[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

No vaccine mandate yet....but the league just provided some more guidance about COVID protocols this season with more advantages for teams/players that are vaccinated:

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...58413142818816

Vaccinated individuals who test positive and are asymptomatic can return to play after two negative tests 24 hours apart.

Unvaccinated individuals will be subject to mandatory 10-day isolation period.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...56770305335299

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.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...57949034745859

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.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...59009044353024

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."

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...61816493363203

And the biggest penalty of all for players:

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

You read that right: NOBODY GETS PAID.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...63386098372610

So to summarize, if an outbreak of unvaccinated NFL players causes a game to be cancelled:

- Infected team forfeits, takes a loss for playoff seeding, faces financial penalties and possible additional sanctions if protocols violated

- Players on both teams don't get paid