© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
As we head towards training camp and most NFL teams wind down their offseason programs, a nebulous problem has emerged. While teams are having little to no issue getting their front office, coaching and other staffers vaccinated, they are running into issues in getting players vaccinated.
The 49ers, according to Kyle Shanahan, had 52 vaccinated players, and will need to get to 77 by training camp in order to proceed with relaxed protocols. All of their Tier 1 and 2 individuals have been fully vaccinated, and Shanahan said he hoped the team would cross the threshold by training camp.
Other teams, like Washington, are having an even tougher time. They brought in doctors to answer players questions, with players still remaining skeptical.
You’ve got various players across the league, like Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Montez Sweat, who are doing some version of their own research. Some football players feel they are more qualified to assess the efficacy of vaccines than scientists, doctors and epidemiologists. For those players, it appears there will be consequences.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced how training camp and preseason protocols will differ for vaccinated and unvaccinated players. Here are the changes, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to updated COVID-19 protocols for 2021 training camp and preseason, per source.
How different will life by for vaccinated and unvaccinated players? From the memo that just went to clubs: pic.twitter.com/8yMPW0JBWZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021
The thread continues below.
The memo reiterates that coaches and other staff who aren’t fully vaccinated and don’t have a religious or medical exemption won’t be eligible for Tier 1 or Tier 2 status starting in training camp, and thus won’t be allowed to work in-person with players. pic.twitter.com/RwoeYGu54F
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021
There are myriad differences in restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated players and personnel. Amongst the many differences include:
- Non-vaccinated players can be fined up to $50,000 for first-time protocol violations, which include going to nightclubs, bars, house parties, concerts and other large gatherings.
- Vaccinated players do not have to be tested. Unvaccinated players must be tested daily.
- Vaccinated players do not need to distance in team facilities, while unvaccinated players do.
- Quarantine is required for unvaccinated players who were exposed to high-risk COVID situations, while vaccinated players do not.
This can also hit players’ wallet; they are not permitted to social/media/marketing/sponsorship activities. The message is crystal clear; get vaccinated to make your, and everyone else’s lives safer and exponentially more convenient.
In additional, but related news, the NFL announced a boon for fans. Fans will be allowed back at training camp, though they will not be permitted to interact with players.
"Fans will be permitted to attend Training
Camp, provided that they are more than 20 feet away from Tier 1 staff, including
players, at all times, and adhere to physical distancing requirements. Fans will
not be permitted to interact with players at any time."— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021
