NFL
Bengals, Browns Each Allowed 6,000 Fans for Two Home Games
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Saturday that the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns will both be allowed limited fan attendance for a small number of games.
Each team will be permitted to host up to 6,000 fans for two games apiece, and the total number of spectators cannot exceed 1,5000 per side of the stadium.
Spectator Variance for @Browns and @Bengals ⬇ pic.twitter.com/cGpQufxobd
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) September 5, 2020
DeWine’s order covers the two meetings between the in-state rivals on Sept. 17 and Oct. 25, as well as a Cleveland-Washington game on Sept. 27 and Cincinnati-Jacksonville in Oct. 4.
“This year will certainly be different, but both the Browns and the Bengals have worked exceedingly hard and have made extensive preparations to welcome a limited number of fans to their stadiums safely,” DeWine said in a statement. “These very thorough plans and safety precautions warrant a two-game trial to try and accommodate fans, at reduced capacities with social distancing and masks.”
As of Aug. 27, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not permitted to have fans at Heinz Field during the month of September. The team hosts the Denver Broncos on Sept. 20 and the Houston Texans the following Sunday.
While the ban is only supposed to last for the month, it could be extended longer by way of a statewide decree.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced last week that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and city of Philadelphia informed the organization they cannot host fans until instructed otherwise. Since the mandate is coming from the state level, it likely applies to the Steelers as well.
Former Steelers receiver Ryan Switzer asked for prayers for his 9-month-old son Christian Saturday morning. Switzer’s son has been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.
I’m asking everyone that this tweet comes across to please just take a second and say a prayer for our son Christian. He’s 9 months and currently in the hospital after he woke up in his blood. He’s Covid positive.
— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) March 6, 2021
In Switzer’s tweet, he asked everyone to say a prayer for the little guy. Thousands of fans have interacted with the tweet, with many voicing their prayers and well wishes.
The 26-year-old receiver signed a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns in January after spending time on their practice squad last season. Switzer was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He then spent both 2018 and 2019 in Pittsburgh before being released by the Steelers before the 2020 season.
The NFL is considering making roughing the passer calls subject to replay review, according to NFL.com’s Judy Battista.
Battista reports that owners are expected to vote on the potential rule change at the annual league meetings later this month.
There is no denying that roughing the passer calls have become increasingly questionable over recent years, as the league continues to emphasize the protection of its most valuable assets – the quarterbacks.
Still, the concept does conjure painful memories of 2019, when the league tried reviewing pass interference calls. The experiment proved to be an unmitigated disaster, and was scrapped after a single season.
While the new role could remedy some of the infuriating calls the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been levied with in recent year, the chance could also open up an unintended can of worms.
Reviewing roughing the passer calls is not the only potential rule change the owner will reportedly consider.
According to Battista, owners will also discuss switching overtime back to sudden death, creating an alternative to the onside kick and voting on a rule reportedly proposed by the Buffalo Bills to delay coaching and general manager interviews until the conference championship round.
John Clayton, one of the longest tenured NFL Insiders, offered a prediction on how the Steelers will handle their roster in the coming weeks during his weekly appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
When referring to player cuts around the NFL, Clayton said he expects many notable players to be released by their current teams. Clayton proclaimed “it will be a bloodbath around the league” and that could include a couple key veterans being handed their walking papers by the Steelers.
The great @JohnClaytonNFL on @937theFan on NFL cuts: "It will be a bloodbath around the league." Thinks Joe Haden and Vince Williams are on the Steelers chopping block. Both could be gone.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 3, 2021
Joe Haden and Vince Williams could both be forced to find new teams as soon as next week, according to Clayton. Haden has spent the past 4 seasons in Pittsburgh after spending his first 7 years with the Browns. Williams has played his entire 8-year NFL career with the Steelers after being drafted in the 6th round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
