Image Credit: Icon Sportswire / Contributor /getty 
The NFL released new COVID regulations on Thursday that say a team with a COVID outbreak will be forced to forfeit any game the league can’t reschedule.
In addition to punishing the team with the outbreak, that organization would also be responsible for covering the lost revenue for the canceled game.
Players on both teams would not receive a paycheck for any game the league called off due to a COVID outbreak.
In response to the announcement, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tweeted and then deleted, “Never thought I would say this, But being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the @Nfl”
“Freedom?” the NFL superstar asked in a follow-up tweet.
Explaining one factor driving his hesitancy, Hopkins responded to a post by fellow NFL player Jalen Ramsey by saying his girlfriend’s brother had an adverse reaction “right after” getting the jab.
“My girlfriend brother in the military got the vaccine and had heart problems right after. When you stand for something they hate you!” Hopkins wrote.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey posted on Twitter, saying he knows two vaccinated people who have COVID right now and because of this an unvaccinated player isn’t putting his team at more risk than a vaccinated teammate.
“I wouldn’t look at a teammate as bad if he don’t get the vax, no pressure from 5 [me],” he wrote.
He clarified, “Whether you are vaccinated or not, there is still a chance of getting covid. I thought my point was simple but I guess not lol.”
Just because my teammate(s) personally decide not to get the vaccine, I won’t think they are a bad teammate. That’s all
It’s all love— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) July 22, 2021
After rumors of Hopkins’ retirement spread online, he told the NFL world he has about nine more years to go.
Btw I got about 9 more years in me, y’all have a good day
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 22, 2021
Hopkins isn’t the only player upset with the league’s announcement.
In a deleted tweet, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette said, “Vaccine I can’t do it……”
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard suggested all unvaccinated players read the league’s rules carefully, saying, “We playing in jail this year and you should act as such.”
Matthew Judon of the New England Patriots didn’t hold back at all, writing, “The NFLPA Fucking sucks.”
Former NFL player-turned popular podcast host Darius Butler said, “The NFL is dead ass wrong w/ that new memo they sent out to teams today. What’s new tho!? Basically forcing these needles into players arms at this point. Every player/personnel should have an ACTUAL ‘choice’ in the matter. They are sending a CLEAR message today.”
Gary Sheffield Jr., the son of MLB legend Gary Sheffield, told DeAndre Hopkins that he is happy he’s standing up for himself. “Pro forced vaxxers are going to claim he isn’t being forced into getting vaccinated, which is completely false. You are hanging his work life over his head into making a decision you support. That’s unconstitutional.”
Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliot recently told reporters that he doesn’t think the vaccine should be forced onto players, although he is vaccinated himself.
“I got the vaccine just because I wanted to put myself in the best situation to be out there for my team week in and week out. But I mean, not everyone feels that strongly or maybe other people still have their view of vaccines. You can’t force someone to do something that they don’t want to do to their body,” said Elliott, who had COVID last year.
Growing up, Elliott’s family “didn’t get vaccines, so it’s kind of hard to tell someone who their whole life, their mom, their dad tell them not to get vaccinated to go get vaccinated. So I mean it’s everyone’s body. Can’t tell them what to do with it. So I mean it’s kind of touchy. You just can’t go tell somebody.”
In an honest post, Seattle Seahawks cornerback DJ Reed admitted he didn’t want to get the vaccine, but caved and took the jab so he wouldn’t hinder his team.
Now, with Delta variant outbreaks occurring among vaccinated people around the country, how many players who took the shot are regretting that decision?
I didn’t want to get the vaccine. We don’t know the long term effects. If you have the vaccine you can still catch COVID. The NFL & NFLPA made getting the vaccine a competitive advantage. I just got my vaccine because I don’t want to hinder my team, idk how I feel about that
.
— DJ_2Great (@D7_Reed) July 22, 2021
Just one day after Hopkins’ tweet, the league may have discovered a way to avoid too much of a fight over the vaccine as a Washington Football Team reporter claimed Friday that new protocols will consider players who had COVID “fully vaccinated”.
Owen Shroyer breaks down the authoritarian leftists calling for dominion over people’s bodies to serve the corporate interest of big pharma’s economy of fear.
