Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss whether football and baseball should return

Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for another edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to talk about the return of sports.

The guys start off with the several players complaining about the NFL’s procedures to start the season.

Madden said that although football had longer then the other sports to get it figured out, he knew that there would be some negotiating, like as happened in baseball, between the players and owners.

Madden makes a strong statement that he doesn’t care if football or baseball play or not. He goes on to say that maybe if those sports shut down, then it might drive the gravity of the pandemic home in America. He doesn’t think the nation has taken the pandemic seriously enough.

Benz says that NFL players say they want to play, but only in the most safest environment. They want a lot, but Benz says that they can’t have it perfect.

Madden says that the bubble model for sports can be done, see the MLS in Orlando, but he thinks that the football and baseball models won’t work.

Benz asks why can’t American sports catch up to what other leagues around the world have been able to do. The relationship between the player unions and leagues has something to do with it, but Madden says that basically other countries have handled the pandemic better.

The guys also talk about the latest on the Penguins return and the status of Sidney Crosby. And with little information from teams, how news on player’s status can be overblown. Also they discuss the goalie situation and how Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry are playing.

They share some thoughts on the optimism surrounding the Pirates and their upcoming season start.

Madden and Benz also answer reader questions and more.

Watch the show here: