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The NFL has announced that if a team cancels a game in the 2021 season due a coronavirus outbreak among unvaccinated players, they will be forced to forfeit that game.

The official memo was sent out to all teams Thursday.

“If a game cannot be rescheduled within the current 18-week schedule and is cancelled due to a Covid outbreak among non-vaccinated players on one of the competing teams, the club with the outbreak will forfeit the contest and will be deemed to have played 16 games for purposes of draft, waiver priority, etc. For the purposes of playoff seeding, the forfeiting team will be credited with a loss and the other team will be credited with a win.”

They noted in addition to a forfeit, players from both teams will not receive their scheduled salary

JMV, 1070 The Fan, says the new protocols will cause a lot of divisiveness within the teams.

“It is really going to develop a rivalry or rift inside the locker room between those who don’t have plans to do it (get vaccinated) and those that do because we all know that’s what the loss of revenue will do.”

The organization’s goal is “to minimize any competitive and economic burden.” As of this week more than 78% of NFL players have been vaccinated, while all 32 teams have at least a 50% vaccine rate.

Many players are already voicing their opinions including Cardinals Wide Receiver Deandre Hopkins. Hopkins said in a now-deleted tweet that the NFL’s new policies have him questioning his future with the league.

Buffalo Bills WR Cole Beasley says he’s speaking up for his fellow athletes because many players aren’t able to do so without jeopardizing their entire career.

https://twitter.com/Bease11/status/1405971914607239172?s=20

Colts players have yet to comment on the new protocol, but as Colts camp begins next week that may change soon.

The NFL 2021 season is set to kick-off September 9th.

JMV joins Tony Katz Friday morning:

https://omny.fm/shows/tony-katz-and-the-morning-news/jmv-talks-nfls-new-covid-protocols