The number of teams whose players will not attend voluntary offseason workouts now has risen to 20, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions initially joined the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, and then 16 other teams joined in as well. In statements issued through the NFL Players Association, the players indicated that they would not attend offseason workouts until there is a greater degree of control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increasing rate of vaccination throughout the United States, positivity rates on tests have not decreased, and the players have decided not to take part. The league responded by changing Phase One of the workout program to four weeks in length, implementing virtual meetings and weight room work without any drills on the field. We will see how this debate goes forward, as many adults in the United States are resisting vaccination — and many of them are the same ones who resist wearing masks.
Will this impact the NFL’s plans to move toward 100% stadium capacity in the fall? We will see — and we will see how this impacts the online NFL betting markets.
NFL News: COVID-19 Update (April 22)
NFL coaches, staff effectively required to receive vaccinations
The NFL is requiring any team staff — including coaches and other employees — who would come into contact with any players to receive the COVID-19 vaccination unless they can demonstrate a “bona fide medical or religious ground for not doing so.” While the league is not threatening people who do not get vaccinated with termination, it would be almost impossible for people who decline vaccination to perform their jobs effectively. The policy rejects the majority of the arguments that have been put forth against immunization. Players are not covered by this policy, but coaches are, and there have been a number of coaches who were skeptical of the mask protocols that the league implemented in 2020. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a judgment late in 2020 saying that companies are allowed to require vaccination among their employees.
NFL teams facing difficulties in talent evaluation due to COVID-19
As NFL general managers approach the NFL draft next week, one common theme in their reflections is the difficulty associated with assessing talent. While there is more online information available now than there was when GMs had to get their staff on the phone with individual colleges to get detailed data, there are factors going into this season that play a unique role. For example, even the teams that played last fall played fewer games, and teams went through extended shutdown periods that kept players from reaching a level of consistency. Scouts were not able to travel as much because of pandemic limitations. The NFL scouting combine in February was canceled, leaving each college to host its own pro day. Some college players did not play at all in the fall because they opted out due to COVID-19 concerns. Others are playing a spring season, in the lower divisions. The only event in the recruiting season that took place at close to normal conditions was the Senior Bowl in Mobile, which took place with almost no limitations. Teams could also conduct interviews virtually with players using Zoom and FaceTime. However, the gold standard right now is getting players on film and seeing what they might contribute. For the league’s 32 teams, though, choosing in the draft will be a dicier proposition this year than it has ever been.
NFLPA clarifies COVID-19 stances
The NFL Players Association is not mandating that players receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is also making the claim that the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unsafe to attend workouts in person. The union has said that a reduction in off-season work would be better for players over time, but it also agreed to push the regular season from 16 to 17 games. This might seem contradictory, but the union feels that wear and tear have been equaled out as a result, particularly with the removal of one preseason game. The union and league will continue to discuss making the entire off-season virtual.
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