The NFL Is Right to Threaten Forfeits: Unchecked

The NFL is right to do everything but mandate players get vaccinated by threatening forfeits.

The NFL is right to attempt to strong-arm players to get vaccinated. It’s anyone’s right not to get the shot, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be consequences from that decision. And as a business they want to prevent the health of the league from being harmed, both quite literally and financially.

The NFL just informed clubs that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will FORFEIT and be credited with a loss for playoff seeding, per sources.

Massive implications.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

So the memo they just released which threatens forfeits for games that can’t be rescheduled due to outbreaks amongst unvaccinated players and missed paychecks for the games missed simply makes sense.

I can’t stop refreshing Cole Beasley’s twitter. https://t.co/8qcb0SfBfH

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 22, 2021

As does the quicker return time for vaccinated individuals who test positive. It’s not as if the NFL hasn’t put policies into place in the past that were unpopular with some players and they generally had nothing to do with public health.

Massive ramifications laid down by the NFL today focusing on outbreaks stemming from unvaccinated players, per @AlbertBreer pic.twitter.com/wCl19QbfOo

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 22, 2021

The science is pretty clear that the risk of spread and serious side effects is immensely reduced amongst those who are vaccinated, regardless of how anyone personally feels about it. 

DeAndre Hopkins deleted a tweet “questioning [his] future” in the NFL after the league announced any team with a COVID outbreak due to unvaccinated players could result in a forfeit pic.twitter.com/PsOeCWQy4u

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 22, 2021

Now the incentive for players to get the vaccine isn’t just for safety, which should be enough of a reason, but to be a good teammate as well. Because those who still choose not to are risking impacting their team’s win/loss record and the wallets of others.

Michael Irvin ripped his team for being among the list of NFL franchises that have not yet reached the 85% vaccine threshold. 💉🏈https://t.co/gqfsuzgkzY

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 19, 2021

It’s basically as close as the league can get to a mandate without explicitly instituting one. Not to mention in doing so given their immense popularity and position in society they are sending a message to the general public as well.

The NFL: essentially mandating players get the vaccine without actually mandating the players get the vaccine.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 22, 2021

So let me do something that doesn’t get done that often and give credit to Roger Goodell.