NFL pushes for more testing for vaccinated players amid rise in breakthrough cases as the league claims it wanted to mandate shots
The NFL and the players' union are pushing for more testing among immunized players amid a rise in breakthrough cases while both are accusing the other of killing a vaccine mandate ahead of the upcoming 2021 season.
Commissioner Roger Goodell's office has asked the players' union to adjust protocols so vaccinated players would be tested weekly instead of every 14 days. The NFLPA has been pushing for daily testing for all players.
Under current rules, only unvaccinated players are tested daily, as they were during the 2020 season before the injections were available.
Currently 93 percent of players are vaccinated, according to the NFL, which reported 68 positives cases out of 7,190 tested individuals between August 1 and August 21. The 0.95 percent incidence rate is lower than in most communities.
About seven times as many unvaccinated players have tested positive for COVID-19 compared to their immunized counterparts, according to the NFL.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, wearing a COVID-19 vaccinated sticker, speaks during the first round of the NFL football draft in Cleveland on April 29. This week, with 93 percent of NFL players vaccinated, both the league and the union are pushing for more testing among immunized players amid a rise in breakthrough cases
NFLPA president JC Tretter , a center for the Cleveland Browns, said earlier this week the decision not to make vaccination mandatory was done by the league. But league officials disputed that assertion Thursday. The league reported 68 positives cases out of 7,190 tested individuals between August 1-21. The 0.95 percent incidence rate is lower than in most communities. Dr. Allen Sills , the league's chief medical officer, said almost all cases across have been the Delta variant. He said vaccinated individuals have had very mild upper respiratory illness, shorter duration. Sills also said none of the players who've tested positive required hospitalization
Bucs safety Jordan Whitehead is pictured wearing a mask before a training camp practice
As for the vaccine mandate, NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter said earlier this week the decision not to require the injections was done by the league.
However, league officials disputed that assertion Thursday.
'We've been discussing mandatory vaccination from the start,' NFL deputy general counsel Larry Ferazani said Thursday. 'In fact, we took the lead and required staff and coaches to be vaccinated in order to have access to a player.
'Beginning at that point, we began banging the drum for what NFLPA' experts also concede is the single greatest way that we can protect the players and the staff, which is to get to a 100 percent vaccination level. That was our request from that, and we would still love to see that mandate go into effect tomorrow.'
NFL officials also do not have a vaccine mandate.
Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, said almost all cases across have been the Delta variant.
He said vaccinated individuals have had very mild upper respiratory illness, shorter duration. Sills also said none of the players who've tested positive required hospitalization.
As for testing, Sills downplayed the importance of daily screenings for vaccinated players by saying 'testing isn't prevention.'
'It's one part of our mitigation strategy but it's not the key part,' he said. 'It's not testing alone that will get us through this surge.'
The NFL and NFLPA detailed new protocols for vaccinated players in a recent memo
Government health authorities have warned that even though the COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly effective -- the Pfizer and Moderna ones about 95 percent against symptomatic infection in studies -- they’re not guaranteed to prevent infection.
The NFL said that 120 players have received warning letters with 25 players fined for mask or tracking device violations.
Under league rules, the first offense for violating the protocols will result in a fine of $14,650. Repeat violations could result in a player being suspended or fined a week's salary.
Buffalo Bills wide receivers Cole Beasley and Isaiah McKenzie revealed this week that they were fined by the NFL for mask violations at the team facility.
McKenzie wrote 'They got me! @NFL you win!' in a social media post in which he included a copy of the first page of a letter he received from the league informing him of the violation. It was McKenzie's second violation; the league issued him a warning on July 27, a day before the Bills opened training camp.
The NFL wrote that McKenzie twice failed to wear a mask on Wednesday. The first violation came while he walked through the team's fieldhouse to the trainer's room, and the second was later in the day while he was in a meeting area of the weight room near other players.
After publicly rejecting the NFL's efforts to persuade players to get vaccinated, Bills receiver Cole Beasley must spend at least five days away from the team facility due to contact tracing
Cole Beasley, along with fellow Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie , revealed this week that they were fined by the NFL for mask violations at the team facility
Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie wrote 'They got me! @NFL you win!' in a social media post in which he included a copy of the first page of a letter he received from the league informing him of the violation. It was McKenzie's second violation; the league issued him a warning on July 27, a day before the Bills opened training camp
The league also noted his violation came shortly after NFL staff made a presentation reminding players of the mask-wearing requirements and that penalties may result to players who fail to do so.
'For players who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, like you, your conduct is expressly prohibited by the protocols,' the NFL wrote. 'Again, your conduct potentially compromised not only your safety, but the safety of others, as well as the league's ability to ensure that your club's training camp is conducted in a safe manner.'
Beasley responded to McKenzie's tweet by revealing that he has also been fined.
'Don't worry they got me too,' Beasley wrote. 'But I was wearing a mask when I was in close contact with fully vaxxed trainer who tested positive and still got sent home. So what's the point of the mask anyways? Meanwhile I'm here still testing negative and can't come back. Make it make sense.'
Although 93 percent of NFL players are vaccinated, according to the league, the Bills appear to be on the lower end of that spectrum, and The Athletic recently reported that the team is 'hovering around 80 percent.'
Bills general manager Brandon Beane recently told reporters that he doesn't know if the team has more than 80 percent of its roster vaccinated.
On Thursday, Bills coach Sean McDermott vented his frustrations about his players' reluctance to get vaccinated.
'It's tough,' McDermott said before practice. 'It's frustrating. It's challenging, however you want to say it. But I can't make the decision for them.'
The Tennessee Titans' virus outbreak has reached nine, with three players added Thursday to the reserve/COVID-19 list, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill , who said he begrudgingly began the vaccination process last month
Also on Thursday, the Tennessee Titans' virus outbreak reached nine, with three players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who said he begrudgingly began the vaccination process last month.
General manager Jon Robinson said Tannehill, tight end Geoff Swaim and linebacker Justin March-Lillard are joining four other players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That makes three Titans starters out, along with coach Mike Vrabel, bringing the team's outbreak to eight people.
Later Thursday afternoon, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported there was a ninth positive on the team.
Robinson said the Titans are close to being either 97 percent or 98 percent vaccinated or with antibodies present, indicating a person recently or previously had COVID-19. Tannehill said at the start of training camp that he was in the process of being vaccinated.
Vrabel announced Sunday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 a day after the Titans beat Tampa Bay 34-3 in Florida. He later received monoclonal antibodies treatment.
In late July, Tannehill admitted he didn't want the COVID-19 vaccine, but said he was starting the process because the 'forced his hand' with protocols that would have made his life 'miserable' otherwise.
General manager Jon Robinson said Tannehill, tight end Geoff Swaim and linebacker Justin March-Lillard are joining four other players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That makes three Titans starters out, along with coach Mike Vrabel, bringing the team's outbreak to nine people. Vrabel announced Sunday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 a day after the Titans beat Tampa Bay 34-3 in Florida. He later received monoclonal antibodies treatment