NFL Team Cut 2 Unvaccinated Players Just to Get to 100 Percent Vaccination Rate: Report

The Atlanta Falcons have been fast to boast about changing into the primary NFL group to achieve a 100% vaccination price on Monday. Nonetheless, a brand new report suggests there’s extra to the story than the group has let on.

Based on Pro Football Talk, the Falcons nonetheless had a few gamers who declined to get the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than Monday. So as to guarantee their standing as the primary group to be absolutely vaccinated, it appears the Falcons took issues into their very own arms.

“It didn’t occur as a result of they satisfied their lingering holdouts to get the vaccine,” PFT reported. “Per a league supply, the Falcons made it to full vaccination amongst all gamers by reducing their two unvaccinated gamers.”

On Monday, the Falcons introduced on Twitter that they’d reduce linebacker George Obinna and offensive lineman Bryce Hargrove.

We’ve got launched George Obinna and Bryce Hargrove.

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 16, 2021

PFT didn’t report the names of the unvaccinated players who have been reduce from the group, however the timing means Obinna and Hargrove have been possible the 2 in query.

Each Obinna and Hargrove entered the league as undrafted free brokers, in accordance with Sports Illustrated. Obinna set a faculty report for sacks at Sacramento State, whereas Hargrove signed with the Falcons this 12 months after attending the College of Pittsburgh.

Afterward Monday, the Falcons posted one other tweet declaring that they’d reached a 100% vaccination price.

We’ve got reached a 100-percent COVID-19 vaccination price. https://t.co/9stG5womHQ

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 16, 2021

Based on PFT, a number of different NFL groups might have reached that threshold by reducing unvaccinated gamers, “however these groups have unvaccinated gamers who’re considered too priceless to the broader mission of profitable as many video games as potential.”

Probably the most outspoken critics of the NFL’s vaccine protocols is Buffalo Payments receiver Cole Beasley.

In July, he defined in a press release that he feels gamers must be allowed to make their very own selections in regards to the vaccine, ESPN reported.

“I’m not anti- or pro-vax — I’m pro-choice,” Beasley stated. “With that being stated, the problem at hand is data being withheld from gamers to ensure that a player to be swayed in a route he is probably not snug with.”

“When coping with a player’s well being and security, there must be full transparency relating to data that’s very important within the decision-making course of. With out having all the right data, a player can really feel misguided and not sure a couple of very private selection.

“It makes a player really feel unprotected and offers issues about future matters relating to well being and our capacity to make educated selections.”

Based on ESPN, Beasley was the Payments’ second most efficient receiver final season, with 82 receptions for 967 yards and 4 touchdowns. Provided that success, it might make sense that the Payments would hesitate to launch him for selecting to not get vaccinated.

Whereas the NFL doesn’t expressly require gamers to get vaccinated, it imposes heavy restrictions on those that select to not obtain the shot. In June, the league despatched a memo to all groups explaining that unvaccinated gamers can be topic to testing, mask mandates and different vital restrictions.

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to up to date COVID-19 protocols for 2021 coaching camp and preseason, per supply.

How completely different will life by for vaccinated and unvaccinated gamers? From the memo that simply went to golf equipment: pic.twitter.com/8yMPW0JBWZ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021

Due to these insurance policies, gamers combating for a roster spot who select to not get the vaccine will probably be at a drawback, in accordance with PFT.

“It had been believed that almost all if not all gamers firmly within the backside rungs of the roster would get vaccinated with a purpose to improve their probabilities of making it to the 53-man roster or the 16-man apply squad,” the outlet reported.

PFT added that unvaccinated gamers who’re reduce from rosters are unlikely to obtain alternatives with different groups as a result of they need to wait 5 days earlier than attempting out or signing.