Jaguars walk back coach Urban Meyer's claim that team weighed COVID-19 vaccination status during ros
Jaguars walk back coach Urban Meyer's claim that team weighed COVID-19 vaccination status during roster cuts
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jaguars/2021/09/01/urban-meyer-covid-vaccine-jacksonville-jaguars-cut/5680618001/
The Jacksonville Jaguars began Wednesday morning walking back new head coach Urban Meyer's latest ill-considered statements.
A day after Meyer said players' COVID-19 vaccination status factored into the team's decisions as it pared its roster down to 53, the team issued a statement contradicting Meyer.
Availability is one of the many factors taken into account when making roster decisions," read the statement. "We have vaccinated and unvaccinated players on our roster, and no player was released because of their vaccination status.
"Ultimately, decisions are based on a players ability to help the Jaguars win. We educate our players and respect personal decisions as it pertains to the vaccine. We want to keep our players, staff and families safe as we comply with protocols related to both health and safety and competition on game days."
The NFL Players Association is investigating the Jags given vaccination status is not supposed to affect employment, and unlike Major League Baseball, for example individual teams cannot mandate their players get vaccine shots.