2 min read • August 31, 2020
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Most changes to policy that the NFL enacts make sense. The latest decision does not, outside of optics. The league decided to not have sideline reporters, cheerleaders or mascots when play resumes. This decision does next to nothing to prevent COVID transmission. Not having any fans would be a more meaningful step of social distancing. If a team has a solid limited attendance plan that passed muster, it could work but in general fans in stands are magnitudes more dangerous than KC Wolf for the Chiefs. After all his costume is already the ultimate in social distancing. Furthermore, a sideline reporter, cheerleader and mascot are exponentially easier to control than fans. Add in another level of difficulty for intoxicated fans.None of these newly banned workers are ever anywhere near the players on the field or on the sidelines. In my almost two decades on an NFL sideline, I never came within six feet of a sideline reporter, cheerleader or mascot on the field. Certainly the game will go on without these three elements, but my point is that this is not stopping the spread of COVID.
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