Mark Davis: Moving Raiders-Browns a ‘competitive disadvantage’ to Vegas
By Mark Powell
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis is against a proposed change to Thursday’s game, calling it a competitive disadvantage to his team.
Browns-Raiders has reportedly been postponed until at least Monday, per Josina Anderson and others.
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— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) December 17, 2021
Sources from talks between NFL, #Browns, #Rams, Washington & union say all 3 teams were on the verge of forfeits this week. All would then have forfeited game checks. #Raiders, #Seahawks and #Eagles also wouldn’t have been paid, per guidelines sent to teams this summer.
The Browns can’t seem to go a day without adding a player or coach to the COVID-19 list, while Vegas continued to prepare for a game on a short week.
The league as a whole is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, with several game times up in the air. The Browns outbreak, which is now in the double-digits, is arguably the most significant of all.
Raiders: Does Mark Davis have a point?
The Browns have over 20 positive COVID-19 cases at this point. They can barely field a team, let alone compete on the field.
NFLPA argued that the virus spreading, both in Cleveland and elsewhere, was uncontrollable. With several teams vowing to forfeit this year, costing both themselves and their opponents game checks in the process, the NFL finally caved.
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— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) December 17, 2021
Sources from talks between NFL, #Browns, #Rams, Washington & union say all 3 teams were on the verge of forfeits this week. All would then have forfeited game checks. #Raiders, #Seahawks and #Eagles also wouldn’t have been paid, per guidelines sent to teams this summer.
Postponement agreement for all three teams was reached after union argued that situation qualified as “uncontrolled spread despite adherence to protocols”. The goal of the union was to make sure all six teams’ players didn’t lose their game checks.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) December 17, 2021
Davis is right from his perspective — the Raiders were ready to travel to Cleveland and play on Thursday. However, by doing so they could be putting their own players at risk.
Just spoke with #Raiders owner Mark Davis on game being moved back to Monday: Heath and safety is No. 1, but it's a competitive disadvantage to the @Raiders. Maybe the #Browns should fly to Las Vegas. @ESPNNFL @espn @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/OxZgyHK9XF
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) December 17, 2021
Had the Browns COVID outbreak been preventable, they would’ve been forced to forfeit, with the Raiders’ record improving to 7-7 in the process. Las Vegas’ playoff hopes are slim at best, but both Cleveland and the Raiders are fighting for Wild Card spots at the moment, hence the NFL’s willingness to listen to the Browns’ argument in this case.
Having Demaurice Smith and the NFLPA on their side surely didn’t hurt.
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