A few of you might need forgotten about Jalen Hurts’ “flu recreation” from earlier this season. There was a little bit of controversy with that Week 3 Monday Evening Soccer recreation, as a result of that information was not on the Philadelphia Eagles’ damage report. As a substitute, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported it at halftime. Sunday introduced us a repeat during which Bijan Robinson was sick on Sunday and the Atlanta Falcons didn’t make that data public after they put out their inactives listing.
A serious distinction in these conditions is that Hurts took each single snap in the course of the Eagles’ 25-11 victory towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Robinson solely performed six snaps within the first half towards the Falcons’ Week 7, 16-13, win towards the Bucs, and his sole carry got here within the fourth quarter. He mentioned after the sport that he was coping with a headache, and that it started on Saturday night time.
The primary query requested of Falcons head coach Arthur Smith throughout his postgame press convention was about Robinson’s well being. He claimed that they observed that Robinson was feeling off simply previous to the beginning of the sport.
“As we bought by way of warmups and early on, simply wasn’t feeling like himself,” Smith mentioned to the media following the Falcons’ 16-13 win towards theBuccaneers. “So he performed, however we weren’t gonna overdo it. Simply being cautious…when you may have different guys that may go, you recognize, we’re a group.”
Smith’s rationalization actually is not going to fulfill Falcons followers, fantasy soccer gamers with Robinson on their roster, or bettors with actual stay cash staked on Robinson and the Falcons’ efficiency. These teams don’t have any authority over the Falcons, in contrast to the NFL league workplace, which is effectively conscious of simply how a lot playing and fantasy sports activities means to the league’s recognition. PFT’s Mike Florio was knowledgeable following the Eagles’ Week 2 win, that “except gamers missed follow or could be restricted in any manner,” they don’t have to be included on the damage report.
Technically, Hurts was not restricted in Week 2. He might have been enjoying by way of discomfort, however nothing that stored him off of the sphere at any level. The Falcons although, might have some inquiries to reply.
Robinson went by way of warmups and spent the whole recreation in full uniform, but he was used sparingly. That appears to be the very definition of restricted. In a world during which playing is now largely authorized, and Jimmy “The Greek” was on NFL broadcasts many years in the past whereas additionally writing sports activities betting columns, groups should at all times be clear about participant availability.
A serious motive why groups are required to make that data is to keep away from even a whisper within the distance about an integrity of the sport problem. The unfold on Sunday’s recreation was -3.5 Buccaneers. Disclosing that Robinson was sick would probably have resulted in a rush of late wagers. With that data being withheld from the general public, a official query is, why?
Robinson and Smith answered why the working again was restricted on Sunday, however not till after the sport. Robinson mentioned that he was sick coming into Raymond James Stadium. There was loads of time for that data to return out with the Falcons’ inactive listing. All they needed to say was Robinson was not feeling effectively, and that they’d resolve after warmups how a lot he would play.
As a substitute, all of social media was buzzing about Robinson not getting the ball. The league completely wants to analyze why his situation was not reported sooner, at minimal for look’s sake.