Thread by @JeneBramel

I have lots of questions about the last few days of positive COVID tests in the NFL.

This is going to be a little disjointed.

So...a thread.

1/n

Report: Atlanta had a player -- cornerback A.J. Terrell -- test positive Friday or Saturday. The Falcons were cleared to play on the strength of reassuring contact tracing and negative testing through gameday.

2/n

Report: Tennesse had a position coach test positive on Saturday. The Titans were cleared to play Sunday on the strength of reassuring contact tracing and negative testing through gameday.

3/n

Report: Tennessee now has eight additional players/staff with confirmed positive COVID tests. These include a long snapper, a tight end, and a defensive tackle. These are confirmed positives -- false positives have been ruled out.

4/n

It's generally believed a person may be exposed & infected & asymptomatic for 24-48 hours before testing positive.

It's recommended that close contacts of someone who tests + for COVID quarantine for 14 days - regardless of whether the close contact tests positive or not.

5/n

Question:

How likely is it that neither the Falcons (starting cornerback) or Titans (LB coach) had zero persons considered a close contact within 48 hours of their positive tests?

6/n

Question: Does NFL policy assume anyone with symptoms and with a negative test within 48-72 hours of a close COVID+ contact is sufficient to end quarantine?

7/n

Question:

If there were truly no close contacts and NFL did not clear anyone within known gray area of exposure and contagiousness, how did eight additional Tennessee staff and players test positive within 72 hours?

7/n

It strains credulity to assume all 9 TEN positives are unique and include no secondary cases.

So, I'm nervous contact tracing was inadequate or NFL is using tests to shorten length of quarantine. Either of those two holes would need to be plugged - with a quickness.

9/n

I'm hopeful all players and staff have mild cases of COVID and very hopeful we have no additional positives in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Atlanta this week.

Fingers crossed.

Fin.