The 2021 NFL season is scheduled to start on September 3rd. The season opener will be played at the Raymond James Stadium in Florida, home of reigning champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Similar to the 2020 season, this year’s fixtures will also be affected by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Teams across the league are preparing for yet another ‘eventful’ year filled with uncertainty. But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and senior league officials are working round the clock to ensure that their players are safe from the deadly virus during the regular season.
They’ve released a set of new guidelines in the build-up to preseason. Here is what former Indianapolis Colts kicker, Pat McAfee, feels about these updates.
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NFL issues latest updates regarding COVID-19 measures ahead of 2021 season
The NFL & NFLPA sent a memo that vaccines won't be required for players per @TomPelissero
Coaches & team personnel will have restricted access without one however #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/Euk1LLPG4x
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 13, 2021
Speaking on the latest segment of The Pat McAfee Show, former NFL star-turned-analyst McAfee addressed the league’s vaccine policy with respect to players and coaches.
The latest COVID-19 update states that it will not be mandatory for players to take the vaccine. However, coaches and first-team personnel will have restricted access within their respective organizations if they fail to get vaccinated.
He said, “There’s also some more vaccination stuff coming out from the NFL via Tom Pelissero. As we’re kind of happening live here, Tom Pelissero says the NFL and the NFLPA have said COVID vaccines won’t be required for players.
“But the memo they sent out this morning saying that somebody has to have a bonafide medical or religious ground for why they would refuse a COVID-19 vaccination.
Offseason programs are scheduled to begin Monday. JC Tretter told players on a call last week the NFL's last proposal was to have the first two weeks be virtual, then start in-person. The union wants everything prior to training camp to be virtual, including mandatory minicamp.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 13, 2021
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“It only mandates for coaches, among others in the tier one staff that are not players, directing clubs to set up vaccination sites for staff players and eligible family members, that’s the latest strong push.
“Okay, so coming out of it on the other side now, just as we had thought potentially will happen, there’s gonna be a lot of things to figure out on the other side of this whole COVID thing as well,” McAfee said on the show.
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We’re not sure how league authorities will manage their personnel with this intricate set of rules and regulations. It will definitely be difficult to track whether these new policies are being adhered to or not. However, the league needs to keep infections to a minimum in order to prevent any halts.
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