NFL Players Are Pushing Back Against The League’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rules

Several  NFL stars are starting to put their foot down when it comes to the NFL’s authoritarian rules regarding players getting vaccinated.

The NFL recently made a new rule where teams will have to forfeit their games if there’s a COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated players.

Star wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals DeAndre Hopkins isn’t on board with the new rule and tweeted out “Never thought I would say this, but being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the NFL”.

He then followed that tweet up by saying “freedom?”.

As of right now only coaches are mandated to get the vaccine whereas players still have an option on whether or not to get vaccinated.

However unvaccinated players under the NFL’s new policy will be segregated from their vaccinated teammates on planes, in the locker room, at hotels, and when they eat meals.

So basically the NFL is trying to make life rough for unvaccinated players until they just break down and get the jab out of convenience.

Deandre Hopkins says the NFL’s covid vaccine policy is making him question his future in the NFL: https://t.co/Ygx2Ay7vnk

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/WUTangKids/status/1418690050850795523

DeAndre Hopkins unhappy with NFL's COVID-19 forfeit rules: 'Question my future' https://t.co/F1z2AkuuBJ pic.twitter.com/x8TUk2r99n

— New York Post (@nypost) July 23, 2021

The New York Post covered the story check out what they had to say:

Some of the NFL’s star players aren’t exactly on board with the league’s new COVID-19 forfeit rules.

On Thursday, NFL Network shared a memo from the league telling teams that games cannot be rescheduled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players, and that teams will be forced to forfeit games with playoff seeding — and paycheck — implications.

Some players were quick to voice their opinions on the matter.

“Never thought I would say this, but being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the NFL,” Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins wrote in a quickly deleted tweet.

Hopkins cited in another since-deleted post his girlfriend’s brother, who the wideout says got the vaccine and “had heart problems right after.”

Neither the league nor the NFL Players Association have mandated vaccines for players, instead agreeing to protocols that restrict the activities of players who have not received one.

Jalen Ramsey star cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams had a lot to say about the new Covid-19 rules too:

I know 2 people right now who got the vaccine but are covid positive.. 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’m just saying. I wouldn’t look at a teammate as bad if he don’t get the vax, no pressure from 5️⃣ https://t.co/OGTbKJ1A6Z

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) July 22, 2021

… whether you are vaccinated or not, there is still a chance of getting covid.
I thought my point was simple but I guess not lol

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) July 22, 2021

The NFL is also fining unvaccinated players up to $14,000 for not wearing masks too.

ESPN had more on the story:

Unvaccinated NFL players will be subjected to a fine of $14,650 every time they violate COVID-19 procedures.

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A spotlight was put on the punishment after a report that Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians would fine a player “$14,000 on the spot every time he isn’t wearing a mask or is breaking a protocol.”

The article did not directly quote Arians and did not specify whether it was a team rule or a league rule, leading some to speculate that Arians was instituting this fine as his own personal rule.

“NFL policy,” Arians told ESPN in a text message. “League rules.”

League spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to ESPN that Arians “was correct” in his understanding of the NFL’s rule.

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.

I spoke to Bruce Arians, and the $14,000 fine he was referring to is NOT his own personal fine or the team’s fine — it’s the NFL’s $14,650 fine for COVID infractions. The league office confirmed this to me this morning https://t.co/S6gxUawxlM

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 24, 2021