he tenor and tone of the NFLs approach to the pandemic has shifted as the league moves into its second season in a Covid world. While the NFL cant control fans and external forces, they can control their teams and players. The Premier League has reported that 16% of players registered with its 20 member clubs have yet to receive a first vaccine against COVID-19. "I'm not anti or pro vax. Now we supply info to rounders? But should Cousins' contract COVID-19, it could spell trouble for his status within the team. Any break in that daily testing regimen means an unvaccinated player is subject to a five-day re-entry process, which prevents a player from returning to the team facility for five days if testing negative each day during that period. Put them on a list with injured players that are out. The goal, the league has consistently said, is keeping players and staff members healthy amid a pandemic. In a memo to the eight remaining playoff . Although players getting vaccinated can be seen as a "team effort", many players believe they shouldn't have to get vaccinated. Ahead of the 2021 season, the league created strict guidelines surrounding the coronavirus. That could spell trouble for the team if one of those players is not vaccinated and then causes an outbreak this season. The news broke this morning that Aaron Rodgers has contracted COVID-19 and will not be available to play Sunday when the Packers take on the Chiefs. Kirk Cousins is another high-profile quarterback who has taken the stance of being unvaccinated. A players unvaccinated status has an impact on everything he does, from how he conducts himself in meetings (because of social distancing) to when and how he can lift weights and what time he arrives for work. Day off? McDermott and Beane have both publicly expressed frustration with players resistance to getting vaccinated. And, in another vivid example of the difference vaccination status can make, unvaccinated players are barred from entering the facility until the results of a rapid Mesa test are available (Mesa tests are rapid PCR lab tests that are typically returned within 45 minutes). The Colts are also finally experiencing some success on the football field, and losing Wentz would make the team regress in a way they would not want to right now. According to the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers have one of the highest vaccination rates in the league and were one of many teams affected by a breakout in the 2020 season. Should they still choose to not receive the vaccine, Arians said, "Just follow last year's rules.". So how can people who wager money in jurisdictions where sports betting is now legal be expected to make bets without knowing which players may suddenly be unavailable to play? League spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to ESPN that Arians "was correct" in his understanding of the NFL's rule. The Cardinals cannot afford to pressure Hopkins too much, because without Hopkins, the Cardinals' offense would not be the same. Time will tell.. pic.twitter.com/Ewt498wmsy, Isaiah McKenzie (@_IsaiahMcKenzie) August 26, 2021. From the memo that just went to clubs: pic.twitter.com/8yMPW0JBWZ. With rosters cut down to 53 this week, that means an average of three to four players on each team are unvaccinated. With their reported vaccination rate still being among the lowest in the NFL, it, unfortunately, seems like its not a question of if any Vikings players or staff will miss time due to the COVID-19 virus this season, its a question of when. In the 60s, Paul Horning and Alex Karras were suspended for a $10 bet between them on the Lions/GB game. Here's everything we know, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. Heading into the new season, the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, and team owners have signed off on some of the most stringent Covid guidelines this side of the militarys proposed vaccine mandate. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. He deleted the tweet soon after and followed it up with "Freedom?" For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. If a team is 100% vaxxed, its not guaranteed that they will never get sick. The response was a thudding silence; his team entered August with the lowest vaccination rate in the league. Its unfortunate when players get fined, right? Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. Hopkins has been one of the NFL's top receivers for several years, and he's now saying his future is in doubt due to the league's policies. Like a freaking broken record with the vaccine stuff dudeWe get it alreadyYou want players to do things to THEIR body that YOU want them toThankfully in November of 22 you and the other power hungry clowns will be silencedYou must have great internet service in your bunker under neat the kitchen table cowering in fearGo sell this crap elsewhereIt gets oldStay Safe and Stay Home. Take for example, if a player this season tests positive for COVID-19 on a Thursday, but they are asymptomatic. Essentially, the Cardinals have little influence on him. Last year it was all. Not a member? Hilary Brueck The Atlanta Falcons, pictured here in November, have been 100% vaccinated since August 2021. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on July 5, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The leagues head office sent a memo to teams stating that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the leagues current 18-week schedule due to a Covid outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will forfeit the game outright and will be credited with a loss. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Darrell Henderson Fantasy Football ADP Skyrockets, declined to say whether he was vaccinated, In June, during a podcast interview with Kyle Brandt, publicly questioned his future in the NFL, Pete Gilbert of WBALTV11 reported that Jackson is not vaccinated. He dealt with injuries in 2020, but he's a high-volume back in what's expected to be a prolific offense with quarterback Joe Burrow returning from injury. Red Bull's Max Verstappen is targeting a third successive Formula One title, rivals Ferrari have a . Hopkins made headlines two weeks ago when he publicly questioned his future in the NFL after the league sent out a memo regarding its COVID-19 protocols. Its so obvious to see your true motivation with this article. Ashish freelanced for 1 year in the NFL division before taking on an editorial role in the company. Teams may be OK with adjusting their traditional practice structures for the starting quarterback, but not for a player looking to make the team as a third-string safety. This will entice them to go get vaccinated. Currently, the country of Canada has barred any non-vaccinated people from entering the country. You cant slip up. In his free time, Ashish is an avid basketball player, he loves to watch movies and TV shows, immersing himself in the cinematic world. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has contracted Covid twice in the past 12 months. It's not clear if Mixon has had the shot, but he was vocal about any attempt to treat those with and without the vaccine differently. DeAndre Hopkins has been the biggest name to watch so far as his Twitter has shown repeatedly blasting the new rules very publicly. Kirk Cousins, who isn't vaccinated, says he'll continue to follow all protocols, the team is getting a bigger QB room so he won't be a close contact & he might even put plexiglass around where he is in the facility. Head coach Mike Zimmer expressed his frustration with the team after several quarterbacks missed practice over the weekend due to positive tests or being deemed a close contact: "I'm frustrated, not just with my football players who didn't get vaccinated, but I'm frustrated with everybody [who didn't]." (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Dalvin Cook. The league will enforce forfeits if a game is canceled due to a breakout among unvaccinated players. Cant even eat with my fellow brothers. Right now, Im not really in a position to answer those questions, Harris said. 1 draft pick, NFL, NFLPA should disclose the full list of unvaccinated players, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Report: Jalen Carter was present at teammates fatal crash, misled police about it, millions made by the sport through legalized betting. Both the teams starting quarterback, Cousins, and the backup Nate Stanley were deemed to be in close contact with Mond and were forced to sit out under the leagues protocol. Cousins, Mond, and Stanley all being unvaccinated forced Jake Browning to take every single rep at quarterback on Saturday night. The NFL has reached a vaccination rate of nearly 93 percent among its players and above 99 percent among staff members, according to NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills, who spoke Thursday. Even if thats true, Newton is still very much being affected by his decision to remain unvaccinated, even as a free agent. DeAndre Hopkins reacted to the NFLs new memo on COVID-19 outbreaks during the season. (1:04). Arians said the Bucs will have close to 85% of players fully vaccinated by final cut-downs. This is much different than if a player is lost for some time with an injury. Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer has expressed his frustration with his team's unvaccinated players. Does the NFL have to worry about stars like DeAndre Hopkins not getting vaccinated? I dont know how accessing the list is of any real importance. Why is HIPPA privacy blatantly ignored with Covid? The game will be forfeited immediately. ( LifeSiteNews) - The players' union for the National Football League (NFLPA) has chosen to ignore a letter from the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF) that . Other NFL players are not so lucky. Already, some big-name players have found their way to the COVID-19/RESERVE list. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The stipulations place a premium on wearing appropriate PPE and offer restrictions on the number of people and types of venues players may gather in for social or team-related purposes. The Buccaneers, who visited the White House on Tuesday and got their Super Bowl rings Thursday, open training camp Sunday. The weekly testing cadence was a compromise, though a complicated one, because the elimination of frequent testing for vaccinated individuals was one of the most compelling incentives to prompt players to get their shots. The rule was brought to light after Bucs coach Bruce Arians made mention of . DeAndre Hopkins has been one of the biggest sources of opposition to the vaccine. This process will likely take place in the first few weeks of training camp. That will not be the case this season. As one player explained in a particularly relatable example, unvaccinated players had to report for testing at 7:30 a.m. on a day his team played a 1 p.m. preseason contest. This puts pressure on the team to put pressure on the unvaccinated NFL players to.. well.. get the shots. If the league (and the union, which also will benefit from the millions made by the sport through legalized betting) wants those who place wagers to feel good about the decisions being made, they need to be able to access a list of each teams unvaccinated players. Unvaccinated players testing positive for Covid remain under the same 2020 protocols, meaning a 10-day isolation period and a return once asymptomatic. Its also a gamble not to test the vaxxed. Last season, Beasley earned almost 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. Last year the league did everything within its power to ensure no games were missed over the span of the then 17-week season. Wherever you stand on vaccination, its difficult to argue that remaining unvaccinated is somehow not an impediment for an NFL player. If were out on the field and were making a play, its fine, but you have to think about it after the play is over, Leonard said. While vaccinated people can and do contract COVID-19, particularly the highly contagious Delta variant, NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills said recently, The data has consistently shown higher rates of infection in unvaccinated players than vaccinated players.. The stakes of giving the vaccine a miss are pretty high. Oakland A's (3): Catcher Austin Allen, reliever A.J. Since then, Ashish has focused on honing his knowledge for both leagues in, even writing crossover pieces. Its kind of crazy that the NFLs rules treat a party with better, longer lasting immunity like a second class citizen compared to someone with less protection. Meanwhile, vaccinated players can undergo their weekly test and immediately enter before learning the result. Test everyone!!! They love you one minute then hate you the next! That means only a tiny minority of players fewer than 200 are subject to these rules. We now know that vaccinated players can be carriers of the virus. Zero vaccination, period, said Perryman, then on the Panthers roster. If your team deals with an outbreak, thats on you. But several high-profile offense players, and thus key fantasy players, have indicated that they have doubts about the vaccine or come out and said they are not vaccinated. As much as football is a team sport, coaches have also made their stances clear that players can choose to be vaccinated or not. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Yeah, get the vaccine and no more worries ever..oh wait. In a league that plays only 17 games per season, one loss could be the difference between a playoff berth and a playoff absence. The league and the union need to anticipate that specific wrinkle and address it before it becomes a problem. Here are three players who could put their teams' futures in danger as a result of their refusal to be vaccinated. Tim Hasselbeck questions how the NFL will react after DeAndre Hopkins noted his frustration with the league's vaccine protocols on Twitter. There seems to be a trend with quarterbacks being on the fence or just outright not wanting to get vaccinated. All NFL personnel wear electronic trackers for contact-tracing purposes, and unvaccinated players get no benefit of the doubt if and when they come into contact with someone who later tests positive. As of July 12, 2022, there have been 26 MLB players that have been placed on the restricted list when their respective team was in Toronto since they were unvaccinated. Maybe some guys will look at this and say, I dont want to deal with it,' he told Buffalo reporters after four players were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list last month. The NFL is eliminating the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated players for the remainder of the postseason, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. Players were not held personally responsible for testing positive or coming into contact with Covid. It was treated as a team-wide issue, a societal issue, not the fault of any single individual. For 2021, applying secrecy to the important category of unvaccinated players undermines the integrity of every wager placed on every team with unvaccinated players on the roster. But as recently as last week, he declined to say whether he was vaccinated. I dont like being an outcast.. One moment hes simply a sceptic, not an anti-vaxxer; the next hes releasing a vaccine-Fauci-sheeple diss track. The game is hopelessly corrupt. Except for tight end Irv Smith Jr. and rookie left tackle Christian Darrisaw, the majority of the Vikings projected 2021 starters are expected to be on the field for the matchup against the Bengals. One of the wrinkles in those updated protocols: an easier path for vaccinated players to return to the active roster following placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The protocols also affect areas like community service given the limitations on group activities held outside team facilities. But once that choice shifts from the abstract to the real, once it starts to ding paychecks, much of the inter-locker room support will wash away. Here's a look at five NFL superstars who have not yet been vaccinated. If that number gets even smaller in the next update, you can be certain. If these players do not get vaccinated and are responsible for an outbreak, they will be left holding the bag when the team looks to assign blame. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images). Excepting them from testing doesnt make sense and just a ploy to coerce the unvaccinated. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, NFL says COVID outbreaks could lead to forfeits, WR Hopkins, others question NFL's vaccine push, NFL to carry over flexible roster rules for 2021. Pete Gilbert of WBALTV11 reported that Jackson is not vaccinated, which would mean he will miss 10 days of training camp. pic.twitter.com/4PwJaVuJHa. Chelsea's unvaccinated players look set to miss next month's Champions League tie at French club Lille after Uefa updated its Covid-19 rules. The way the rules are currently set up, teams with a higher vaccination rate will have more of an advantage. Kind of reminds me of how Biden gave out names to the Taliban.. If a teams quarterback sustains an injury and immediate short-term help is needed at the position, its hard to envision that team waiting nearly a week to bring in an aging veteran who might be unavailable for its next game. But the league is still not satisfied. The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to COVID-19 protocols for the 2021 regular season, which include weekly testing for fully vaccinated players and staff members, NFL. Please be aware that the vast majority of players have not been asked about their vaccine status. That said, if the rigorous rules motivate players to opt for vaccination, the NFL isnt about to complain. Here is why. He then tacked on managing content while adding on a writing role in the NBA division. Union leadership pushed for a return to daily testing for all players and staff, regardless of vaccination status. An example of the far-reaching potential implications of this came when the Vikings were reduced to one active quarterback after losing three others, including starter Kirk Cousins, to COVID-19 reserve one week into training camp. As the Washington head coach, Ron Rivera, recently outlined, that could result in his unvaccinated players missing two games as early as week one. Now the Vikings have had to bring in QBs Case Cookus and Danny. Smith runs second-fastest 40 by DL since 03, Saleh compares Carr to Stafford pre-Rams trade, Allen to be ready to roll for offseason program, How to maximize leverage of No. Last year it was all kumbaya, rah-rah, football-will-guide-us-through-the-darkness type of rhetoric. Mandates will just make people dig in their heels. Keep in mind, the testing protocol remains in place even on days when players are off. His second follow-up: suggesting the team meets outside all season, even in the Minnesota winter. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. If u want the vax get it and you will be safe and sound, right? There is no extra week built into the season for make-up games. He said he wasn't opposed to it but would like to do more research into it. The league has baked a competitive advantage into its protocol, and now its a race to see which teams can convince or cajole their roster into getting a shot in their arm before it compromises their season. The bleak on-field scenario is that theyre forced to forfeit a game or two and that they will have to pay for the privilege. Agents have reported that teams spent the summer checking in on the vaccine status of their back-of-the-roster clients. Once last season, and once during training camp. Beasley has been the face and voice of the NFLs vaccine-sceptic movement, but he is far from the only one. Heres the kicker: players on both teams will not be paid for the lost contest, and the team responsible for the cancelled game the one with the outbreak will cover the finances for the side without the outbreak. The nightmare scenario for any team is that an unvaccinated player compromises the health of someone on their team or someone they come into contact with. Ashish Priyadarshi is The SportsRush's content manager and editor. Put simply, while much progress has been made, the NFL still has a way to go. The tenor and tone of the NFLs approach to the pandemic has shifted as the league moves into its second season in a Covid world. Ditto for Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, who missed five days after a COVID misunderstanding involving an out-of-town trip and a failure to be tested every single day at the team facility. Nothing against it. Beasleys stance has been so vociferous and public in the face of the leagues pseudo-mandate that it has led executives to wonder whether hes intentionally trying to get himself cut by the Bills. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. I get that obviously its in all players best interests to get vaccinated, but the best way is to convince them its in their own best interests to do so. With new measures and rules put in place, teams will no longer be given any leniency should a covid outbreak occur. Saunas and steam rooms are off-limits to unvaccinated players. But thanks to the COVID-19 virus, Minnesota having most of their top players in the lineup for Week 1 wont be a guarantee until they actually step onto the field in Cincinnati. They have two options: Get vaccinated or comply with the restrictions. Puk, and reliever A.J. The league is not forcing its players to get vaccinated, but players with and without the vaccine enjoy different privileges. Back before the season started, Cousins was seen as a distraction and there were rumors that he may lose the locker room's confidence should he remain unvaccinated. Ashish studies computer science and data science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and would love to mesh his love for sports with his technical skills. Meanwhile, unvaccinated players still need to socially distance themselves as much as possible, wear masks, quarantine after exposure and basically live their life the way they have been for the past 16 months or so. Any vaccinated and asymptomatic player. Finally, I won't dive into Cole Beasley's situation too deeply as his public battle over the vaccine has been widely covered. Going by the comments to this thread I have to remind myself that posters are fans of the NFL, not WWE. Conversely, vaccinated players not scheduled to test that day had the luxury of sleeping in. Changes to the NFLs Covid-19 regulations for the upcoming season have turned vaccination rates among players and staff members into a form of an arms race. Hopkins has since deleted his post and followed up with a new tweet saying Freedom? pic.twitter.com/plEQYTJ7a8, The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 22, 2021. ask questions directly to those involved in the creation of the vaccine. Meyer cited the risks associated with unvaccinated players under the NFL's Covid-19 protocols. ", The news broke this morning that Aaron Rodgers has contracted COVID-19, Rodgers is that he has been lying for months, when it comes to getting vaccinated in the NFL. I am both but certainly see the need to address this issue. Teams who have a COVID-19 outbreak would be forced to forfeit games if they cannot be rescheduled. With being on the restricted list, players forfeit their salary and their service time. 8:20 AM PST. There will be further flashpoints of awkwardness. At least with an injury, they typically happen during a game, which gives a team at least a week to prepare for a player possibly missing time. Get your roster, coaching staff, front office and administrative staff vaccinated. No longer will games be postponed. They will still receive the bulk of their paycheck no matter the knock-on effect on their team, teammates, family members, future earnings or legacy. Based on the comments most people see your true intention. So I dont see me treating Covid until I actually get Covid.. I just dont understand, the Vikings head coach, Mike Zimmer, said this week.