NFL announces new punishments for games that are PPD for covid next season

rodderick

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In that case, as others have said, totally get his position being pissed at the union. Glad to hear he’s got it
Yup. That's a trash deal to potentially go unpaid for someone else's decision regarding the vaccine. Either the NFL comes down with the law or just establishes different guidelines regarding the procedures unvaccinated players have to go through and make it their choice, these halfway measures seem like they are trying to make the players themselves enforce the behavior they want.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I am glad the NFL's profit motive happens to align with the right thing, and that they are being aggressive about it, but the non-offending team getting stiffed in the deal seems pretty perverse. We've all seen how hard it is to persuade morons without empathy. Just have to hope that there are enough incentives on all sides now for the unvaccinated players to stop fucking around, because the risk of affecting whether or not some other team gets paid isn't going to change anyone's mind.

I hope no such cancellations come to pass in general, but it would be really really harsh, especially for the lower/mid-roster guys. A single game for the average NFL career is something like 2% of their full career game checks.
 

joe dokes

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Yup. That's a trash deal to potentially go unpaid for someone else's decision regarding the vaccine. Either the NFL comes down with the law or just establishes different guidelines regarding the procedures unvaccinated players have to go through and make it their choice, these halfway measures seem like they are trying to make the players themselves enforce the behavior they want.
In other contexts, a/k/a dividing the Union.
 

Gash Prex

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For those suggesting that the "non offending team" get paid - where exactly is the money supposed to come from? You aren't going to fine the "offending team" so high that it would make up the amounts. Its simply lost revenue to everyone.
 

lexrageorge

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For those suggesting that the "non offending team" get paid - where exactly is the money supposed to come from? You aren't going to fine the "offending team" so high that it would make up the amounts. Its simply lost revenue to everyone.
Correct, but why should vaccinated players be penalized for the actions of unvaxx'ed players in a different team? The NFLPA agreed to it, so cannot really blame Goodell. But the union probably should have fought this one a bit harder.

If the offending team was on the hook for playing the salaries of all vaccinated players on their team, as well as for those on the opposing team, teams would be even more likely to tell their players to get vaxxed or turn in the playbook.
 

Cellar-Door

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For those suggesting that the "non offending team" get paid - where exactly is the money supposed to come from? You aren't going to fine the "offending team" so high that it would make up the amounts. Its simply lost revenue to everyone.
The bulk of the money would come from the exact same place it does now, the TV deal. Teams aren't paying weekly salaries out of game-day revenues, and a single cancelled game wouldn't effect the TV deal.
 

finnVT

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For those suggesting that the "non offending team" get paid - where exactly is the money supposed to come from? You aren't going to fine the "offending team" so high that it would make up the amounts. Its simply lost revenue to everyone.
Is the NFL forcing the forfeit teams to also forfeit their share of the TV money? I always thought it was a league-wide deal, so presumably teams will continue to get TV money even if they weren't playing.
 

Gash Prex

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The TV deal doesn't have a claw back agreement for games cancelled? There has to be some offset language in the event that a game is not played.
 

Haunted

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Correct, but why should vaccinated players be penalized for the actions of unvaxx'ed players in a different team? The NFLPA agreed to it, so cannot really blame Goodell. But the union probably should have fought this one a bit harder.

If the offending team was on the hook for playing the salaries of all vaccinated players on their team, as well as for those on the opposing team, teams would be even more likely to tell their players to get vaxxed or turn in the playbook.
Exactly. If I'm on a team with a high vaccination rate and my opponent's team has the problem, I'd be livid if my income was lowered because of the actions of people I have absolutely no impact on.
 

finnVT

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What makes us think TV and advertisers haven't renegotiated their agreement with the NFL, and that the "TV Money" is still the same and isn't contingent on the games being played?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfl-ratings-drop-leaves-networks-scrambling-to-make-advertisers-whole-11607781600

https://www.wsj.com/articles/advertisers-seek-right-to-cancel-tv-spending-as-pandemic-roils-fall-season-11599072109
Advertises might, sure. But the NFL just signed a new long term deal with networks in March, so I don't think the fear of covid cancellations was weighing too heavily: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-new-broadcast-deals-running-through-2033-season

I haven't seen anything about clawbacks for networks if games have to be cancelled due to covid. In general I imagine this isn't an issue because they can just show a different game. For the specialty games (Sun/Mon nights, amazon, etc) I'm not sure how it gets handled.
 

RIFan

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For those suggesting that the "non offending team" get paid - where exactly is the money supposed to come from? You aren't going to fine the "offending team" so high that it would make up the amounts. Its simply lost revenue to everyone.
Salary Cap is a revenue split. They could deduct the amount of paid salaries from the pool that sets the salary cap for the next year. There is wayyyy too much revenue generated by the NFL to justify taking gamechecks from players that did nothing wrong. If you wanted to have some level of equity for lost revenue than the players could get 50% of game checks. The 50% checks could come from the owner of the team the forfeited so all the impact is felt by the team that caused the issue. IMO, the players absolutely have reason to be pissed at the union.
 

ragnarok725

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Salary Cap is a revenue split. They could deduct the amount of paid salaries from the pool that sets the salary cap for the next year. There is wayyyy too much revenue generated by the NFL to justify taking gamechecks from players that did nothing wrong. If you wanted to have some level of equity for lost revenue than the players could get 50% of game checks. The 50% checks could come from the owner of the team the forfeited so all the impact is felt by the team that caused the issue. IMO, the players absolutely have reason to be pissed at the union.
I suspect this is more just harsh memo language, we will see if it ever gets enacted in the way it is outlined here.

Labor needs to feel some of the pain if revenue is lost because labor won't get vaccinated. If the NFLPA wants to fight for its players they should mandate vaccines for members.
 

lexrageorge

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I suspect this is more just harsh memo language, we will see if it ever gets enacted in the way it is outlined here.

Labor needs to feel some of the pain if revenue is lost because labor won't get vaccinated. If the NFLPA wants to fight for its players they should mandate vaccines for members.
My working assumption is that teams will keep 16-player practice squads at the ready. A team subject to a CoVid outbreak among unvaccinated players is going to do everything under the sun to ensure the game gets played, even if it means going in with a crappy game day roster.

I do feel it would be better if that team would be forced to pay the salaries of its vaccinated players; something called "lost profits". But I agree that the new rules are sort of the nuclear option that will get invoked only if the league feels that there is no alternative.

As for unvaxxed coaches getting fired - no great loss.
 

BusRaker

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My working assumption is that teams will keep 16-player practice squads at the ready. A team subject to a CoVid outbreak among unvaccinated players is going to do everything under the sun to ensure the game gets played, even if it means going in with a crappy game day roster.
I would rather lose and get paid than lose and not get paid for sure
 

epraz

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Irregardless of his use of that word, it's a pretty good statement. However, getting the vaccine (aside from medical reasons) is 100% under the control of each player and he seems to imply it is not.
I read it at him saying that whether or not a player gets vaccinated, a breakout among his unvaccinated teammates could lead to him losing a game check.
 

lexrageorge

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Irregardless of his use of that word, it's a pretty good statement. However, getting the vaccine (aside from medical reasons) is 100% under the control of each player and he seems to imply it is not.
A player has no control if a member of the coaching or training staff of an opposing team refuses the vaccine. And even that could theoretically cause a player to lose their paycheck for a game. I can fully understand players being upset about that.
 

tims4wins

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Based on these opt outs, firings, and statements, it seems like the NFL’s plan is working. Get vaxxed or don’t play / coach. Simple choice.
 

Granite Sox

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Reiss:

Patriots co-OL coach Cole Popovich won’t be with the team in 2021 in a decision related to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines, per league sources.

@globejimmcbride 1st reported Popovich won’t be with the team.

Carmen Bricillo, co-OL coach in ‘20, takes on leading role.
Can‘t be around the players if you aren’t vaxxed. Therefore, you can’t “Do Your Job”. I can’t picture what an incredulous Coach Bill might look like, but I imagine he’s thinking, “You’re a 36YO up and coming coach. Are you fucking kidding me?”

What a judgement/career/leadership fail by Popovich, imo. (Though it just says he won’t be with the team this year… extenuating circumstances?)
 

Gash Prex

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All coaches are required to be vaccinated - this isn’t a BB, Patriots or Vikings thing

The vaccine is required for all Tier 1 staff, including coaches, front-office executives, equipment managers and scouts. Players are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but will face strict protocols during training camp and throughout the season that vaccinated players will be able to forgo.

In a memo released by the league this summer, the NFL said any unvaccinated Tier 1 staff member must provide a valid religious or medical reason for not receiving the vaccine. Losing Tier 1 status prohibits coaches from being on the field and in meeting rooms and having direct interactions with players.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31869652/rick-dennison-minnesota-vikings-assistant-refusing-covid-19-vaccine-sources-say
 

swiftaw

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I’m curious as to what a valid religious reason is other than saying “it’s against my religion”
 

Cellar-Door

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The TV deal doesn't have a claw back agreement for games cancelled? There has to be some offset language in the event that a game is not played.
I doubt there is one for individual games, they would just get a different game.

Other than Strength and conditioning coaches O-Line coaches are exactly who I would expect.

I’m curious as to what a valid religious reason is other than saying “it’s against my religion”
Probably that you are a member of a religion with an established opposition to these types of treatments, so Christian Scientist, etc.
 

Gash Prex

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I doubt there is one for individual games, they would just get a different game.


Other than Strength and conditioning coaches O-Line coaches are exactly who I would expect.


Probably that you are a member of a religion with an established opposition to these types of treatments, so Christian Scientist, etc.
I assume it’s one that you didn’t just find this summer as well
 

singaporesoxfan

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Probably that you are a member of a religion with an established opposition to these types of treatments, so Christian Scientist, etc.
Yeah if you’ve been fine getting toradol shots all this while and suddenly discover an opposition to the Covid vaccine it’s going to be hard to say you’ve got a valid religious reason
 
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mauidano

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Remarkable that the coaching and the training staffs are going to balk at this as a condition of employment. They are not represented by unions and organizations can pick and choose who they want and set conditions for hire and employment. Am I missing anything on this? It's not discrimination per se. Jobs at that level are few and far between.