Chicago Bears tight end Jimmy Graham expressed frustration over a National Football League policy that would require players who use or enter team facilities to get tested for the coronavirus every day.
Graham shared a picture of the policy, which was announced by the NFL Player’s Association on Wednesday, saying he was “basically forced into getting the vaccine.”
“Now I’m just confused. @NFLPA,” Graham tweeted on Thursday.
Was basically forced into getting the vaccine. Now I’m just confused. @NFLPA pic.twitter.com/a0627DlPCH
— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) August 5, 2021
NFL QUARTERBACK SAYS HE WAS PRESSURED TO GET VACCINATED BY LEAGUE
The league is looking to follow the same coronavirus-related restrictions it imposed in 2020 to keep players, teams, and staff members safe, according to the statement.
“Last year, our NFLPA COVID Taskforce, staff, and player leadership worked together to recommend a game plan for how we would play a full season while also keeping everyone as safe as possible. We had to adjust that plan throughout the year given what we learned about the virus, and we achieved our goals thanks to your flexibility, understanding, and dedication to the protocols,” the memo, which Graham shared by screenshot, read.
“We have consistently stated that football will go the way of our communities, and multiple cities and states are experiencing record surges in infections and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant,” the memo read. “Based on our experience from last year, the number of positive tests in the first week of training camp is cause for concern.”
The NFL and the NFLPA have tested 2,528 players and 4,549 staff members and found at least 65 positive cases, according to the memo. Of those positive cases, about half were from vaccinated individuals.
The guidelines identify the more transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus, which is “50% more contagious than the original strain.”
“Individuals infected with Delta can also spread the virus to more people, spreading it to 5-9 people as opposed to the 2-3 with the original virus,” it added.
Unvaccinated individuals — including players — also will be prohibited from gathering outside of the club facility or team travel, per the memo. This includes gathering for meetings, practices or training activities unless approved by the NFL and NFLPA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021
The league is “collecting a lot of data, and we will continue to share that data with our experts,” NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills told ESPN, adding that “if we think we need more frequent information, vis-a-vis with more frequent testing, then we’ll discuss that again with the NFLPA and make that decision jointly.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Tennessee Titan quarterback Ryan Tannehill also said he felt the NFL forced him to get the vaccine.
Tannehill: NFL forced my hand to get vaccine. #NFL pic.twitter.com/brmHhFMnUX
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 28, 2021
Other players, including Buffalo Bills receiver Cole Beasley, Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, have remained outspoken critics of vaccinating mandates.
The NFL will begin its 2021 NFL preseason on Thursday with a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys.
The Bears and the NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
