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Would it suffice us?

Milton : 7/5/2020 5:30 am
When I think about all the contingencies and possibilities concerning the upcoming NFL season, I'm reminded of the seder song, Dayenu.

All I want is to be able to watch the Giants play football this Fall. Winning and losing, quality football, that's not as important to me as the simple entertainment of turning on the TV and watching my boys in Blue once a week.

So here's my question: if they determined that the only wise way to put a product on the field with acceptable risk to player health was to limit all preparation to zoom meetings so that the only time the players actually suit up and physically interact is on game day, would it suffice us? Would that be better than no football at all in your mind? My answer is yes.

I understand what it would mean to the quality of the game. I understand that it would put the Giants at a significant disadvantage vs the Cowboys and Eagles (given the new coaching staff and new systems on both sides of the ball). I'm not saying it should be the NFL's plan A or plan B or plan C, but if all those plans are nixed for health reasons and we're left with it as plan Z, I'll take it and I won't complain. It's still football.
Nobody will be up to speed  
Sneakers O'toole : 7/5/2020 6:07 am : link
or in game shape. Hitting isn't natural, these guys need the summer work to get their bodies used to the punishment.

If all they do is teleconferencing, non covid health issues will be a concern.
If they can not practice with each other  
George from PA : 7/5/2020 6:08 am : link
Players tested, known, trace contacted for the most part.....they won't be playing ....facing the risk of an entire new group of players each week.

Neither of you answered the question  
Milton : 7/5/2020 6:14 am : link
I recognize what it would mean to the quality of the game. The question: is it better than nothing if they feel that's the only acceptable option?
I don't think they would do it  
Sneakers O'toole : 7/5/2020 6:23 am : link
for the reason I stated. Covid isn't the only health concern. You'll see a rash of injury without acclimating to the physical nature of the sport.
Let me break it down this way...  
Milton : 7/5/2020 6:35 am : link
--The Networks only care about eyeballs on game day. That's what they are paying for. They aren't televising practice.
--The owners only care about revenues. Game day is what generates revenues. Practices don't generate revenues.
--Players aren't paid because they practice, they are paid because they generate eyeballs on game day.

So the only thing that is absolutely essential for the NFL to have a season is that the players show up on game day and put on a 3-hour show (not to be confused with a 3-hour tour). That's what gives the advertisers the eyeballs they are willing to pay the networks for and the revenues from the advertisers is what gets the networks to pay billions to the owners who then give half of those billions to the players. Meaning if they ultimately decided to limit player and employee exposure at the workplace to its absolute minimum and still put a product on TV, my plan Z is the way to go.

I'm not saying they should go directly to plan Z, they should first explore the practicality of plans A through Y, but I could live with plan Z if that's what they ultimately agree on. Would such a plan mean more injuries than is typical for an NFL season? Maybe yes, maybe no. It could mean just the opposite for all we know. Injuries occur during practice, too. Lots of them.
RE: I don't think they would do it  
Milton : 7/5/2020 6:39 am : link
In comment 14928932 Sneakers O'toole said:
Quote:
for the reason I stated. Covid isn't the only health concern. You'll see a rash of injury without acclimating to the physical nature of the sport.
We see a rash of injuries anyway. And it's an even playing field. It's not as if some will be battle-tested and others won't be. It will just be something coaches and trainers have to manage wisely.
Sneakers...  
Milton : 7/5/2020 6:42 am : link
Also, the question wasn't do you think they would do it, the question is: would you rather that than no football at all? It's not about what's acceptable to the owners and players (that's for them to decide), it's about what's acceptable to the fans.
I would cancel  
Gman11 : 7/5/2020 6:43 am : link
my Sunday Ticket as soon as they announced it. I'm not paying to watch a bunch of crap and that's what it would be.
Not interested in that quality of football.  
Giantgator : 7/5/2020 7:02 am : link
Daniel's life insurance premium would be astronomical.
Your premise is wrong  
George from PA : 7/5/2020 8:01 am : link
Practicing with same players is safer then playing against different players...

So it is more likely they only practice and not play....under you scenario.
RE: Your premise is wrong  
Milton : 7/5/2020 8:17 am : link
In comment 14928956 George from PA said:
Quote:
Practicing with same players is safer then playing against different players...

So it is more likely they only practice and not play....under you scenario.
Huh??? Advertisers aren't going to pay networks to televise practices and not games. What's the point of risking your health to practice if you don't play games??? You are being purposely silly because you can't possibly be that stupid. No offense, but your sarcasm missed the target by a country mile!
Yes  
adamg : 7/5/2020 8:23 am : link
If He had given us Sunday NFL Countdown in August, Dayenu.
If He had led us to East Rutherford in September, Dayenu.
If He had given us the Daniel Jones in prodigious form, Dayenu.
If He had brought us into the Land of Meaningful December Football, Dayenu.
If He hoisted a Lombardi for us amid this fucking shithole of a year, Dayenu.

*Everyone now* dy Dayenu! dy Dayenu! dy Dayenu! Dayenu Dayenu!
:  
Big Al : 7/5/2020 9:24 am : link
You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
...  
Mdgiantsfan : 7/5/2020 9:43 am : link
I would say yes as well! Obviously the safety of everyone is what’s most important, but if it could be done relatively safely I’d be for football in the fall. Heck I watch preseason games, so seeing a decreased quality of play is not foreign 😂
Not for me  
Mad Mike : 7/5/2020 11:00 am : link
There's a point at which a poor quality product is worse than no product, and I think this would be that poor. I also disagree with your dismissal of increased injury risk = repetition is a very important part of conditioning the body, and I think a complete lack of practice would very seriously elevate the risk of injury, which is not something I want to see.

I think there's plenty of room to have a diminished season that is still very worthwhile. I don't think a season without any in-person practice would qualify.
As silly as this idea sounds on first glance  
Dave on the UWS : 7/5/2020 12:27 pm : link
I think they are headed in that direction. NFLPA wants as little chance of contracting COVID as possible. This would be it.
couple thoughts  
GiantsFan84 : 7/5/2020 12:48 pm : link
i don't care if the product isn't as good this year. and i'm already accepting to the giants sucking this year. so i don't have excitement for the giants being good this season as much as i do just the NFL in general. i want something to look forward to and to watch.

don't get me wrong. i will watch every giants game even if they suck. but until they give me a reason to be excited for them as a team, i'm tempering my expectations and excitement for them as a team. i am excited to see jones hopefully progress, the new draft picks, and barkley.

i am looking forward to the gambling and fantasy football more than the giants though. i'm in many fantasy leagues. i'm 36. one of my leagues is with all my high school friends and it's really the glue that holds us all together at this point in our lives. i have two others with former coworkers where this is my only interaction with them due to family and work obligations. it's important to me to keep these relationships and fantasy helps with that. so i really want to keep fantasy around this year for that as well as the competition.

and i want some form of daily distraction. i want to be able to read about sports and fantasy. i want something to distract me from all this other crap.
Its unsafe to have large groups because of covid  
Biteymax22 : 7/5/2020 1:16 pm : link
But its also unsafe for football players to try and play a game with no practice of contact prior to game day. You’ll see serious injuries all over the place and the lack of practice of form tackling will probably lead to a huge number of concussions.

With all that being said there are some things you can do to spread things out. Have offenses and defenses practice on different fields and only interact with each other 1 or 2 days a week. When its 1st string, only the 1st string players are there while 2nd string is on another field. Then they switch. In other words only 22 guys together at once.

If they revolve practice times, they can also separate the offense and defense in the locker rooms as well.
Honest question  
Tim in VA : 7/5/2020 1:59 pm : link
What percentage of players do you guys think are actually social distancing, avoiding contact with others, etc? On that same note, what percentage of you are? I read these threads and it's as if we think these players are all quarantined at their houses scared of this virus. The reality is, most of these guys, and I'd bet most of us, are socializing quite often.

If they cannot practice  
US1 Giants : 7/5/2020 2:14 pm : link
and get into playing shape, I fear major injuries while being throw into real games. I would rather not be playing until the players could be game ready.
RE: Honest question  
joeinpa : 7/5/2020 2:27 pm : link
In comment 14929053 Tim in VA said:
Quote:
What percentage of players do you guys think are actually social distancing, avoiding contact with others, etc? On that same note, what percentage of you are? I read these threads and it's as if we think these players are all quarantined at their houses scared of this virus. The reality is, most of these guys, and I'd bet most of us, are socializing quite often.



👍. Many people are moving on. Whether you agree with them for doing so, or are appalled, that s what s happening.
This approach  
Giant John : 7/5/2020 5:45 pm : link
Would lead to a greater number of injuries. If the choice is no practice only I would pass.
Since we're on a Passover theme here for this discussion,  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/5/2020 6:45 pm : link
my 2 cents is that it will take an act of G_d not far short of the partition of the Red Sea to have a football season in 2020.
RE: RE: Honest question  
Jim in Tampa : 7/5/2020 6:55 pm : link
In comment 14929060 joeinpa said:
Quote:
👍. Many people are moving on. Whether you agree with them for doing so, or are appalled, that s what's happening.

Record numbers of Covid cases are being reported. Whether you’re appalled by that because you’ve been respecting others in your community by wearing a mask and practicing social distancing or you’re a selfish person who insists on “moving on” regardless of the impact of YOUR actions on others…that’s what’s happening.
BINGO!  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/5/2020 7:22 pm : link
.
RE: This approach  
Milton : 7/5/2020 8:16 pm : link
In comment 14929095 Giant John said:
Quote:
Would lead to a greater number of injuries. If the choice is no practice only I would pass.
Or it may lead to fewer injuries. Some things are counter-intuitive. A lot injuries happen on the practice field and a huge percentage of injuries that happen during a game are of the non-contact variety.

I think a bigger problem than increased injuries will be increased penalties, especially on offense (false starts, illegal motion, illegal man down field, etc). On defense you'll see more blown coverages. Translation: more three-and-outs, more big plays.

That's gonna be the case no matter the solution. New coaching staff, second-year QB, young team overall: the deck is stacked against the Giants this year regardless of the plan, because even the most optimistic plans immensely limit the amount of practice and the number of participants per practice. Being on the smarter side will be more of an advantage this year than in years past. Same goes for veteran experience.
Not worth it  
M.S. : 7/6/2020 4:33 am : link

Why bother?

Cancel the season.
If it becomes filled with political messages  
Rolyrock : 7/6/2020 6:29 am : link
then goodbye to football. To me sports should be an " escape" from everyday problems etc. I am in my 50s, so I ran the gamut as a Giant fan. During this pandemic I am surprised how much I dont miss sports anyway.
RE: Neither of you answered the question  
upnyg : 7/6/2020 8:38 am : link
In comment 14928931 Milton said:
Quote:
I recognize what it would mean to the quality of the game. The question: is it better than nothing if they feel that's the only acceptable option?

No, not better. We will see all kinds of injuries...not worth the risk.

RE: Honest question  
Brown_Hornet : 7/8/2020 10:59 am : link
In comment 14929053 Tim in VA said:
Quote:
What percentage of players do you guys think are actually social distancing, avoiding contact with others, etc? On that same note, what percentage of you are? I read these threads and it's as if we think these players are all quarantined at their houses scared of this virus. The reality is, most of these guys, and I'd bet most of us, are socializing quite often.
I won't go in a store without a mask and won't go down an aisle in the grocery if some dumbass is there not wearing a mask.

We are going to attempt workouts on grass but kids will have to maintain 6' and staff will be masked. It's not "football practice" just getting the athletes out of their homes.
In 2 weeks, we can add footballs. They can only be handled by players with gloves.

Zoom installs are pretty much it right now.
RE: If it becomes filled with political messages  
SGMen : 7/8/2020 2:06 pm : link
In comment 14929163 Rolyrock said:
Quote:
then goodbye to football. To me sports should be an " escape" from everyday problems etc. I am in my 50s, so I ran the gamut as a Giant fan. During this pandemic I am surprised how much I dont miss sports anyway.
We must be "brothers from another mother" because I feel EXACTLY the same way.
I am a combat veteran, born in the 1960's and I bleed red, white, and blue. If the NFL isn't a fun escape for me than I will find other ways to spend my time: family, outdoors, volunteering, farming, church, beach, etc.
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