I’ll get this out of the way right off the bat: this season will forever have an asterisk next to any and all accomplishments that arise from it. Despite promising deals with the players, the most competitive sport there is will be compromised by the pandemic.
As you may already be aware, there will be no preseason games this season — something the likes of QB Aaron Rodgers will not miss. Then again, players like WR Allen Lazard have used the preseason as a way to highlighting their talent. It is also likely that the Pro Bowl will face a similar fate(*crickets chirping*).
So It Begins
Being among the first of likely many announcements around the league, WR Devin Funchess — who was supposed to add some veteran experience to Rodgers’ receiving corp — announced that he will be sitting this season out due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus:
This means that Funchess’ one-year deal will not carry over into the following season.
In related news, LB Greg Roberts was also placed on the COVID-19 Reserve List.
Elsewhere in the NFC North, Vikings big off-season free agent acquisition, DT Michael Pierce, has also opted out of the 2020 season. Also, Chicago Bears DT Eddie Goldman will be sitting out the season as well.
I expect to see more and more players either opt out of the season, or hold back physically with recent research showing that even those that recover from the virus are likely to have lingering heart issues.
Looking Ahead
Logistically, here is what we’re looking at in the weeks ahead:
One of the Packers’ greatest strengths at home, 80,000 fans intimidating the opposition with their passion for their team, will very likely not even be a factor this season. If allowed to attend, that number will probably be greatly reduced to prevent games from becoming a catalyst of infection. Some reports indicate that the capacity will be limited to 12,000 — which is just shy of 15% capacity of Lambeau Field.
With fans not being allowed to attend training camp, the local economy in Green Bay is already taking a massive hit, so I am certain local leaders are very eager to put together some sort of a season.
However, let’s face it: this whole season might as well be considered one long preseason.
Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium. Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Good info JP.
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Not only will the local economy take a hit. But NFL revenue will take a huge hit. Assuming they play a full season, the loss of gate and game day revenue (parking, Pro shop, concessions) will be astronomical. My question being… how does that effect player payroll, which is dictated through a percentage of NFL revenue. Also, would that take effect next season, from a reduced revenue stream from this season? At some point the salary cap would be reduced, or do they act as if it never happened?
Great article J. P.. The likelihood of a reasonable season is already gone. The potential for any type of season is nearly gone. Like I stated a few months ago, this season will most likely NOT happen. The Packers (and every other NFL team) would have to sequester every player on their roster for the entire season plus post season. These guys are young, horny, and full of hell raising. Keeping these guys away from clubs, gold-diggers and getting fucked-up is an impossible task (see Florida Marlin’s) Covid-19 is for real, and we do NOT even have a vaccine that works against it. This season is going to get ugly fast if they attempt to push through with it. Sometimes making money IS NOT the only answer! Sometimes being human and caring for each other outweighs all else. One third of America (incl. the current Administration in DC) have allowed this clusterfuck to grow (for selfish and monetary reasons to name only a few). If we would have all worn masks and distanced and quarantined better, this current scenario that we are in may not have even existed to this degree. But here we are! Like a bunch of spoiled brats yelling at each other about wearing/not wearing masks! WTF? not wearing masks and acting recalcitrant about it? Where has that gotten us? INTO DEEP SHIT! This shit is real! More people need to take a break from their narratives and start thinking rationally and stop listening to fucking YouTube videos from some paranoid fucktard still living in their mother’s basement . . . Everywhere people stop wearing masks, start hanging out at bars OR CHURCHES . . . the virus grabs them by the short hairs and fucks them. Time for Americans to grow a set and realize the scope of this pandemic!!!! Stay safe and stay healthy! And trust that someone, somewhere, comes up with a vaccine that works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It wasn’t (isn’t) just D.C.
Each Governor in every State has the right to mandate it’s citizens to wear mask under a State Emergency.
And they have! However, the Republicans in those states (following the rhetoric from DC) pushed back rendering the mandates less effective. Even police chiefs and sheriff dept’s (all republican led btw) went against the mandates . . . Real smart eh? You cannot teach stupid . . . but you can sure program them on right-wing websites . . . As you say PF4L: “Broken”
I respect your passion, always have. But lets not got blinded and declare every problem the fault of a Republican. There is plenty of blame on both sides.
I have no problem discussing, but i don’t want to turn this page into a political pissing match (and i won’t)
We’ve always agree’d on the fact that everyone should be wearing a mask and those that don’t are just arrogant , closed minded, irresponsible, or all of the above..
Amen brother! Some good points we are in agreement.
I’m with you MMSUCKS. Thanks for saying it. Like the Texas idiot Gohmert, he wanted his staff to not wear masks to be an example for reopening. Stupid.
Yep Ferris! You can’t make this shit up! Some of these people are so head-strong that they will risk their lives for their false narrative(s) . . . Stay safe!
Just reading the news today . . . saw this article about the MLB Covid-19 outbreaks. Just as I posited, the young guys cant keep themselves from partying or getting laid! This will continue until we get a GOOD, working vaccine. Folks, this is a covid virus, it is related to the common cold virus! Have we a vaccine for the common cold? FUCK NO! And this virus? it is the common cold on MEGA STEROIDS! People need to see this for what it is! Here is the MLB article:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/cardinals-players-disregarded-mlbs-safety-protocols-and-went-to-a-casino/ar-BB17skJV
My best friend just got out the hospital with Covid. It was touch and go there for a while. He still feels like crap. My wife’s best friends dad died of it. I know several others who have been hospitalized.
Forever we had no shoes, no shirt, no service, didn’t see people protesting that, but somehow asking someone to wear a mask infringes on people’s freedoms.
So Funchess’s contract isn’t good for next year? How does that all work if it’s a one year deal and he doesn’t play? Is the contract/ money void for this year and he has to sign again next year?
I think the contract is voided because he made a choice to opt out. He has a contract for this season, and it’s his decision to opt out of it.
It’s probably a different scenario if the league called off the season.
Like when Kaepernick had an opt out clause in his contract, and he chose to exercise it.
My understanding is that his contract carries over to the 2021 season as a one year deal
You could be correct i guess, but i just can’t get on board with that as it would imply that i am wrong. It’s just to early for that right now.
Let the record show….JP is correct….
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In 2021, his contract will be reinstated. If he “timely reports for all required activities” in 2021, the opt out will not become a breach of his 2020 contract.
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That’s an important provision. The player who opts out in 2020 can’t hold out or otherwise breach his contract in 2021; if he does, his opt out becomes a breach of his contract, after the fact.
There’s part of me that wonders if they drafted Love expecting this. I mean in all likelihood they’re just going to have to hit the reset button on this season. How exactly that plays out, who knows, but if I had to guess…
They redo the draft picking at the same spots as before, while retaining the picks from the year prior. That gives Love a whole season to study the playbook without getting so much as a bruise. He’ll be in better shape to take over the team, they cut Rodgers and use the money to splurge on areas of the team that are obviously lacking, and they let Love play out his rookie contract on the cheap.
These guys might be idiots but they aren’t dumb – finding a way to get Love playing while keeping the dead money from Rodgers current contract to a minimum is what they want, & makes the most “fiscal sense”, provided he turns out to be the future franchise QB (I hear fucking Murphy’s voice in my head when I say that…ugh).
It will suck to not have a season – I live out of state, and finding Packer bars in town to get rowdy at is a tradition for me. But what’s worse is that they’ll use this as an excuse to cut Rodgers, never once questioning the years of piss poor talent acquisition and drafting that led them to this spot. My rage at that egomaniacal, dementia riddled white walker Ted Thompson may never subside.
Shortly, very shortly after the draft i came to terms with the fact that Rodgers career in Green Bay was essentially over. Even if he still wears the colors and lines up under center. It was at that time that i…”LET GO”.
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They didn’t draft Love without a plan before the draft took place. Every single piece of information available points to the fact that the Packers were going to draft Love, come hell or high water.
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Gute gave Rodgers an extension late August of 2018, then 8 months later drafted Rashan Gary at #12, who Gute knew would sit on the bench after signing the Smith Bros. So no help for Rodgers.
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Then 20 months later, is when they drafted Love (no help for Rodgers), then took a rb in round 2. So…a change of plan for Rodgers happened (IMO) between the 2019 draft and 2020 draft between Murphy and Gute.
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Now….lets try some critical thinking and go deeper. When was LeFleur hired? He was hired Jan. 7th of 2019. That IMO…..is the day the plan went into action, at least at the team’s power meetings level.
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I’m reaching a bit here, because i wasn’t there. But my best hypothesis for when the “idea” of making a QB change came, was during the interview process, when LeFleur was selling himself and Shanahan’s system to the Packers brass.Strong defense, strong running game, adequate passing game. This is when, after the hire of LeFleur that i believe the new plan was put into motion.
In 2019, during the college season, Gute grabbed his top scout and hopped a plane to go scout Love against LSU. Shortly thereafter, Jordon Love’s old coach got a call from Gute and spoke with Gute at length about Love. It also was noted by the old coach, that a GM calling about a player during the season, almost never happens. All that was a coincidence?….i don’t think so.
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So right or wrong, that’s how i see it. But either way, make no mistake…the Packers are done with Rodgers
Excuse me but….
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Another day where partisan politics be damned. Respect is earned
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R.I.P. John Robert Lewis
Amen! It was tough to be John Lewis back in the early 60s’. The man had balls of steel. Iv’e read a few books over the years about these people. That was NO walk in the park for them at any time. It was as rough as it could be.
For decades we have heard that players don’t like Green Bay because of lack of night life. Well maybe that plays into the Packers favor as other teams players go out to party and catch Covid and have to sit out.