NFL players react to league rules about potential forfeits for teams with unvaccinated outbreaks

The NFL announced new rules for outbreaks among unvaccinated players, which could include the forfeiture of games and, in turn, the loss of pay during the course of the 2021 season.

Some players were not pleased.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL informed teams on Thursday that if the league is unable to reschedule a game after an outbreak of COVID-19 among players who have not received the vaccine, then that team will forfeit the game, which will result in a loss on their season’s record. On top of that, neither team will receive “their weekly paragraph 5 salary,” per Pelissero. Basically, each player will not get their game check.

That means that vaccinated players could stand to lose money, if their unvaccinated teammates get sick. It also means the NFL is taking a firm stand in pressuring their players to get vaccinated.

Here’s how players around the league reacted.