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'Shut NFL down!' Fans furious after Doug Pederson becomes second NFL head coach to test positive for Covid-19

The Eagles coach joins New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton as the second coach to test positive for the virus

In a piece of dismaying news for football fans, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Douglas Pederson has tested positive for Coronavirus on August 2. Now the Eagles coach joins New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton as the second coach to test positive for the virus. Another Eagles staffer who was in close contact with the coach has reportedly been sent home as a precautionary measure.

Pederson shared the news with his players on Sunday night in an unplanned meeting after the reports of his second coronavirus test came, reinforcing "positive" results. Now, Pederson must have two negative tests over a 72-hour time frame before he can be allowed to join back into the team's facilities, after which they will be tested daily in wake of the pandemic.

Adam Schefter, an American sportswriter and television analyst tweeted, "Doug Pederson now becomes the second NFL head coach known to have contracted coronavirus, but he is the first one to do it in season, where it takes on a different meaning. In March, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton revealed that he had tested positive."

In another tweet he mentioned, "Eagles' HC Doug Pederson has tested positive for the coronavirus, sources told ESPN’s @Tim_McManus. Pederson convened a previously unscheduled team meeting Sunday night to share the news with his players. He did this after receiving a second positive test."

Football fans who awaited the NFL to lighten up their spirits are clearly upset. Many are now calling for the the season to be shut down before more coaches and players contract the virus which has proven to be life-threatening in many severe cases. Users across Twitter also wondered why the NFL waited for a second positive test and called for stringent action to protect teams on the ground.

"Why did they wait for a second positive test??? False positives are exceedingly rare, this seems irresponsible," tweeted a fan. 

A fan tweeted, "I'm not sure you're right that the Patriots have been the only team to have had an entire season with a head coach that has had a head virus." Football aficionados are also tweeting that the NFL must learn to hold matches without canceling and risking lives by resuming schedules w/o a bubble. They prescribe learning from Nascar, Soccer overseas and most combat sports that are holding events in a hassle-free manner amid the pandemic. Some said that though they are not fans of the Eagles, they are still willing to stand with them in this time of crisis.

Other fans said that the NFL will be selfish enough to keep going as it might result in the ill health of a lot of star players. Others wished for a quick recovery for the Eagles Coach and told him to follow the rules for quarantining.

Something that can bring a faint smile on the faces of downhearted fans is the news that coach Pederson will continue to lead virtually. "He will follow protocol before returning," tweeted ESPN's Eagles beat reporter, Tim McManus. "No current plans to shut down NovaCare facility. Pederson will continue to lead virtually (he and staffer who was in close contact will follow protocol before returning). Duce Staley will man day-to-day at facility, as @Jeff_McLane reported."

The 2020 NFL season will be the 101st season of the football series. Due to the Covid-19 threat, the season is scheduled to take place starting from September 10.