Sports
Related: About this forumBetting on the NFL? Take the team with more vaccinated players.
Opinion, Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle
The NFL is all about competitive advantage, right? Any extra step, any extra hour of video study, any extra rep.
This season, there will be another huge competitive advantage: any extra shot.
Though the NFL does not have a vaccination requirement, per se, it has done a good job of incentivizing vaccinations for players. And that approach seems to be working. Many teams have announced 100% vaccination rates.
After last weeks final cuts, the league announced a 93% vaccination rate among players. That figure also includes practice-squad players who likely have an even higher rate, because vaccinated players can be signed to a 53-man roster right away without a waiting period, but unvaccinated players will face a period of limbo, which is useless to teams in need. Those crunching the numbers translate the percentage to an average of about five unvaccinated players per roster.
(paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/Betting-on-the-NFL-Take-the-team-with-more-16444032.php
An average of five per team is still too high since we know even the vaccinated can can get sick. Lose your QB? Edge rusher? Blindside tackle? Not to mention that you just could kill someone.
Article highlights:
Consequences for the unvaccinated:
Unvaccinated players face daily coronavirus testing, as opposed to once a week for vaccinated players.
The unvaccinated will be in five-day quarantines if they have high-risk close contact with positive individuals; the vaccinated will not face quarantines.
Prohibited from traveling during the bye week (nor were they allowed to travel over Labor Day weekend, when teams were off.
Unvaccinated players cannot have team meals.
They cannot visit with family or friends on the road or leave the team hotel for meals.
They face $15,000 fines for any lapse in protocol, including not wearing masks or going to bars or concerts.
We all know about forfeits. Players on teams involved in a forfeiture would not be paid. Team responsible for the outbreak will have to cover financial losses.
Teams with quarterbacks who havent gotten vaccinated: notables included Indianapolis Carson Wentz, Minnesotas Kirk Cousins and (at least as of mid-August) Baltimores Lamar Jackson.
It cost Cam Newton his job.
Also from the link (something for the fans):
Only the Saints, Raiders and Seahawks are requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test for entry to games.
MichMan
(13,086 posts)underpants
(186,499 posts)I say that as a Browns fan.....holy crap THIS REALLY COULD BE THE YEAR!!!!
ESPN projection algorithm has the Bills beating the Packers in the Super Bowl for what its worth.
Auggie
(31,775 posts)Sorry
Its da curse of Bobby Lane, ay?
sop
(11,122 posts)who downplay concussion symptoms and readily inject sketchy pain-numbing medications to play when injured, would just get vaccinated.