Player Availability

So NFL mandates put heavy restrictions on unvaxxed players. The Cam Newton/Mac Jones storyline got me thinking about our own availability and who is still unvaxxed and subject to availability issues. This is NOT to get into an argument over whether players, staff, or the world, should or should not get vaxxed, even though it will probably regress into that.

Do we know who is still wearing the bracelet, literally or figuratively? I don't know if the bracelets are still a thing.

 

No clue here

 

Have not heard anything, wasn’t sure if it was mentioned during preseason game telecasts?

 

I don't know if they can, or will, even disclose it. I was just curious who we might be without if things go south. Cam (Newton) apparently thought he was following protocol as an unvaxxed player. He left the area and was tested every day, from what I gather. But the mandate stated that he couldn't leave the area, period, unvaxxed, and then come back without penalty, even if he had been tested every day and exibited no symptoms. Hoodie made a comment after this happened that put an emphasis on players who were available, namely Mac Jones who might just leap frog Cam because of this. I'm not a Cam fan, but that really sucks for him. He didn't do anything "wrong" per say, but he didn't follow the established protocol.

It's just a scary thought that our own unvaxxed players could be at risk of missing practice time, or worse, game time, due to a technicality.

And again, I'm not saying that the protocols shouldn't be followed to the letter. They are the rules. Follow them. But yikes.

 

I'm sure they could announce it as teams announce health information on players all the time. NFL players must waive their HIPAA rights in regards to their team or there couldn't be an injury report.

 

I don't think they waive their rights to privacy.

 

If they didn't then they wouldn't be able to share that so and so has such and such an injury.

 

HIPAA applies only to covered entities, health plans, health care providers, health care clearinghouses, and business associates of those entities. Violations are typically misuse or negligent safeguarding of health records. In many cases, the patient doesn't have to consent for a covered entity or a business associate of one to share health information publicly. In the NFL's case, sharing that information on an injury report is limited to an injury or condition impacting a publicly known event. If you have a broken leg, it's public information. There isn't a distinction between that injury and appendicitis, for example. So again, I don't think they waive their rights to privacy. There might be something in the CBA regarding it, but I would be surprised if there is a blanket order to waive HIPPA. Just spit-balling.

 

Najee wore a bracelet early in camp, no? I think they use a yellow star now...

 

My point is that I don't see how their vaccination status is inherently different than the other health information the NFL shares. I don't see why they could share a blown out knee or appendicitis but not vaccination status if they chose to.

 

If I had to guess, it is because that isn't public knowledge. Being vaccinated or not isn't something we would see in the course of watching football on Sundays. It also isn't something that would keep them from playing. A broken leg, appendicitis, or a postive covid test, however, would. Those things, in my estimation, are public knowledge, impact their public careers, and are outside of the scope of privacy. I'm really not trying to be argumentative here. Just tossing around an opinion.

 

One of the vaccines was just approved by the FDA. Hopefully this helps regarding NFL players.
Last year was a nightmare with the game times and dates getting moved.

 

I'm going to tread lightly here. I'm going to cut the sarcasm that I usually douse my comments in. Yes, the FDA approved the pfizer vaccine. But pfizer is not required to provide any data/findings/reports to the fda until 2025. The approval means nothing. And one other thing, if you take a multivitamin or zinc or an extra dose of vitamin c, none of those are approved by the fda. We take all kinds of stuff without their approval. The fact that they are "approving" one of the vaccines without any additional testing or any reporting function for at least 4 years doesn't make me any more confident in the pfizer vaccine. And what does that say about the others? And lastly, the cdc's own advisory panel hasn't even met yet to discuss the updated recommendations. It sounds great on paper, but I'm not convinced this approval really amounts to anything.

 

Shhh. You'll wake the bitters.

 

I wasn’t going for that side of it. Just thinking this might put some of the players minds at ease and motivate them to get the vaccination so we don’t have the interruptions we had last season.

 

You might be right about that. Won't disagree there.

 

Don't be so sure about that Blast...I work at a Steel Mill, about an hour North of Pittsburgh...

Last week another " wave " swept through our Mill ( mostly vaccinated ) people...

We're losing guys left and right...This thing is far from over sadly!

 

Delta variant?

 

I'm not even sure...Every guy I've talked to, thankfully...Their symptoms have been mild...

The point being, Delta Variant or not, and just like before...And even if your symptoms are mild...If you test Positive... You're not playing

 

Well that is depressing. Sort of zapped my confidence.

 

I'm just glad they're doing what they can to lessen the chances of Covid impacting the NFL season.

 

I'm with you. Not sure what else they could do, all things considered. Hope it's enough.

 

The wife's brother was hesitant in getting vaccinated and was really going down a rabbits hole with his reasons until they found out that thier cousin is in a medically induced coma so that they can treat him on the ventilator easier than having him be awake for it. My brother in law got his first shot that day. Sorry it had to take something like their cousin on deaths door to get him to do it.

 

I wonder if this will be a factor in deciding which free agents to pickup for teams this year?

I read that the Steelers were now over 90%: Would they really want to bring in an unvaccinated player?