The NFL isn't messing around this season when it comes to COVID-19.
The league just told teams that if a game can't be rescheduled during the 18-week regular season due to a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will forfeit the game and take the L. That team will also be held responsible for financial loss and be subject to discipline from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Here are more details:
Here’s more from today’s memo, which also says the team responsible for a canceled game because of an outbreak among unvaccinated players/staff will be responsible for financial losses and subject to potential discipline from the commissioner. Wow. pic.twitter.com/Q86a2WcG1K
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021
There are no plans to have a 19th week of the season in order to accommodate rescheduled games due to COVID-19. There are also details about protocols with vaccinated individuals:
Other key competitive aspect of today's memo:
Vaccinated individuals who test positive and are asymptomatic can return to duty after two negative tests 24 hours apart.
Unvaccinated individuals still subject to mandatory 10-day isolation period.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021
The cherry on top: If a game is totally canceled due to an outbreak, neither team's players will get paid.
This is a huge deal as the NFL tries to make sure this 2021 season goes off without any hitches. There were a number of games last season affected by coronavirus issues, and that's trying to be avoided this year. The league is putting in plenty of incentives for everybody to get vaccinated, and this is just the latest hammer being dropped. There's also currently an 85% vaccine threshold in place for teams to hit so they can loosen restrictions for training camp.
At this point, getting a vaccine has to be seen as a competitive advantage. Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said as much earlier this week, and Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irving recently suggested teams not hitting the vaccine threshold aren't serious enough when it comes to winning the Super Bowl.
There are some notable examples of players resisting the vaccine, with Cole Beasley being especially outspoken against it, but hopefully these rules will get all these teams to that threshold. It's important to make sure this season is as safe as possible, especially with the Delta variant going around.
Go get that vaccine!
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