It’s a shame that it took so long for the NFL to fine both the Packers and Aaron Rodgers for violations that they should have been fined for much sooner.
If they can fine CeeDee Lamb multiple times for jersey infractions, they can lay the smackdown on Green Bay for Covid protocol violations.
After Aaron Rodgers’ whiny, ridiculous, excuse-laden, and privileged riddled rant last week after contracting Covid, the league has lowered the hammer on both the star quarterback and his team.
Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the NFL hit the Packers with a $300,000 fine for “violations of the NFL and NFL Players Association protocols” and hit Aaron Rodgers with a fine of $14,650.
They also found time to hit unvaccinated Packers receiver, Allen Lazard, with the same fine of $14,650.
Many are upset, including other teams. They say it’s way too soft in light of the team knowing for months that he wasn’t vaccinated and still watched him break Covid rules.
When you recall that the Saints were fined $750,000 and lost a draft pick last season for violating league Covid protocols, you can’t disagree with their frustration.
The NFL and the Packers both knew Rodgers was unvaccinated since August when he used clever wordplay in his point-blank response to a reporter asking him if he was vaccinated.
“Yeah, I’m immunized.”
They let him attend pressers without a mask and Rodgers was caught on camera on the sidelines without a mask.
But apparently, since he’s Aaron Rodgers, they let it slide until they couldn’t anymore….three months later and only after his bizarre interview on the Pat McAfee show last week.
Rodgers went after Democrats, Republicans, the media, “wokeness” and cancel culture instead of just admitting that it was his decision to go the immunization route and it didn’t work. Had he done the latter, the firestorm in the aftermath of his positive Covid test would have been relatively minor.
Instead, his defiance rightfully drew the ridicule of everyone outside of anti-vaxxers.
In handing down the fines, according to ESPN.com, the NFL said the violations centered around Rodgers not wearing a mask during news conferences and instances where Rodgers and Lazard weren’t wearing masks.
In addition, both players attended a Halloween party that the Packers failed to notify the league about.
“We respect the League’s findings and we recognize the importance of adherence to the COVID protocols to keep our team and organization safe and healthy,” said Packers team president Mark Murphy in a statement to ESPN. “We will continue to educate the team regarding the importance of the protocols and remain committed to operating within the protocols.”
On Tuesday, Rodgers went back on McAfee’s show and basically apologized for his actions.
“I do realize that I am a role model,” Rodgers said at the start of his interview. “I just want to (acknowledge) that I made some comments that people may have felt were misleading. To anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility for those comments. And I’m excited about feeling better, I’m excited about moving forward … and getting back to doing what I do best, and that’s play ball.”
