It’s almost like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been trying to drive as many fans away from his league as he can since the early days of “peaceful protests” in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.
From embarrassingly prostrating himself before the Black Lives Matter altar to buying — hook, line, and sinker — the nonsensical narrative about non-existent “systemic racism” and “white supremacy,” I am unaware of anyone in the history of professional sports who made a more pathetic fool of him or herself.
Setting aside Goodell’s multiple blathering apologies as “peaceful protesters” tried their damnedest to burn American cities to the ground, virtually kissing Colin Kaepernick’s ass, and allowing ridiculous “protest messages” on player jerseys, let’s just talk about the last several days, shall we?
As we reported on Friday, the NFL announced that it had informed teams 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.”
In the same report, we reported that the league also announced that “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.”
It gets “better.”
As reported by NBC Sports, the NFL announced on Saturday that “NFL players who aren’t vaccinated will be monitored for compliance with mask rules and other restrictions that don’t apply to vaccinated players, and every time an unvaccinated player breaks a COVID-19 protocol, it will cost him.”
How much? “The standard fine is $14,650 for a violation of the COVID-19 protocols,” per NBC Sports.
As we reported, not all players and staff are not happy with Goodell’s draconian COVID edicts.
On Friday, as Breitbart, reported, longtime NFL assistant Rick Dennison resigned from the Minnesota Vikings after refusing to be vaccinated. Just prior, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tweeted that the draconian measures had “prompted him to ponder his future in the NFL.”
Hopkins later deleted the tweet.
According to league rules, all Tier 1 personnel, including coaches, must receive the vaccine or provide religious and/or medical reasons for why they cannot. Dennison’s departure comes after Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins tweeted and then deleted a post saying that the league’s threat to punish teams if players choose not to receive the coronavirus vaccine had prompted him to ponder his future in the NFL.
Call me insane. But this is insanity. Then again, we’re talking Roger Goodell.
When we have the “fully vaccinated” president of Indiana University going to court and forcing students — successfully — to “get the jab,” and shortly after doing so, she announces she has tested positive for COVID? We’re not talking “exact science,” here.
Around the league, as reported by ESPN:
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey responded to well-known quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery, who tweeted, “Def a bad teammate if you don’t get the vax now…” by tweeting that he knew two vaccinated people who have tested positive for COVID and that he “wouldn’t look at a teammate as bad if he don’t get the vax, no pressure 5.”
At Dallas Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California, running back Ezekiel Elliott said he received the COVID-19 vaccination but doesn’t believe that decision should be forced on others. “I got the vaccine just because I wanted to put myself in the best situation to be out there for my team week in and week out. But I mean, not everyone feels that strongly or maybe other people still have their view of vaccines. You can’t force someone to do something that they don’t want to do to their body,” said Elliott, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 last summer.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Thursday that more than 50% of the roster is vaccinated, and the team is “hopefully headed toward 100%.”
“[Getting vaccinated] just makes the most sense,” Irsay said. “There’s always risks with everything in life, and getting vaccinated is the right thing to do.”
New England Patriots linebacker Matt Judon expressed his frustration with the NFL’s new policy with a tweet that said: “The NFLPA F—ing sucks.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette indicated in a tweet that he wouldn’t be getting the vaccine, writing: “Vaccine I can’t do it…….” He later deleted the tweet.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard encouraged unvaccinated players to “read the rules-know em like you know your plays” in a tweet. He added: “we playing in jail this year and you should act as such.”
The bottom line.
In my “humble” opinion, it’s ridiculous to fine players who refuse the vaccine — for good reason. If they refuse, then test positive for the virus, and infect other players? Game on. But the game Roger Goodell has played for the last year has been an embarrassment to professional sports. He continues to play it.
That’s my take. And I’m sticking to it.
Incidentally, here’s a quick look back at “the commish” and his league over the last year.
No, Really: NFL’s Goodell Upset Over ‘Misrepresentation’ of ‘Patriotic’ Anthem Kneelers
Like Clockwork? NFL’s Goodell Encourages Teams to Sign Kaepernick: ‘I Welcome That’
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