Robert Griffin III wonders if player ‘safety is actually being taken into account’ after gutsy, matinee loss
Some Baltimore Ravens gamers expressed disappointment about what has come to be one particular of the biggest COVID-19 outbreaks in experienced sporting activities.
Right after Wednesday’s 19-fourteen decline to the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore gamers questioned a deficiency of preparation as well as some of the NFL’s decisions in the course of a time when at least one particular Ravens participant examined constructive for ten straight days.
“It truly is not about whether or not men want to perform,” quarterback Robert Griffin III explained just after filling in for reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, who examined constructive last week. “It truly is about whether or not our safety is actually becoming taken into account. I can not say much much more than that.”
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The Ravens-Steelers sport, which was initially scheduled for Thanksgiving night, was played six days later just after 3 postponements. The last postponement arrived just after Ravens gamers explained in a Monday teleconference that they failed to want to perform the sport Tuesday for the reason that of safety problems, a resource explained. The resource extra that one particular recommendation from the gamers was to transfer the sport to Thursday, but the NFL compromised by shifting it to Wednesday.
Baltimore was restricted to walk-throughs on Monday and Tuesday just after becoming shut out of its facility for 5 days. Griffin identified as the socially distanced walk-throughs “abnormal” and explained they were not operate at comprehensive speed. He thinks the deficiency of comprehensive methods contributed to his obtaining hurt in the second quarter.
“I pulled a hamstring today,” Griffin explained. “I have in no way pulled a hamstring in my lifestyle. You see men likely down remaining and suitable.”
Ravens gamers also had difficulty with the final decision to reopen the crew facility. Right after two Baltimore gamers examined constructive subsequent an time beyond regulation decline to the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 22, the NFL shut the Ravens’ facility Monday morning ahead of allowing gamers and coaches to reenter Monday afternoon. The facility remained open right up until midday Tuesday. Through that time, the Ravens held a walk-by means of, with gamers donning masks.
“I will not know what will come with me declaring this, but, of system, on Monday and Tuesday, we are thinking, ‘Why had been we authorized back again in the setting up if we say every little thing is based mostly off speak to tracing and factors like that, and which is what is actually advised to us?'” Ravens safety Chuck Clark explained. “We’ve got to glance at some of those people factors.”
Other gamers praised the Ravens’ firm for their dealing with of the condition.
“Everybody in the Ravens’ firm did the best detail for participant safety they possibly could and to make absolutely sure this sport transpired,” guard Bradley Bozeman explained. “The gamers desired it to take place. The coaches desired it to take place. But we had been also concerned with safety, and I believe they all did a definitely good career dealing with it.”
Reported linebacker Tyus Bowser: “When you deal with anything like this … we had a few problems. But I just know, with our president Dick Cass, [basic manager] Eric DeCosta and coach [John] Harbaugh, they had our best curiosity, and they had been trying to do every little thing they could to get us ready for this sport.”
Since Nov. 23, the Ravens have put a overall of 23 gamers on the reserve/COVID-19 checklist for possibly screening constructive or becoming determined as substantial-threat close contacts. Baltimore has decreased that checklist to seventeen gamers at this time, but it had to advertise ten gamers from the practice squad Wednesday to fill out a forty eight-guy sport-working day roster.
Harbaugh explained it was an psychological time for the crew, and he explained everyone did their best to be clear and trustworthy in answering players’ issues.
“I just really feel like the league did their best. We did our best,” Harbaugh explained. “We failed to bat one.000. No person did. The league failed to. No person did. You can not bat one.000 towards this detail. But I believe our response, in terms of our effort, was a best effort.”
Some gamers knowledgeable indications, but no one particular turned very seriously unwell, according to Harbaugh. Infected gamers did move the coronavirus to household users, Griffin explained.
“Individuals factors will not get described,” Griffin explained. “So when individuals believe, ‘Oh, it’s possible they just will not want to perform. They just will not want to do this.’ It truly is not that — we enjoy soccer. We want to perform soccer, but we also want to make absolutely sure our people are harmless.”
Jackson, who examined constructive on Thanksgiving, will total his ten-working day quarantine on Saturday. If he assessments adverse, he will be offered to perform in his team’s sport Tuesday towards the Dallas Cowboys.
“He is in good spirits,” explained Ravens huge receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who is Jackson’s close pal. “He advised us to go out there and try out to get this sport. Just wishing for a fast restoration for him.”
