Patrick Peterson had a lot to say on his podcast, All Things Covered, and he he did not mince words when he said he has received a vaccine and that players who don’t get it will be living in a different world.
“I just think why put yourself at risk of going through that again? Everybody has different views on the shot. No matter which brand it is, everybody has their different views.
At the end of the day, if we’re all in this, trying to win a championship, and there’s a very small percentage of those shots affecting people, why not put yourself in the best position possible to win a championship, if that’s what you have a desire of doing?”
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer pointed out that life during the 2021 NFL season will be harder for players without the vaccine.
“They are going to be wearing masks, they’re going to have to social distance, they’ll have daily testing,” Zimmer said. “They won’t go home for bye week and have to come back here and test every day.
When we go on the road, they won’t be able to go out to dinner with anybody. They’ll have to travel on buses differently and travel on planes differently, so a lot of meetings will be virtual like we have here. It’s not only the safety part of being vaccinated, but as far as being a part of a football team.”
Peterson’s case for the vaccine was to put the team in the best position for success.
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“If, you’re not vaccinated, you’re just living in a different world. Why put yourself at risk of going through that again. Everybody has their different views on the (vaccine),” Peterson said. “But at the end of the day if we all in this in trying to win a championship and there’s a very small percentage of those shots affecting people, why not put yourself in the best position possible to win a championship if that’s what you have a desire of doing.”
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that unvaccinated players “will be severely restricted within and outside” team facilities and “face five-figure fines for violating protocols” this season.
It should be noted that the league is not forcing players to get vaccinated, but those who enter the season unvaccinated will be under considerably more pressure.
