By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs said people should be vaccinated against COVID-19 and it should be people’s choice, but noted the NFL is “kind of forcing it on the players.”
Jacobs, the 23-year-old two-time thousand-yard runner, was asked by LVSportsBiz.com Friday for his thoughts in response to the headline-grabbing NFL policy on unvaccinated players and possible forfeited games. The NFL informed teams this week that COVID-19 outbreaks among players who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus could lead to their teams having to forfeit games if the NFL cannot find a suitable date to reschedule that game during the 18-week, 17-game schedule.
Players from both teams will lose game checks if there’s a forfeited game. The team with the COVID-19 outbreak that created the virus outbreak would have to cover any shortfall in the NFL’s revenue-sharing pool and would receive a loss, while the other team would get the win. The NFL rescheduled all their postponed games in 2020, but the league said that might not be able to happen in 2021.
“It’s ultimately your choice. It’s your body,” Jacobs told LVSportsBiz.com during a Friday media session for a Raiders vs. Golden Knights charity softball game scheduled for Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin Saturday. “They’re kind of forcing it on the players.”
Jacobs also said people should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Do I feel like people should be vaccinated? Of course. I also feel like it should be your choice,” he said.
Here are Jacobs’ comments:
The league’s vaccination policy has caused quite a stir through the NFL and on social media.
On Friday, a Minnesota Vikings assistant coach, Rick Dennison, left the NFL team because he refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19. NFL COVID protocols require that team staff deemed “Tier 1” like coaches, scouts and front office personnel must be immunized against COVID in order to be on the field and in meeting rooms and to have direct access to players.
Jacobs made his comments to LVSportsBiz during the media time arranged by the organizers of the “Battle for Vegas” charity softball game, which is raising money for Grant A Gift Autism Foundation and the Miracle League Las Vegas. The Raiders team is led by former Raiders great Marcus Allen, while the Golden Knights team is led by Reilly Smith.
Meeting the media were players such as Jacobs, Smith, and VGK defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Nic Hague.
It was the first time for LVSportsBiz.com to interview Raiders and Golden Knights players face-to-face after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports in March 2020. Media questions have been asked to players only through Zoom sessions.
LVSportsBiz.com asked Whitecloud, the VGK 24-year-old defenseman who played shortstop in high school, about his take on the COVID-19 situation in Las Vegas and Clark County. The county commissioners this week mandated all indoor workers to wear masks in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the county.
Here are Whitecloud’s comments:
Gates at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, open at 5:30 p.m. with a Home Run Derby beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The game starts at 7:30PM. The charity softball event was first held two years ago. Tickets are $40-$100 and available here.