Cleveland Browns: Steelers blatantly break COVID-19 protocols in Chase Claypool video
By Sam Penix
The NFL COVID double standard lives on ahead of Cleveland Browns next game
While COVID-19 is ravaging the Cleveland Browns roster and coaching staff in the lead-up to the team’s first playoff game in 18 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be entirely unaffected, despite players breaking protocols and then having the presence of mind to publicly document their transgressions.
In addition to JuJu Smith-Schuster disrespecting Cleveland on two separate occasions this week, Chase Claypool (who unnecessarily celebrated multiple plays in last week’s loss) posted a video to his YouTube account on December 27th entitled “Christmas with the Steelers AFC NORTH CHAMPS!!!”.
The video features Claypool vlogging his day’s schedule, which included exchanging gifts with teammates inside of the Pittsburgh locker room before heading to Smith-Schuster’s house for an evening party.
Of course, masks are entirely absent in both of these situations, and regardless of one’s personal view on them, the NFL has guidelines in place for a reason. Multiple teams have been fined for personnel failing to adhere to them, and both the New Orleans Saints and the Las Vegas Raiders have even been stripped of a draft pick.
The NFL was certainly aware of this video shortly after it was published, and it is irrelevant to this week’s game, but it’s just further evidence that the NFL has not applied its COVID-19 standards and punishments fairly across all teams. The Denver Broncos were forced to play a game without any of their quarterbacks after those players were lax about wearing masks during a film session, yet nothing comes of the documented interactions in Claypool’s video?
Next. Aaron Rodgers has total confidence in Alex Van Pelt. dark
Maybe this doesn’t mean much in a vacuum, but it’s obvious the NFL has done a poor job concerning the virus this season. And the Browns are just one of many teams who have been dealt a worse hand than others.