It certainly feels like 46,351 NFL players have already been placed in the Covid protocol this week, with plenty of big names that will impact the playoff race (in real life and my fvcking fantasy team), and the NFL Player’s Association knows who to blame:
The league.
YES, the plot twist we needed. Fvck you, Roger Goodell.
“The NFL decided to take away a critical weapon in our fight against the transmission of COVID-19 despite our union’s call for daily testing months ago,” the NFLPA blasted on social media.
“We’re talking to our player leadership & to the NFL about potential changes to the protocols so that we can complete the season.”
This really isn’t the shock I led with. The Player’s Association set this course of action back in September when the league just willy nilly changed the testing protocols.
JC Tretter — the NFLPA President — released a statement months ago predicting the exact situation that has played out because of not testing daily, and spelling out exactly what kind of issues those changes could present for the league.
They, of course, did not listen.
The NFL decided to take away a critical weapon in our fight against the transmission of COVID-19 despite our union's call for daily testing months ago. We're talking to our player leadership & to the NFL about potential changes to the protocols so that we can complete the season. pic.twitter.com/r14HqZ2iMC
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 15, 2021
Now, it appears, the league is considering just scrapping testing altogether if players get the booster.
It is a nice way to avoid the logistical problem of asymptomatic players, who are vaxed but still popping positives.
As of this writing, at least 62 players have tested positive in the past two days. So at the most pivotal point in the NFL regular season, many players who feel fine and who are likely vaccinated can’t play.
It is bad for business and doesn’t make sense. So, now it is changing.
One idea being discussed in NFL circles at the December meeting: Incentivizing players getting the COVID-19 booster shot with the promise they'll stop testing players who have gotten it. Given the Browns' and Rams' situations, it's worth considering.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 15, 2021
(Column coming on this.)
As it stands on Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns’ game is ruined, so is Thursday’s Chargers-Chiefs matchup that could decide the AFC West.
How many other games of importance will get wiped out while everyone points fingers?