COVID-19 JUST ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR COACHES

By STEVE KING

Want to be an NFL head coach like the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski?

Yeah, I bet you do. Calling the plays. All the cool gear. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

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These jobs are indeed pretty special. There are only 32 of them in the world, and each one comes with an incredible salary. Plus there’s the fame aspect. These guys are celebrities. Everybody knows who they are.

But the job security isn’t very good. For every Bill Belichick, who has coached the New England Patriots for two decades, there’s are lots of guys such as Rob Chudzinski and as Freddie Kitchens, both of whom lasted just a year with the Browns.

Then there are the hours – lot of hours. Coaches don’t have time to do anything outside of their jobs – other than sleeping only four hours a night, that is, on a good night.

And did I mention the injuries? Oh, yes, the injuries. There are lots of those, too. And coaches never know when those injuries will pop up, possibly wrecking the season in the process.

But now there’s a new problem. It’s called COVID-19, the coronavirus. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?

Anyway, even if there are no ACL tears or broken fibulas, a player could be lost for an extended time if he tests positive for it, or for a shorter period if he is merely exposed to someone who has tested positive.

That brings us to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who, as of this writing, hasn’t tested positive – yet for COVID-19 but has been exposed to someone who has. If he stays clean, then he will be able to return to practice on Wednesday, when the real heavy work will start in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium. If not, then he will be shelved for the game.

Loss any starter for a game, or more, and a team has lost a lot. But lose a quarterback? Then a team loses even more.

But no matter who comes down with the coronavirus, or gets hurt, the coach is still supposed to direct his team to a win.

But … but … !

There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. Just win, baby!

So, do you still want to be an NFL head coach?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.