Editor’s note: With overwhelming consistency, research has shown vaccinations against COVID-19 are safe and effective. Residents of Canada who are looking to learn more about vaccines, or the country’s pandemic response, can find up-to-date information on Canada’s public health website.
In a week that has seen the NFL’s trade deadline pass and its rushing leader Derrick Henry get placed on injured reserve, no story has received more attention than Green Bay Packers franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers testing positive for COVID.
The reigning MVP is unavailable for his team’s Sunday matchup with Kansas City, but it was the future Hall of Famer’s vaccination status and comments regarding the global pandemic and NFL COVID policies that caused quite the stir heading into the weekend.
The NFL might not be too thrilled about Rodgers’s Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show where he responded to those who commented on and/or criticized his vaccination status.
Rodgers went into detail about his vaccine decision, explaining that he has an allergy to an ingredient in two available mRNA vaccines. He also voiced his views on how the league has handled its pandemic-related policies, while highlighting various inconsistencies in the NFL’s COVID protocols — many of which differ depending on whether a player is fully vaccinated or not.
“I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some woke culture or crazed group of individuals who say you have to do something,” Rodgers said. “Health is not a one-size fits all for everybody, and for me it involved a lot of study in the off-season.”
The 37-year-old prefaced many of his comments by clarifying that he is not a COVID denier, anti-vaxxer or flat-earther, insisting he “just wanted to make the decision that was best for my body” but he didn’t shy away from asking specific questions and touching on certain COVID-related topics oft considered taboo by some media outlets and individuals.
The star QB said he tested negative more than 300 times before testing positive earlier this week. He added that he believes it’s likely he contracted COVID from a vaccinated individual – recent research indicates fully vaccinated individuals can in fact contract and spread COVID – although from whom exactly Rodgers contracted the virus could not be confirmed.
Rodgers described some of the league’s protocols as “draconian measures” that in his opinion “were not based on science and were more based in a shame-based environment to try and get as many guys to get vaccinated as possible, so that the league looks better to the rest of the world. That was the focus of these protocols.”
He added: “I understand that the league is able to put into place its own policies. I didn’t agree to any of them, though. I didn’t sign a piece of paper that gave away my rights to live a normal season of life.”
OK, back to the on-field stuff…
IT’S TIME FOR LOVE
Following an off-season rift and contract restructuring, Rodgers’s long-term future with Green Bay is not entirely clear. In a way, this week can be a blessing in disguise with the Packers front office getting an unexpected yet vital chance to see what Jordan Love can do in meaningful regular-season action.
Love, who turned 23 on Tuesday, was selected to be the team’s future starter 26th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Although it’s a short-notice start, it’s a great matchup as they face one of the NFL’s worst defensive units.
Star wide receiver Davante Adams returns after missing Week 8 with COVID, which is a major boon to Love and the Packers offence.
HOW WILL BROWNS MOVE ON FROM OBJ?
The Odell Beckham Jr. experiment in Cleveland is over and we can officially say it was a failure. The Browns parted ways with the star wide receiver Friday after asking him not to report to practice earlier in the week.
Beckham was averaging just 38.7 yards per game with zero touchdowns in 2021 and was targeted by Baker Mayfield only once for six yards in last week’s 15-10 loss to the Steelers. Beckham’s father even posted a video to social media that highlighted instances where he thought Mayfield could’ve thrown his son the ball but didn’t.
The team reportedly didn’t appreciate the video and Beckham apparently never reached out to his quarterback and the team made the decision to cut ties.
“After careful consideration, internal discussions and conversations with Odell and his representation, we’ve determined that it is in the best interest of all parties involved that Odell no longer play for the Cleveland Browns,” a statement read. “We appreciate all his efforts and contributions while in Cleveland, but we’ve just reached a point where it is best that we move forward as a team without Odell. We are finalizing the process of granting Odell his release and we wish him well as he continues his career.”
It’s not an ideal situation for a team still dealing with injuries to multiple star players, especially as they hit the road and visit a hungry division rival in the Bengals.
The Browns are a run-heavy team but Beckham’s departure should mean a slight bump in target share for receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz and tight ends Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant going forward.
Cleveland will fall below .500 for the first time this season and remain in last place in the AFC North if they lose their fourth game in five outings.
In other unfortunate WR news, although more serious and unrelated to football, it will be worth monitoring how the Raiders respond on the field with the news that Henry Ruggs is facing felony charges in Nevada for driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving. The team is 2-0 since firing Jon Gruden and they face the Giants on the road.
NFL Week 9 storylines: Rodgers, COVID, missing WRs to impact scores
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
0 Mga Komento