Cleveland Browns get lucky after NFLPA advises against group workouts

The NFL Player’s Association advised all teams, including The Cleveland Browns from doing independent group workouts after a spike in new Covid-19 cases in the sports world.

If you’re a sports fan from Florida, you’re already aware of what’s going on. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have three players who have Covid-19, and they’re only the beginning. After Florida rushed to re-open, the fear of massive spikes happening came true. Now the sports world is hurting, putting many things in doubt. Alongside the Buccaneers who tested positive, members of the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Tampa Bay Lightning have all tested for the virus. With the grim reality that the NBA, MLB and NFL seasons may not finish/occur this year due to the league’s inability to prevent spreads, one is reminded of the very ill-advised outing Baker Mayfield had this offseason with members of the Cleveland Browns.

Mayfield met with a group of receivers and tight ends in Texas when most of the country was still in lockdown and travel was advised against. Many championed Mayfield’s decision to violate quarantines and social distancing guidelines as a move a “leader” would make. Well, now men like Ezekiel Elliot are dealing with the disease. This could’ve been Mayfield or any other Browns player.

The move was wreckless then and the NFL Players Association now agree, sending out a memo that advises all NFL players from practicing with one another. From the NFLPA’s Dr. Thom Mayer

"Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts. Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences."

So what’s the problem?

It boils down to common sense. These lockdown restrictions being lifted were rushed, and certain states are now costing everyone far more than they had to. Florida is ravaged by the illness and it’s not at all being taken seriously. With the NBA’s season set to begin at the end of July, how the league can now sell the idea of the area being save to players is beyond unbelievable. Who would believe them? You’re going to actually convince these men that Disney World is safe? These teams can’t even keep their much smaller team facilities safe.

Which makes what Mayfield did all the more unnecessary of a thing to do in hindsight. Browns fans should be thankful that no one, that we are aware of, got sick or got someone else sick.

It’s entirely possible that if more teams and players keep getting sick, then there won’t be a season this year for any sport. With the NBA already dealing with athletes questioning their ability to keep players safe even within a bubble, the MLB players demanding answers on how they’ll be protected and medical experts expecting the NFL season to be hampered with issues unless they adopt a “bubble” format akin to the NBA, it’s not hard to think that maybe sports could be done for the year in 2020.

After all, look at the WWE and UFC. They’ve been attempting to hold events without fans for months and even they keep getting positive tests that are putting others at risk.

The more this pandemic continues on, the luckier Mayfield and his teammates look for even attempting something so stupid and deadly.