NFL's new Covid protocol has Hopkins considering retirement
The Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl wide reciever tweeted he is "doubting his future in the NFL" after a memo regarding Covid protocol was released on Thursday.
Arizona Cardinals superstar wide receiver Deandre Hopkins has shocked NFL fans after tweeting that he is considering retirement. The news comes after the league released a memo on Covid-19 vaccine protocol for the upcoming season.
NFL releases memo on Covid protocol for this season
The NFL’s memo details the possible punishments of a potential outbreak of the virus amount unvaccinated players. If there were to be a break out and scheduling conflicts arose causing games to be cancelled, teams will be subject to forfeiture of games, a one-game paycheck fine for both teams, and additional fines for the team that provoked the cancelation.
Hopkins playing days could be numbered
“Never thought I would say this,” Hopkins said In a tweet that has since been deleted, “But being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to take part in the vaccine is making me question my future in the NFL.”
The vaccine has not been made mandatory by the NFL, but it’s evident they are trying to reduce the risk of outbreaks, and potential scheduling issues that could arise as players continue to refuse the vaccine. There have been heavy restrictions on player who have decided not to get the shot, including daily Covid tests, travel restrictions and mandatory mask regulations.
Start of the season is just around the corner
Hopkins has been in the league for 8 years, and is widely considered one of, if not the best, wide receiver in the NFL. Training camps being at the end of this month and the NFL regular season will begin in early September. Only time will tell if Hopkins will be with the Cardinals on the opening Sunday of the season.