/8).
