Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen has his reasons for choosing not to get the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the 2021 NFL season. And, according to the 26-year-old Ohio native, his personal stand is bigger than just the global pandemic that has taken the lives of over four million people throughout the world.

“For me it’s a personal choice and it’s bigger than just Covid,” Shaheen said (via Miami Hearld). “I’m not going to elaborate further on that. The NFL has been trying to push it. It’s no secret they’ve been trying to push it on unvaccinated guys,”

With the season fast approaching and cases of COVID-19 still on the rise, the league has been quite adamant in enforcing new protocols to make sure the season goes as planned. Though the tight end mentions that he will obviously be following the league's rules and guidelines, he also noted that he won't allow the league to ‘strong-arm' him into doing something he doesn't believe in.

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“This is such a changing environment and I’m going to keep my hands off and follow the rules that they have in place for me, but they’re not going to strong-arm myself into getting it. They’re not,” he adds.

Shaheen also knows that he's in quite a tricky spot as he balances his personal beliefs as well as his obligations as a member of the Dolphins.

“Yes and no,” he said when asked if all these new protocols make sense. “This is a business. And from their (the NFL) point of view, they want us to play in the games. Absolutely, I get that. They’re trying to do everything they can. Now, that being said, for us to go and push more protocols than we had last year is beyond me. But, like I said, I’m going to do what they ask and require me and that’s going to be that. And, you know what, I’ll take it one day at a time.”