Tag Archives: football

NFL: Teams May Forfeit Games Over COVID Outbreaks

The Bleacher Report reports: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the league’s 32 teams Thursday stating an inability to field a competitive roster for a scheduled game during the 2021 season because of a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players or staff members will be deemed “conduct detrimental” to the NFL. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided a copy …

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NFL Fines DC Team $10M In Sexual Harassment Probe

USA Today reports: With the investigation into the allegations of rampant sexual misconduct within the Washington football team organization complete, the NFL has fined the franchise $10 million, the league announced on Thursday. The investigation, conducted by independent counsel Beth Wilkinson, spanned roughly a year and included interviews with more than 150 people, many of them current or former employees …

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New NFL Ad Declares That “Football Is Gay” [VIDEO]

USA Today reports: As Pride Month comes to a close, the NFL has released a new commercial that makes clear its support and embrace of the LGBTQ+ community. The 30-second spot begins with the line, “Football is gay” as light cheering plays in the background. “Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is life. Football is exciting. …

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First Ever Active NFL Player Comes Out As Gay [VIDEO]

ESPN reports: Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib on Monday became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Nassib, 28, made the announcement in an Instagram post. “What’s up people?” Nassib posted. “I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been …

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Rose Bowl Moves To TX Over CA Lockdown Rules

ESPN reports: The College Football Playoff semifinal scheduled to take place at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Rose Bowl announced Saturday. The game will take place Jan. 1 and be broadcast by ESPN. According to the release, the decision to move the game was based on the growing …

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NFL Issues National Coming Out Day PSA [VIDEO]

ESPN reports: The NFL has launched a series of initiatives associated with LGBTQ History Month, which includes National Coming Out Day on Sunday and Spirit Day on Thursday. Included are a dedicated website (NFL.com/PRIDE ); a PSA celebrating former NFL players who have come out and voicing support; expanded partnerships with GLAAD and The Trevor Project; a pride-themed NFL shield; …

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NFL Team Reports League’s First COVID Outbreak

ESPN reports: The Tennessee Titans have closed their facilities until Saturday after three players and five team personnel members tested positive for the coronavirus, the NFL announced Tuesday. The eight new positive tests have been confirmed after additional testing, a source told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Those who tested positive have been asymptomatic as of Tuesday morning, a source told ESPN’s …

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NFL Fans Boo Moment Of Silence For Racial Equality

The Guardian reports: The NFL season on Thursday night got off to a dismal start, and exposed the pernicious sentiments of many in America, when some fans jeered what the league described as “a moment of silence dedicated to the ongoing fight for equality in our country.” The incident was particularly striking because it was meant as a show of …

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NFL To Stencil “End Racism” In End Zones Of Stadiums

NBC Sports reports: The NFL will join other sports leagues in putting social justice messages on the playing field this season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on a conference call this afternoon that the league will stencil “End racism” and “It takes all of us” in the end zones at each stadium this fall. “The NFL stands with the black …

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Iowa State To Allow 25,000 Fans At Season Opener

The Washington Post reports: Iowa State announced Monday that it will allow approximately 25,000 fans into Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones’ season-opening football game against Louisiana on Sept. 12, even though the state of Iowa has seen its number of coronavirus cases skyrocket in recent weeks. According to The Washington Post’s state-by-state database, Iowa has seen a 92 percent …

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College Big Ten Conference Cancels All Fall Sports

EPSN reports: Big Ten Conference presidents and chancellors voted Tuesday to postpone all fall sports seasons, including football, with the hopes of playing in the spring, it announced Tuesday. “The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” Big Ten commissioner Kevin …

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NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Tests COVID+

ESPN reports: Eagles coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Sunday night. Pederson convened an unscheduled team meeting Sunday to share the news with his players, sources said, before the team made the announcement. He told the team after receiving a second positive test result, confirming the diagnosis. The 52-year-old Pederson is asymptomatic and doing …

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NFL To Fine Players Who “Recklessly” Contract COVID

ESPN reports: NFL players who contract the coronavirus through “high-risk” activity away from team facilities can face team discipline and might be at risk of not being paid, according to the league’s new protocol. A memo sent by the NFLPA to agents this weekend, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, outlines several rules governing player contracts, opt-out provisions …

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Former Redskins Unveil Temporary New Team Name

ESPN reports: Effective immediately, Washington will call itself the “Washington Football Team” pending the adoption of a new name, the franchise announced. This is not a final renaming and rebranding for the team; this is the name it wants to use until pending adoption of a new name at some point. The team will continue the process of retiring the …

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NFL Axes Pre-Season, Mandates Face Masks For Fans

Washington DC’s Fox News affiliate reports: Fans attending NFL games in-person will be required to wear face coverings, according to an official from the league’s public relations office. Brian McCarthy, a PR professional for the NFL, tweeted on Wednesday clarifying that fans would be required to wear face coverings at games. As the NFL season takes place primarily in the …

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Washington Redskins To Announce New Name Today

USA Today reports: Just less than two weeks after one of his most prominent corporate sponsors urged him to change the name of his football team, Washington owner Daniel Snyder plans to announce the retirement of the “Redskins” nickname and reveal a new team name Monday morning. The new name remains unknown, but Warriors, Red Wolves and Redtails have ranked …

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Disney Signs Production Deal With Colin Kaepernick

ESPN reports: The Walt Disney Company today announced an overall first-look deal with Colin Kaepernick’s production arm Ra Vision Media. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity, and will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers. The first-look deal …

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Redskins Undergoing “Thorough Review” Of Team Name

The New York Post reports: Facing mounting pressure to change the franchise’s moniker, the Washington Redskins said Friday it will “undergo a thorough review of the team’s name.” “This review formalizes the initial discussions the team has been having with the league in recent weeks,” the team said in a statement. The heat was turned up Thursday when FedEx — …

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NFL May Play “Black National Anthem” Before Games

ESPN reports: “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing,” traditionally known as the Black national anthem, is expected to be performed live or played before every Week 1 NFL game, and the league is considering a variety of other measures during the upcoming season to recognize victims of police brutality, a source familiar with the league’s discussions told The Undefeated on Thursday. …

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NFL: We Were Wrong For Opposing Player Protests

The Washington Post reports: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday he and the league strongly support players expressing their opposition to inequality and police misconduct, saying the league’s leadership was “wrong” for ignoring players earlier and that it now endorses their peaceful protests. “We, the National Football League condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people,” Goodell said in …

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