A reprieve

It would appear the National Football League is changing the rules regarding the goal of playing every game as scheduled this season.

The league Friday postponed three games scheduled for this weekend due to a severe outbreak of a COVID-19 variant and rescheduled one for Monday night -- the Browns-Las Vegas Raiders game originally scheduled for Saturday -- and two for Tuesday evening.

They were the first games this season affected by COVID, a huge difference from the 2020 season when the league went to extremely generous lengths with the rescheduling in order to make certain to get in the entire schedule.

In order to prevent a recurrence this season as the virus showed signs of lessening its power. the league sent a memo to all 32 clubs last summer dictating new rules. It was Draconian in nature.

It stated that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week scheduling period due to an outbreak of COVID among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak forfeits the game and is credited with a loss. Players on both teams would not be paid and the team responsible for the cancellation covers all financial losses.

That situation never came close this season to becoming a possibility. Until the Omicron variant of COVID showed up last week and wreaked havoc on seven teams (including the Browns), which were placed in enhanced mitigation protocols.

The variant struck so swiftly, suddenly and quietly, it took the league by surprise.and placed competitive balance in jeopardy. Initially, Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated no games would be moved. But as more names appeared on COVID-resevre lists on a daily basis, it became apparent something had to be done. 

The NFL Friday said it made the schedule changes "based on medical advice and after discussion with the NFLPA (NFL Players Association) as we are seeing a new, highly transmissible form of the virus this week resulting in a substantial increase in cases across the league. We continue to make decisions in consultation with medical experts to ensure the health and safety of the NFL community."

The affected teams -- the Browns, Washington Football Team and Los Angeles Rams -- have to be breathing a sigh of relief. Not so in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Seattle, teams that have COVID under control and were ready to play. They are pissed.

Raiders linebacker K. J.Wright vented via Twitter, "I pay my players dues just to get lied to and the rules bent. If it was the other way around, I swear we would be playing (Saturday). I just wanna play ball. I would say play or forfeit."

Browns fans, angered initially at the prospect of the team having to play with what amounts to a team  heavily comprised of lesser talent, are relieved. Had the shoe been on the other foot and the Raiders seeking some sort of relief, would Browns fans have been so tolerant? Rhetorical question.

The announcement of the rescheduling arrived just as the Browns added defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and injured running back Kareem Hunt to the COVID-reserve list, bringing the grand total to 24 players, including the practice squad. Middle linebacker Anthony Walker Jr, who calls defensive signals, came off the list and will be available Monday night. 

So much can happen in the next 48 hours as to who will be available for the Monday night game. As it stands now,  both sides of the football are missing eight starters and/or vital contributors. 

The relaxed rules freeing vaccinated, asymptomatic players currently from the COVID-reserve list for a return to the main roster is a distinct possibility. The Browns can use all the help they can get at this point.