As we previously reported, the NFL is going all-in to force players to get vaccinated.

They intend to not only make it very costly for any player who refuses, but to make it costly for his team so that the team will pressure people themselves.

The NFL announced that if any game in the season had to be canceled because of an unvaccinated player getting the Wuhan coronavirus, there could be massive consequences.

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

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

The team responsible could be responsible for financial losses, the players might not get paid and the unvaccinated might be subject to discipline.

But I wanted to note the reaction in response. Not everyone is going along with this quietly. Some didn’t want to get it, others objected to people being forced to get it. Some criticized the union for not standing up for the players.

“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 star player DeAndre Hopkins said in a tweet he later deleted. He also tweeted, “Freedom?”

New NFL COVID policy has DeAndre Hopkins questioning his future 😳 pic.twitter.com/UNTk4YNG1A

— PFF (@PFF) July 22, 2021

The @NFL is dead ass wrong w/ that new memo they sent out to teams today. What’s new tho!? Basically forcing these needles into players arms at this point. Every player/personnel should have an ACTUAL “choice” in the matter. They are sending a CLEAR message today.

— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) July 22, 2021

Some of y’all clearly didn’t get what I’m saying here lol.. the NFL is pressuring/ “influencing” guys to get the vaccine. They are saying if there is an outbreak, the team will be penalized heavily. My point is no teammate of mine will feel that pressure from me because… https://t.co/odRnl7xUUZ

— 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

Seahawks’ D.J.Reed:

I didn’t want to get the vaccine. We don’t know the long term effects. If you have the vaccine you can still catch COVID. The NFL & NFLPA made getting the vaccine a competitive advantage. I just got my vaccine because I don’t want to hinder my team, idk how I feel about that🤷🏾‍♂️.

— DJ_2Great (@D7_Reed) July 22, 2021

Buffalo Bills player Cole Beasley said he wouldn’t be getting it and confirmed that.

Nothing has changed. I’m still livin freely. Goodnight.

— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) July 23, 2021

He also got into a polite vaccine discussion with his teammate, vaccine proponent, Jerry Hughes.

Jerry so if a vaccinated player gives an unvaccinated player with underlying conditions covid it’s cool though? And the player with underlying conditions gets blamed for it. From minority to the majority now the minorities don’t matter? https://t.co/sJC1ec0DC1

— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) July 23, 2021

Tampa Bay Bucs player Leonard Fournette seemed to indicate he wasn’t for it either.

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

New England Patriots’ Matt Judon said that the players’ association “f***ing sucks.”

It appears at least two coaches are out as well because of this.

Rick Dennison is out as Vikings offensive line coach/run game coordinator after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich is also out in what was described as a “decision related to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines.” They’re probably not the last folks who may be out over this.

The Players Association didn’t seem to have any pushback here and that’s a bad thing that they didn’t fight for the players if for no other reason than to have something so potentially restrictive dropped on them. But it would appear that they’re cowed by the subject. So much for the worth of unions.