NFL Owners Will Vote to Incentivize Minority Hires
With the NFL having only two African-American general managers and four head coaches of color, owners will vote on two resolutions intended to address and improve this issue, as first reported by NFL Media’s Jim Trotter.
Per Trotter’s report, “The first would remove the longstanding anti-tampering barrier that permits clubs to block assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator positions with other clubs, even though having coordinator experience is typically the final and most significant step in becoming a head coach. The other would incentivize the hiring of minorities as head coaches or primary football executives by rewarding teams with improved draft slots…”
The votes will take place at Tuesday’s virtual owners meeting.
The full story can be found here.
Major League Baseball
After Major League Baseball’s owners and Commissioner Rob Manfred approved a proposal to start the 2020 baseball season earlier this week, Manfred was interviewed on CNN last night and talked about protocols that would need to be in place for baseball to start. One of the big ones, testing.
Manfred said that players would be tested several times a week and that the tests would go to a facility in Utah with a 24-hour turnaround time. A positive test will mean quarantining until a player tests negative twice. As there will be instant testing for a symptomatic player, that will also be the case for anyone who has been in contact with a player testing positive.
In addition, a positive test would not necessarily mean that an entire team would need to quarantine for 14 days. The league is planning to bring these measures to the Players Association shortly.
The proposal plans for Opening Day in July, an expanded postseason field, a universal DH and a revenue-sharing plan that would mean pay cuts for players.
But What Do the Players Think
Well, in short, they’re concerned.
Earlier this week, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell said he’s out for 2020 if revenue sharing would cut his salary, citing the risk and shortened season. Philadelphia Phillies RF Bryce Harper backed Snell up and other players have spoken out about the proposal as well.
Don’t break out those peanuts just yet, baseball fans.
NFL Players Wanted on Robbery Charges
New York Giants’ cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback Quinton Dunbar both have warrants out for their arrest in South Florida. Per Miramar Police, Baker’s warrant is for four counts of armed robbery, as well as four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. Dunbar’s warrant is for four counts of armed robbery with a firearm.
The incident allegedly happened at a party on Wednesday night. The NFL, the Seahawks and the Giants all confirmed that they are aware of the situation.
Oddly enough, Dunbar, who was acquired via a trade with the Washington Redskins earlier this year, had an introductory call with the Seattle media Thursday morning and said, “You just want to feel wanted at the end of the day. … I just hope to repay them with the way I carry myself as a person.”
Come On, Feel the Noise
Earlier this week, FOX Sports’ Joe Buck told Andy Cohen on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy that the network is looking at pumping in crowd noise and adding virtual fans to stadiums during game broadcasts, should NFL games go on without fans.
“It’s pretty much a done deal,” said Buck. “I think whoever is going to be at that control is going to have to be really good at their job and be realistic with how a crowd would react depending on what just happened on the field. So it’s really important.”