Food for thought on handling the virus in Frenzy and SACD...
This
FBG article breaks down the Return to Play agreement between the players and NFL.
Players with Covid will get a special Covid Related Illness List designation, so we will know who is or isn't out for Covid. They're also majorly loosening regular IR rules for the season in the NFL.
Some highlights from the article:
Quote:
To support players with illness and provide a roster buffer, the NFL will implement new injured reserve rules and provide exemptions for players diagnosed with COVID.
2020 injured reserve list changes:
- Teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve in 2020
- A player may return to the active roster after three weeks on injured reserve
- Teams have three weeks of practice to decide whether to activate a player designated to return
2020 COVID-related illness list and roster exemptions:
- A player diagnosed with COVID will be placed on a separate exempt list
- Teams will be given a roster exemption after a player with COVID receives medical clearance to return
- Roster exemption for one week if the player was on the exempt list for less than 4 weeks
- Roster exemption for two weeks if the player was on the exempt list for 4+ weeks
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Another key thing to consider is handling contracts for players who opt out for the 2020 season. That could be crippling to fantasy teams and beyond any realistic pre-planning.
Quote:
Be mindful that some players may opt out of the 2020 season
The NFL and NFLPA have yet to formally agree on a date to opt out of the 2020 season for COVID-related health concerns. Many players have raised concerns about their own health and the health of their families. None have formally announced an intention to opt out.
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And since the referenced FBG article was published, the players and league have agreed to Opt-Out terms;
Quote:
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-nflpa-r...stments-to-cba
The agreed-upon deal includes an allowance for 16-man practice squads, high-risk and voluntary opt-outs of participation and the absence of a preseason for 2020, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
For players who opt out of participating, high-risk candidates will receive a $350,000 stipend and their contract will toll, per Pelissero. Voluntary opt-outs will receive a $150,000 salary advance and their contract will toll as well. Opt-outs are due within seven days of the deal being finalized.
All of the CDC's defined "increased risk" categories -- e.g. moderate-to-severe asthma, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, etc. -- are covered as "high risk" under the deal, with the exception of high-BMI.
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Chiefs starting Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has already notified the team he's opting out. Granted, this isn't a skill position player, but he's the first of what could be several players to decide not to play in 2020.
I think both leagues should discuss these impactful changes pre-actively plan around them. I mean, how do we handle it if a player decides to opt out. Does their contract toll, is the team penalized? Do teams get a roster exemption for said players, etc. I've heard Todd Gurley is one player that is seriously considering opting out. Others have been very vocal as well (Russell Wilson, Stefon Diggs, etc).
I think we need to start discussing how we will handle players who opt out, and further discuss handling players that are designated with Covid Related Illness by the NFL.