Baltimore Ravens Discipline Employee Over COVID-19 Outbreak That Postponed Pittsburgh Steelers Game
BALTIMORE (KDKA) - A Baltimore Ravens employee has been disciplined in connection with the coronavirus outbreak that led to the Thanksgiving game against the Steelers being postponed.
"The Baltimore Ravens have disciplined a staff member for conduct surrounding the recent COVID-19 cases that have affected players and staff at the Ravens," a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday evening read.
Statement from the Baltimore Ravens. pic.twitter.com/EjDmDSt2Ky
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 25, 2020
Tom Pelissero reports the employee disciplined was a strength and condition coach.
He says that the coach didn't report symptoms and didn't consistently wear a mask or tracking device, which may have contributed to the cases.
The #Ravens disciplined a strength and conditioning coach for not reporting symptoms and not consistently wearing a mask or tracking device, which may have contributed to the team's rash of COVID-19 cases, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 25, 2020
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports the coach is Steve Saunders.
Staff member currently suspended by team is head strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders, according to sources familiar with situation but not authorized to speak publicly. He's in his fifth year with the team. https://t.co/DbBgvnvIKC
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) November 26, 2020
The Ravens-Steelers game set for Thanksgiving was postponed to Sunday because multiple people in the Ravens organization have tested positive for coronavirus.
Some Pittsburgh Steelers took to Twitter to say they're unhappy with the decision.
First the NFL takes away our bye week because another team can't get their Covid situation together, now they take away our Thanksgiving primetime game for the same reason. Smh.
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) November 25, 2020
"First the NFL takes away our bye week because another team can't get their Covid situation together, now they take away our Thanksgiving primetime game for the same reason. Smh," tweeted JuJu Smith-Schuster.
This isn't the first time the Steelers have had a game rescheduled because of COVID-19 tests among their opponents. They lost their first scheduled bye week when the Tennesee Titans were reporting positive coronavirus cases.
The game is scheduled to be played Sunday at 1:15 p.m.