Tag: patriots broncos game

Report: Patriots-Broncos in doubt after positive COVID-19 tests in New England

The game between Denver and New England might need to be moved again, which would be a logistical nightmare for the league.

First it was the Tennessee Titans dealing with an ongoing series of COVID-19 tests that forced schedule changes. Now it is the New England Patriots. Their game against the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago was pushed from Sunday afternoon to Monday night after Cam Newton tested positive, and last week’s contest against the Denver Broncos was similarly moved from Sunday afternoon to Monday, and ultimately pushed back a week, after two more positive tests including one from cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

The rescheduled contest is now back in doubt after news Friday out of New England.  Rumblings began early in the day Friday from Ryan Spagnoli from Pats Pulpit of SB Nation:

ESPN’s Mike Reiss was on the story to confirm that, along with Field Yates:

Depending on what happens from here, if the league is forced to move this game yet again, the NFL will be in a difficult spot, as pointed out by Adam Schefter:

 

Patriots-Broncos game postponed after another Patriots positive COVID test

With another positive COVID-19 test in the New England organization, the NFL postponed the Patriots game against the Denver Broncos.

The New England Patriots were scheduled to host the Denver Broncos this week, originally on Sunday afternoon. However, with recent positive COVID-19 tests to Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore, that game was moved to Monday night. With word this morning of another positive COVID-19 test in the Patriots’ organization, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the game is not going to be pushed back another week.

Shortly thereafter, Brian McCarthy, head of public relations for the league, sent this out:

As you can see, this complicates matters for not just the Patriots and the Broncos. New England has a bye week in Week 5, so the schedule is cleaner on their end. But the Broncos were slate to play the Miami Dolphins. Now that game is going to be impacted as well.

Simmering below the surface is some frustration in New England with the NFL and the NFLPA. Cornerback Jason McCourty recently blasted both groups:

I think outside of here, the people that don’t have to walk in our building — whether it is the league office, whether it is the NFLPA — they don’t care. For them, it is not about our best interest, or our health and safety, it is about, ‘What can we make protocol-wise that sounds good, looks good, and how can we go out there and play games?’ I think what I kind of learned personally throughout this situation is it is going to be up to us as individuals in this building to just really take care of one another.

If you get a chance to talk to the NFL or the NFLPA, I’d greatly appreciate you bringing up that point and letting them know. That’s something we talk about, and we are dealing with it. We’re moving forward and it’s obviously in the back of our mind.

During training camp, the league looked to be handling COVID-19 protocols and testing well. With the regular season underway, some cracks do seem to be forming. Hopefully the situation in New England, and in Tennessee, forces the entire league to pay strict adherence to the protocols in place, and tightens them up in areas that need to be addressed. Otherwise this will not be the last situation like this the league faces this season.