Will Miami Marlins Outbreak Sway Donovan Smith?

July 27th, 2020

The 2020 Major League Baseball season just kicked off and 11 of 33 Miami Marlins players traveling with the team have tested positive for “The Sickness” and some games were cancelled today.

Joe cares a lot because Donovan Smith seems to care a lot.

The Bucs’ left tackle was adamant via a lengthy social media post that he is “not a lab rat.” That proclamation was made 17 days ago, and since then, Smith has given no indication that he has changed his mind.

Per a revised NFL labor agreement, Smith can opt out of the 2020 season on or before the afternoon of Aug. 3. If he bails, then he’ll keep his job and guaranteed money and be back on the Tampa Bay roster for the 2021 campaign without any penalty.

Joe knows Smith has family-related health concerns about playing football — and the likelihood of catching The Sickness while engaged in manhandling men and huddling with others. Joe also was told Smith has the full support of his teammates and Bucs officials, whatever he may decide.

Will this fresh Marlins news sway Smith? We are one week and a few hours from the opt-out deadline.

39 Responses to “Will Miami Marlins Outbreak Sway Donovan Smith?”

  1. Sport Says:

    From a personal standpoint. DS has to take as much information as possible from his wife’s doctors, his doctor, team physician, NFL/Players Protocol and evidently his agent (previously stated he should get increased salary for the risk).

    Then make a decision. I’ll respect either one he chooses. Family First, ALWAYS!

    Next man up!

    Go Bucs!

    In BA I Trust!

  2. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Sport

    Agree with all you said. Your point about DS’s agent hit home for me.

    I do not know the man. I am a skeptic not a cynic…IE I accept all sides of the story as opposed to believing the worst. Perhaps DS’s agent first concern is his client’s health and not the $$$ of commission. I certainly hope so.

    There are still more questions than answers and all of this could go either way…a quick vaccine before the end of the year…great therapeutics and treatment and this will then become just a nightmarish memory…and all will be fine.

    Or…so many people get sick in “some” communities their hospitals overflow and people die of things besides Covid. It spikes horribly…players get sick…some actually have symptoms…some relatives get sick or heaven forbid one dies…it COULD get ugly.

    Amidst all of these possibilities I absolutely respect Donavan Smith’s decision whatever it is. I surely do not want my football “fandom” to place any pressure on what could be a lifetime decision. I think his wife is pregnant. What happens if she gets it?

  3. FanO’Bucs Says:

    Make up your mind, Smith.

    (If it were me and I had a family, I’d look at that $ as great longterm security. I’d go stay in a hotel for 5 months for my family to have milllllions)

  4. Mike Johnson Says:

    Just leave Smith alone. Its his choice. Me personally, I would not play a contact sport nor send my kids to school during this pandemic. But that’s just me. And maybe Smith is and has been smart with his money. Not buying extravagant luxuries with his cash. So he can afford to take a season off. I salute him. Screw the team when you and your fam may be at risk. This virus is no joke.

  5. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Agree Smith can do as he wishes….as for the extra pay…..no way….NFL players make millions of dollars….they should consider themselves among the fortunate who haven’t lost their jobs……
    The only ones apparently getting extra pay are those who’s unemployment checks are larger than their paychecks were.

  6. Roy T. Buford Says:

    The Marlins issue is just one more factor, pro or con…some of which may have to do with comparing what safeguards the MLB has versus the NFL. By the shear amount of travel alone (two to three trips per week), you’d think the MLB will be harder to control. Validly concerning is Hillsborough is right up there with Miam-Dade and Broward for infectious locations.

  7. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    Donovan Smith? Hell, if freaking baseball cannot manage this situation, there’s no chance in he!! that football (or basketball) can.

  8. james west Says:

    hydroxychloroiquine and zinc tablets, to many experts has praised this, as a safe, treatment in early phases of the virus, and to ward off from getting it, with no side effects, along with liquid vitamin D3, and high doses of vitamin c, i don’t give a damn what that rat fauci, or that scumbag gates say’s, seen a podcast today on social media, with several, several doctors exposing the misdiagnosis and actual malpractice being touted to prop this damn planned epidemic, the stuff has been around for decades, fauci and gates, are in on this together

  9. rrsrq Says:

    Recently had a young man who was COVID-19 positive and his pregnant wife also was COVID positive (they made it through and are both negative now), his wife had a really rough time, scary at times, one of the hardest things he had to go through, it’s not only the physical sickness but the mental boulder laying on your mind. Thank God they made it through this and far as they know, the baby is still good – but I can understand DS, if he said “not this year”.

  10. BucEmUp Says:

    The faster everyone gets sick the faster it will go away

  11. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Joe says, “Per a revised NFL labor agreement, Smith can opt out of the 2020 season on or before the afternoon of Aug. 3. If he bails, then he’ll keep his job and guaranteed money and be back on the Tampa Bay roster for the 2021 campaign without any penalty.”

    Joe am I reading you wrong? I thought players get a small stipend of $350K and $150K if they opt out, not guaranteed money.

  12. YouKnow1 Says:

    The real story will be how many Marlins Die. Cause you know, people are ding left and right from this unseen killer bug.

  13. Buc50 Says:

    DumbEmUp is more appropriate…terrible comment

  14. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    If baseball can’t manage the Sickness, the football season is toast.

  15. stpetebucsfan Says:

    D.S. is earning 13,500,000 he’s the 7th highest paid but in fairness subtract 400,000 and he falls out of the top ten. My point…thirteen or say even twelve million is the average salary for a “starting” not star LT.

    Those numbers of course are pre-Covid and the loss of a season or one that is seriously financially compromised will result in a serious hit that should be shared by the players and owners and all employees of the NFL. I’ve read that some announcers have already agreed to take a haircut.

    So I agree with TBBF that DS shouldn’t get paid if he doesn’t show up. And even if he elects to sit out and the season struggles to a few games then folds…DS gets none of the settlement for 2020 because he didn’t face the danger with the other players.

    Having said that…either DS has the remainder of his contract going forward or if the league is afraid players making that decision may lose too much in an off year they all get FA.

    D.S. will be fine either way. First off there’s the tens of millions he’s already earned and the hundreds of thousands those millions have earned…going forward say the league ends up wacking 50% D.S. might have to “settle” for just six million instead of his current 13.5 million Whatever market value dictates D.S. will get his share…not top dollar but close to top ten.

  16. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Smith will probably show up, but I would not hold it against him if he held off for a few weeks. I would.

    He won’t miss any playing time if he waits a few weeks until the baby is born.

    In fact, if I were the Bucs, I would insist he waits. It would probably mean a lot to him.

  17. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    BucEmUp Says
    “The faster everyone gets sick the faster it will go away”

    This is ignorance. Many people have caught the virus multiple times. There is no immunity. That’s a myth.

  18. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Morgus the Magnificent, it depends on whether the NFL is using the same methods or not.

  19. Durango 95 Says:

    Congratulations to D. Smith on the birth of his child.

    Now move the heck out of the house, get a six month lease, hire Mom some help and start handling this situation in a determined manner.Either you’re showing up for work or you’re not. Make up your mind.Enough dithering about. Get it sorted.

  20. Allbuccedup Says:

    Wonder what Lichts backup plan is if Smith opts out? Let me guess Hmmmmm he doesn’t have one.

  21. bucsfaninoregon Says:

    ” i don’t give a damn what that rat fauci, or that scumbag gates say’s, seen a podcast today on social media, with several, several doctors exposing the misdiagnosis and actual malpractice being touted to prop this damn planned epidemic, the stuff has been around for decades, fauci and gates, are in on this together”…James West (Today’s winner!)
    WOW! What a post. Just saw on TV (hope it wasn’t another hoax) that Florida is second in US in virus cases about 30,000 behind California. Florida’s population is 21M- – about the same as Cally, right? No California’s population is 40M, close to twice as big. I submit to all on this board to this is an example of why the virus is out of control down there.
    Is 9,000 cases a day not out of control? Oh, it’s nice that is is down from 14,000/day. Time to open up?

  22. Cannon Says:

    Hate to say it, it hiding from the disease just delays the inevitable. It isn’t going anywhere

  23. Bucnjim Says:

    I am not saying not to worry that is normal for any parent but the number of deaths age 0 to 4 is still zero I believe

  24. Bucnjim Says:

    Also I still see fans talking about vaccines. If you believe in vaccines you have to believe in herd immunity.

  25. stpetebucsfan Says:

    BucnJim

    We’re both going to get in trouble even having this decision because neither of us are “experts” or epidemiologists.

    I did see a report that broke the vaccines into two separate categories….one might be effected as you say…the other works differently however it doesn’t just rely on antibodies. Ok I’m already out of my realm we’ll need an expert to go any farther.

  26. stpetebucsfan Says:

    decision = discussion

  27. BucsFanForever Says:

    Bucnjim and SPbucs – nowhere near an expert but I’ll chime in on vaccines. Moderna/National Institute of Health started their 30,000 person Phase 3 trial today. They are using a mRNA approach to direct the body’s cells to produce a broad immune response. This is the largest clinical trial being conducted among trials world-wide. Pfizer is a little behind Moderna, using the same approach.

    If the vaccines work, there could be a request for an Emergency Use Authorization that would speed up delivery.

  28. unbelievable Says:

    Man it’s so easy to spot the Q-tards in these comments…

    “It’s all a hoax bro, check out this youtube video it exposes everything!”

    lol

  29. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    Generally speaking, these guys don’t have anything to worry about with the virus. It just won’t be serious for them, if they notice it at all. However, steroid use is a good substitute for a pre-existing condition so some guys will have to be very careful.

  30. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    In my opinion, the hoax part of all this is that a politician can keep you healthy. If you’re relying on them, then you get what you deserve. Young people have shown to be nearly immune to it so I’m not that worried about it hurting these guys.

  31. BucsFanForever Says:

    Jack Mercer – re: young people. the 25-54 age group has shown lesser deaths than 55 and older but they are the largest group to be infected, with 52% of total infections. Most recover, but can have long lasting damage to major organs.

  32. Darin Says:

    Did any of the 11 even feel a bit sick? Doubtful. Man the media has serious people over people’s minds. Unreal

  33. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    james west Says:
    “hydroxychloroiquine and zinc tablets, to many experts has praised this, as a safe, treatment…”
    .
    .

    This evidence, and also the evidence of the SUPPRESSION of this information, has been publicly available for months. It doesn’t matter to the fear crowd. They would rather make political points than look at the evidence.

    All of the COVID19 hot spots just happen to be in the few areas which have full roll-out of 5G networks, also. New York City, California, Italy, Great Brittain, and yes, Wuhan was the first city to roll out a full 5G test bed in China.

    But that’s crazy talk. Must be supressed online and people cancelled for asking why the government refuses to pause the rollout just long enough to do safety tests–safety tests that are actually mandated for new technologies but are being ignored by everybody.

    Why would the government refuse to be do the actual safety tests? Especially given this coincidental co-location of networks and outbreaks? Especially when that testing is mandated by law to avoid harm to humans? Why do people get cancelled for asking questions? What scientific method?

    “The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries… We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis, and the nations will accept the New World Order.”
    ~ David Rockefeller

  34. mark2001 Says:

    Bucnjim… A vaccine does reduce overall cases, and can help create herd immunity. Of course, if the disease is reoccurring, that vaccine has to be given regularly to maintain the low level of infection. Due to the communicability of this disease, I’ve heard the infection rate would have to be about 90%. And if there is about a 3.4% mortality rate across all age groups currently…150,000 out of 4.4 million infections, which is about the reported overall rate, that would be about 328 mil…90%, 3.4% mortality, …about 10 million Americans, assuming it isn’t reoccurring. And then there is the long term survivor damage. I think that is unacceptable, don’t you.

  35. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    I forgot to point out the symptoms of radio frequency radiation sickness: heart irregularities, depression, seizures, inflammation of joints, heart, lungs, and nervous system; immunosuppression and allergies, nausea, flu-like symptoms, respiratory distress, cough, cancer, rashes and flushing, endocrine disruption, thyroid disorders, etc.

    **Heart irregularities, inflammation of the heart and lungs, allergies, flu-like symptoms, cough, fever, respiratory distress, and symptoms similar to altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation**
    Aren’t these things which we are told are being caused by COVID19? Aren’t the lungs (altitude sickness, cough, oxygen deprivation) particularly susceptible?

    Why are people, including many doctors, being cancelled online instead of studies being done on the connections between these symptoms and 5G radiation from running networks co-located with outbreaks? Why do we resort to calling someone a conspiracy theorist (a term known to be coined by the CIA in order to discredit people who didn’t accept the official Kennedy explanations) instead of doing actual science and answer the questions?

    Our body processes are all regulated by electrical impulses, and RF radiation logically can interfere with those impulses. Also, your body depletes mineral nutrients when it is working to counter damage caused by RF radiation. These same nutrients are necessary to help your body–wait for it–fight off viruses naturally!

  36. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    @bucsfaninoregon

    “There are none so blind as they who refuse to see.”

    Taking the red pill is literally a very difficult thing to do. It is hard to admit that we have been lied to, and that we have believed the lies. It is hard to change our whole paradigm of understanding the nature of the world around us. Difficult to come to terms with how much evil there is in the world.

    We have been lucky to live in a country where we could enjoy this ignorance. We are one of the last people on earth finally learning what everyone else already knows–that we cannot assume the good nature of those who reside in our government, and in the companies that have been allowed to grow even stronger than our government (fascist). It took me a long time to take the red pill, but we don’t have much time left.

    Call me crazy if you want. Jesus said they would mock us for speaking the truth. Wake up, my Brothers!

  37. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    BucsFanForever Says:
    “They are using a mRNA approach to direct the body’s cells to produce a broad immune response.”

    .
    .

    BucsFan, are you OK with some witch doctor rewriting your DNA?

  38. Me again Says:

    Do health care workers, first responders or teachers get paid for sitting home?

  39. bucsfaninoregon Says:

    Joe, can you explain what gibberish Coke Spoon is spreading? I can’t even construct a reply.