The NFL released a statement regarding new implications revolving around COVID-19. “We do not anticipate adding a ’19th week’ to accommodate games that cannot be rescheduled within the current 18 weeks of the regular season.” In other words, either play on time or don’t play.

NFL players, like DeAndre Hopkins, immediately took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with this new rule.

The NFL had already made it known that unvaccinated players would face harsher restrictions than their vaccinated counterparts. But with this new rule in place, a COVID outbreak could potentially force their team to forfeit a game. For most clubs, this shouldn’t be an issue since “80 percent of NFL players have had at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine,” according to PFT. But for a team with Super Bowl aspirations like the Bills, this could throw a wrench into their plans. 

A Ticking Time Bomb?

To say that Bill’s players have been vocal about the COVID-19 vaccine is putting it lightly. Cole Beasley, Josh Allen, and Bills veteran Jerry Hughes have all shared their opinions on getting vaccinated.

Earlier this morning, Jerry Hughes and Cole Beasley had a brief Twitter exchange regarding the matter.

Hughes summed up the matter in the end by saying, “…at the end of the day rules are rules.”

If there’s any team that can’t afford to have distractions or setbacks, it’s the Buffalo Bills. Coming off a dominant 13-3 season with an AFC Championship game birth, they need all their players to be on the same page. Something that, at the moment, they don’t all appear to be on. However, the Bills have been known for being a tight-knit team. If there’s any squad that can overcome their differences, the Bills are a good candidate.

If a COVID outbreak were to derail the Bills season, however, we may witness a literal implosion. One that I’m sure will soon leak onto a Twitter timeline near you.

No Vaccine? No Job

Vikings offensive line coach/run game coordinator Rick Dennison has parted ways with the Vikings after refusing to get vaccinated.

It’s fair to assume that Dennison won’t be the only one changing jobs before the 2021 NFL season begins.

Fair or not, these are the rules that the NFL has put in place. Having said that, it is within the rights of players and coaches to not get vaccinated. They know the risks and implications that come along with that decision, so whatever the fallout is, they’ll have to accept it.

Check out more NFL related articles by the Belly Up Sports team.

About Author

Kendrick Lindsay

Growing up in a single-parent household came with its perks and downsides. Perk, I became very close to my mother. The downside, she wasn't a sports watcher. It wasn't until I was 15 years old that I was introduced to the world of sports/sports media. That's when I truly fell in love with it all. And it wasn't the X's and O's that won me over, it was the deep-rooted stories of the business, the athletes, and the ever so changing nature of sports that intrigued me. As a recent college graduate and Communications major, I hope to put my imprint on the sports media world.

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