This website collects cookies to deliver better user experience. Cookie Policy
Accept
Sign In
The Wall Street Publication
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: As COVID-19 impacts teams, frustration over NFL skeptics heats up
Share
The Wall Street PublicationThe Wall Street Publication
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.
The Wall Street Publication > Blog > Trending > As COVID-19 impacts teams, frustration over NFL skeptics heats up
Trending

As COVID-19 impacts teams, frustration over NFL skeptics heats up

Editorial Board Published November 23, 2021
Share
As COVID-19 impacts teams, frustration over NFL skeptics heats up
SHARE

Yes, more important battles than the fight over who should be allowed to play football are taking place in the national debate over COVID-19 vaccines — from the president asking the courts again Tuesday to reinstate a shot mandate, to service members seeking exemptions, to families deciding who gets to come to Thanksgiving dinner.

But this country is still football-crazy. And the vaccine argument is suddenly heating up in the NFL. 

The Dallas Cowboys, who face the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, go into the traditional Thanksgiving Day game without their top receiver in Amari Cooper — who already missed Sunday’s loss against the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19.

As an unvaccinated player, Cooper must miss at least 10 days following a positive test because of NFL protocols — which differentiate the procedures for when vaccinated and unvaccinated players can return. And since the Cowboys are on a short week, the four-time Pro Bowler has no shot at playing in the holiday classic under the league’s guidelines.

Teammates are sticking by Cooper’s right to refuse the shot, but some fans, including former players, are livid.

“I’m absolutely hot about it,” Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin told TMZ Sports. “Are you joking? …. I got a guy [in Cooper] who makes $21 million [per year] on the bench, at home, not playing. It’s crazy. Our job as athletes is to try to remove any reason of not winning the Super Bowl. … You have to try to mitigate any issue that can cost you a game or a Super Bowl. And COVID is one of them.

“You go get vaccinated to try to mitigate it, best you can. Now, you can still get it even after you get vaccinated, but it’s a different percentage, or chance, of you getting it,” said Irvin, a former Cowboy.

A source with knowledge of the NFL’s testing procedures told The Washington Times that unvaccinated players this season are testing at a rate two times higher than vaccinated individuals. The league said that rate was as high as seven times back in August, but it has since decreased. According to the NFL, 94.3% of players are vaccinated. Players who don’t show proof of vaccination to the NFL are allowed to keep playing but must submit to more rigorous testing.

From Aug. 1 through Nov. 13, 128 players and 232 personnel — made up of executives, coaches and staff members — have tested positive for the virus.

In the two weeks before Nov. 13, 20,353 tests were administered to a total of 6,518 players and team personnel.

Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, told the NFL Network recently that 20% of vaccinated players were returning from the league’s COVID-19 reserve list sooner than the 10-day window that unvaccinated players must abide by. Under the league’s protocols, vaccinated players can return to play as soon as they pass two COVID-19 tests within 24 hours and are medically cleared.

The doctor said vaccinated players have “shorter duration of illness” and milder cases, allowing them to get out of quarantine. 

“As a total number we have more cases among vaccinated, just because we have so many more vaccinated people,” Dr. Sills said. “But I’ll point out that unvaccinated players have consistently tested positive at a much higher rate than vaccinated players have.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott defended Cooper — “my brother,” he said — in his post-game press conference.

“It’s unfortunate not having him,” Prescott said. “But to say ‘The decision he made?’ I mean, me, I’m vaccinated, I can get it and be out two games. So let’s not try to knock the guy or put the guy down for a personal decision.”

Cooper isn’t the only unvaccinated player under scrutiny.

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers faced similar criticism when he was forced to sit out Nov. 7’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. One of the league’s biggest stars, Rodgers is one of several quarterbacks who have passed up the chance to get the vaccine. Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and Indianapolis’ Carson Wentz are unvaccinated, and in August, a Michigan hospital Cousins partnered with cut ties with the quarterback over his vaccine stance. 

This month, Rodgers pushed back against criticism that he misled people over his vaccination status. The Packers quarterback initially told reporters over the summer that he was “immunized,” but reports revealed Rodgers was unvaccinated following a positive test. 

In an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers accused the media of conducting a “witch hunt” by asking players if they were vaccinated. Rodgers said he was allergic to an ingredient in two of the three vaccines — the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna — and was concerned about getting the Johnson & Johnson shot due to potential side effects. He repeated a debunked claim that the vaccine could cause fertility problems.

“I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some sort of woke culture or crazed individuals who say you have to do something,” Rodgers said. 

It’s not just football players who refuse to get the shot, either. The NHL gave Evander Kane a 21-game suspension for submitting a fake vaccination card to the league. 

In the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets asked star Kyrie Irving to not be part of their team if he wasn’t going to comply with a local mandate that required all New York-based athletes to have the vaccine to play in home games.

Irving hasn’t taken the kind of public stand that Rodgers did. Irving instead asked people, at least initially, to respect his privacy.

But after a report came out that said Irving, citing sources close to him, wants to be a “voice for the voiceless” by refusing the vaccine, the NBA guard faced widespread backlash. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said Irving’s reported reasoning was “the stupidest thing that I think I have encountered with an NBA player.” 

TNT’s Charles Barkley said Irving had a responsibility to not get the vaccine for himself, but for others. 

“You get vaccinated for your family first,” Mr. Barkley said. “You get vaccinated for your teammates second.”

That idea — getting the vaccine for others — was also raised when Rodgers was criticized. 

“I respect his attitude toward being an individual, but this is a team game,” Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson said on FOX. “In all honesty, I’m disappointed in his play on words for his explanation. I’m disappointed in some of his selfish actions.”

For more information, visit The Washington Times COVID-19 resource page.

TAGGED:TrendingWall Street Publication
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Apple Sues Israeli Firm NSO Over Spyware, Claiming iPhone Hacks Apple Sues Israeli Firm NSO Over Spyware, Claiming iPhone Hacks
Next Article ‘Clock is ticking’ as U.S. vulnerable to Chinese electromagnetic attack, experts warn ‘Clock is ticking’ as U.S. vulnerable to Chinese electromagnetic attack, experts warn

Editor's Pick

Erika Jayne & Jesse Solomon Reportedly Boned

Erika Jayne & Jesse Solomon Reportedly Boned

Studying Time: 3 minutes Did Erika Jayne and Jesse Solomon hook up? In response to experiences, not solely did they…

By Editorial Board 5 Min Read
Fashion Designer Hyeonseo Irene Park: Redefining Menswear Through Originality and Collaboration
Fashion Designer Hyeonseo Irene Park: Redefining Menswear Through Originality and Collaboration

In the dynamic world of fashion, collaboration has emerged as a powerful…

4 Min Read
Girl fights for her brother Jason Corbett’s honor after brutal North Carolina homicide
Girl fights for her brother Jason Corbett’s honor after brutal North Carolina homicide

This story beforehand aired on Feb. 22, 2020. It was up to…

51 Min Read

Oponion

Greatest Epson printer

Greatest Epson printer

Which Epson printer is finest? Whereas the world continues to barrel…

April 30, 2025

Maximizing Effectivity with Multifunction Printers within the Workplace

Multifunction printers (MFPs) are important instruments…

September 16, 2024

Moderna Drops Pursuit of U.S. Patent for Key Component of Covid-19 Vaccine

Moderna Inc. MRNA 4.53% has abandoned…

December 17, 2021

Highschool boys basketball rankings Feb. 18, 2025: Bay Space Information Group Prime 20

Bay Space Information Group boys basketball…

February 18, 2025

Why you shouldn’t sit on the bathroom for greater than 10 minutes

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira | CNN Let’s…

November 12, 2024

You Might Also Like

Tenvil Mackenson: Rebuilding Haiti, Brick by Brick
LifestyleTrending

Tenvil Mackenson: Rebuilding Haiti, Brick by Brick

In a country often entangled in instability and shadowed by accusations of corruption and criminal conspiracies, Tenvil Mackenson has emerged as a striking…

4 Min Read
Finding Voice Through Silence: The Story of OR GOLAN
LifestyleTrending

Finding Voice Through Silence: The Story of OR GOLAN

In a world where expression is often taken for granted, finding one’s voice can be an uphill battle—especially when that…

6 Min Read
The Landscape of International Trade in 2025: Constant Evolution and Strategic Shifts
TechTrending

The Landscape of International Trade in 2025: Constant Evolution and Strategic Shifts

The international trade landscape is in constant flux, and the year 2025 is no exception. According to expert Manoel Gil…

3 Min Read
Lara Rose’s Journey from Aspiring Trauma Surgeon to a Seven-Figure Earning Digital Entrepreneur
Trending

Lara Rose’s Journey from Aspiring Trauma Surgeon to a Seven-Figure Earning Digital Entrepreneur

You never know when a viral moment will change your entire life. That was certainly the case for Lara Rose,…

5 Min Read
The Wall Street Publication

About Us

The Wall Street Publication, a distinguished part of the Enspirers News Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Committed to delivering unfiltered global news, we pride ourselves on our trusted coverage of Politics, Business, Technology, and more.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?