A new NFL policy is meant to crack down on the number of unvaccinated players in the league. Who are these players and who are against the new policy?
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The pandemic is still raging on the US, and with the NFL set to host games at full capacity next year, they want to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
While the NFL can’t control fans and external forces, they can control their teams and players. Therefore, they released a memo dictating what could happen if players don’t vaccinate themselves.
Last year, the NFL repeatedly had to reschedule games due to Covid outbreaks within teams, but this is something they won’t be doing this year. As a result, the team responsible for the Covid outbreak may have to forfeit the game entirely.
The NFL just informed clubs that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will FORFEIT and be credited with a loss for playoff seeding, per sources.
Massive implications.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021
NFL Unvaccinated Players: Which NFL Stars Don’t Approve Of New NFL Covid Policy?
Several NFL players have spoken out about the new rule, not happy at all with the way the NFL is supposedly restricting their freedom.
DeAndre Hopkins has been the biggest name to watch so far as his Twitter has shown repeatedly blasting the new rules very publicly.
DeAndre Hopkins reacted to the NFL’s new memo on COVID-19 outbreaks during the season.
Teams who have a COVID-19 outbreak would be forced to forfeit games if they cannot be rescheduled.
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
Matthew Judon and Leonard Fournette were other players who spoke out on Twitter regarding the new rules:
The NFLPA Fucking sucks
— Matthew Judon (@man_dammn) July 22, 2021
Add #Bucs RB Leonard Fournette to the list of players against getting the COVID-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/1IqlksESap
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 22, 2021
Earlier, Buffalo Bills’ Cole Beasley had also very publicly announced that he wouldn’t be part of the group of people who are taking the Covid vaccine as it is his body, and that is what he felt comfortable doing:
Public Service Announcement pic.twitter.com/XjQicdvnKm
— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) June 18, 2021
Also Read: Atlanta Falcons Training Camp 2021: Start Date, Location, Roster Battles, and Fan Policy
