'NOBODY GETS PAID': The NFL will reportedly penalize teams and players if games can't be played because of COVID-19 outbreaks

The NFL reportedly told the teams on Thursday that “if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will FORFEIT and be credited with a loss for playoff seeding, per sources”:

The NFL just informed clubs that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will FORFEIT and be credited with a loss for playoff seeding, per sources.

Massive implications.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

And the “team responsible for a canceled game because of an outbreak among unvaccinated players/staff will be responsible for financial losses and subject to potential discipline from the commissioner”:

Here’s more from today’s memo, which also says the team responsible for a canceled game because of an outbreak among unvaccinated players/staff will be responsible for financial losses and subject to potential discipline from the commissioner. Wow. pic.twitter.com/Q86a2WcG1K

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

They “do not anticipate adding a ’19th week’ to accommodate games that cannot be rescheduled within the current 18 weeks of the regular season”:

The league intends to play its entire 272-game schedule over 18 weeks (17 games per club). And this is key:

"We do not anticipate adding a '19th week' to accommodate games that cannot be rescheduled within the current 18 weeks of the regular season."

Play on time or don't play.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

More strong language from today's NFL memo:

"Every club is obligated under the Constitution and Bylaws to have its team ready to play at the scheduled time and place. A failure to do so is deemed conduct detrimental. There is no right to postpone a game."

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

This is the NFL's strongest step yet to incentivize vaccinations. In essence, vaccination status dictates action:

"If a club cannot play due to a Covid spike in vaccinated individuals, we will attempt to minimize the competitive and economic burden on both participating teams."

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

And details from the memo itself:

Here’s the precise language from today’s NFL memo on what would trigger a forfeit: pic.twitter.com/Hupf7Ybr1d

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

As for the justification for continuing to increase benefits for vaccinated individuals, the NFL cites CDC data and major hospital systems: pic.twitter.com/jsucxurRnU

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

And here’s the kicker: If a game is forfeited, “neither team’s players will receive their weekly paragraph 5 salary”:

And the biggest penalty of all for players:

"If a game is cancelled and cannot be rescheduled within the current 18-week scheduled due to a Covid outbreak, neither team’s players will receive their weekly paragraph 5 salary."

You read that right: NOBODY GETS PAID.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

In other words, “NOBODY GETS PAID”:

Worth noting: The NFL and NFLPA also agreed in 2020 that players on both teams wouldn’t be paid for any canceled games. (All 256 were played.) But the bold type in today's memo that the NFL doesn't anticipate adding a Week 19 to make up games makes clear what's at stake in 2021.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021

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