SEATTLE, Wash. — After NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced in a memo on Thursday that COVID-19 outbreaks could lead to forfeits and a potential loss of paychecks, Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback DJ Reed spoke out on Twitter.
Reed said, “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 (I don’t know) how I feel about that.”
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
Goodell outlined a plan where teams could forfeit a game due to a COVID-19 outbreak among non-vaccinated players.
Not only would a forfeit count as a loss and the potential to not get into the playoffs, but both teams would not get paid that game week.
Goodell said there were no plans to add a 19th week to the current regular season for rescheduling potential cancellations.
Arizona Cardinals player DeAndre Hopkins floated the idea of retirement on Twitter after the announcement today.
DeAndre Hopkins reacted to the NFL's new memo on COVID-19 outbreaks during the season.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 22, 2021
Teams who have a COVID-19 outbreak would be forced to forfeit games if they cannot be rescheduled.
Hopkins has since deleted his post and followed up with a new tweet saying "Freedom?" pic.twitter.com/plEQYTJ7a8
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