The NFL’s most contentious topic is likely to have an even bigger impact on players: their money.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the league sent teams a document outlining COVID-19 protocols for training camp and the preseason on Tuesday.
According to the report, athletes who refuse to wear a tracking device that can identify whether they’ve gone to banned regions outside team facilities would be fined $14,650, regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated.
Pelissero also stated that players who refuse to get tested for viruses will be fined $50,000.
According to a source, the NFL tonight handed teams amended training camp and preseason COVID protocols, which include penalties for any player who refuses to wear a tracking device ($14,650) or submit to mandated viral testing ($50,000) regardless of vaccination status.
MORE: NFL’s new COVID-19 standards have major repercussions for teams with the greatest and lowest vaccination rates Pelissero also listed other league mandates in the document.
Inactive athletes who are unvaccinated must wear masks during lifts, walkthroughs, and practice, “unless when doing so would interfere with their ability to engage in athletic activity.”
The NFL Players Association and the league have both approved the COVID-19 standards, according to Pelissero.
This isn’t the first time the league has taken a firm position on etiquette violations.
It notified clubs on Thursday that if a game is postponed due to an outbreak among unvaccinated players and cannot be rescheduled within the league’s 18-week regular season, the team with the outbreak forfeits the game and neither team’s players get paid.
The NFL doesn’t appear to be interested in dealing with the huge logistical challenges it experienced last year, when the COVID-19 outbreak prompted the postponing – but not cancellation – of games.
Vaccination has been a source of contention among players and coaching staffs alike.
“I guess that’s HIPAA,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said Friday when asked if he got vaccinated. The Vikings fired offensive line coach Rick Dennison after he refused to get the vaccine, though he will stay with the team as a senior offensive adviser.
It will be fascinating to watch if the NFL’s strategy of going after players’ wallets results in increased vaccination rates.
