Clayton: Broncos in great shape to deal with NFL’s new COVID policy
Jul 22, 2021, 4:49 PM
The NFL informed teams on Thursday that if there is a COVID-19 breakout involving non-vaccinated players this season that would force a game to be rescheduled, the team with the breakout would have to forfeit the game. No more schedule juggling. No more postponements. One team gets a W. The other gets an L.
Clearly, the league is using strong-arm tactics to get as many players vaccinated as quickly as possible. Non-vaccinated players have to wear masks at all times in the team headquarters. They are not permitted to dine with their teammates. They have to fly separately on road games. They are also subject to fines or possibly losing some of their paychecks.
Those are all pretty big motivations. The latest announcement is even more, as it would impact a player’s teammates, not just the individual.
If there is a forfeit, players for both teams wouldn’t get paid. That’s 1/17th of their income for the year gone.
On social media, there were plenty of negative reactions. Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey said he knew of two players who have been vaccinated that had positive test. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tweeted he might retire from football rather than be forced to take a vaccine. He later deleted the tweet. New England Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy ripped the NFLPA for allowing this to happen.
Currently, 14 teams have vaccination rates of higher than 85 percent. The other 18 teams are between 50 percent and 85 percent. The lower the percentage, the bigger chance of problems that could create competitive disadvantages for the team.
Where do the Broncos stand? They are in great shape. Denver is at roughly 95 percent, which is the best in the league. There are no worries about a forfeit for Vic Fangio and Company in 2021.
