Official 2026 NFL off-season Discussion!!!

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard: 'Consequences' for players unvaccinated against COVID-19





Sep 1, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts general manager Chris Ballard reiterated Wednesday that he is a firm believer that everybody should get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Ballard, in his annual media session before the start of the regular season, spent a significant amount of time answering questions about a number of his players not being vaccinated after quarterback Carson Wentz, center Ryan Kelly and receiver Zach Pascal were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after coming in close contact with a Colts staff member who tested positive.

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Wentz, Kelly and Pascal can return to facility on the sixth day after the close contact if they have negative tests and remain asymptomatic. The fact that the three players were placed on the list as close contacts is an indication they are not vaccinated for the coronavirus as, per NFL protocols, vaccinated players would be placed on the list only for a positive test result.
"There's consequences to not being vaccinated," Ballard said. "Do I think everybody should be vaccinated? Absolutely. I'm for the vaccine. [Coach] Frank [Reich] is for the vaccine. We have a lot of guys on our team who are for the vaccine. Is it 100% perfect? No. But it's a good thing.
"It can help you from ending up in the hospital in a critical situation. And it helps stop some of the spread, and those are positive things. But for the guys who have chosen to not get vaccinated, they still understand they're still part of this team, it's their decision, but they're still part of our team and they have to take care of the team."

The Colts have had one of the lowest percentages of vaccinated players in the NFL. Ballard declined to say what that percentage is currently after trimming the roster down to 53 players Tuesday. Many players, including Wentz, have declined to say if they're vaccinated or why they chose not to be vaccinated.

"Look, I can beat my head against the wall," Ballard said. "I can go in there and raise all kinds of hell and go off. That's not how we roll. I believe in our guys. I believe in what they stand for and I'll stand by them. We'll continue to work on the vaccinations. It's not like we're done educating. ... But they understand they have to take care of the protocols at hand and they have to live by them. And we'll do that at the best of the ability we can do it."

The Colts have been hit hard with players placed on the COVID-19 list since the start of training camp. They removed guard Quenton Nelson from the list Monday after he was in close contact with somebody who tested positive. Left tackle Eric Fisher, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, was placed on the COVID-19 list Aug. 26. Cornerback T.J. Carrie, offensive lineman Julien Davenport, defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad and cornerback Xavier Rhodes have also spent time on the list. Reich and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus tested positive for COVID-19 at different points in training camp.

The Colts, like every team in the league, will have to adjust on the fly if a player is forced to miss time due to the pandemic. No player will be under more scrutiny than Wentz, whom the Colts acquired from Philadelphia during the offseason, because of his unvaccinated status. He's coming off a season where he lost his starting job with the Eagles and he has participated in only five practices -- full and individual -- since the start of training camp due to left foot surgery on Aug. 2.

"He's worked his butt off, been a good teammate," Ballard said. "When the foot thing happened. I could see the frustration, but also saw another look. 'I'm playing. Let's get [the bone out] and let's go to work.' That's a good thing."

A player who won't be back anytime soon is receiver T.Y. Hilton. The veteran recently had surgery to address a disk injury. The Colts plan to put him on the injured reserve list, which means he'll miss at least the first three regular-season games. Hilton aggravated the injury in practice Aug. 25.
Hilton, 31, has been the Colts' No. 1 receiver throughout his nine seasons in Indianapolis, which include five 1,000-yard campaigns.

"He has a ton of relief, feels better," Ballard said. "One thing about T.Y. is, he's a pretty quick healer. I think he'll be back whenever he's ready to go. Always sooner rather than later with him."
 
Colts' Darius Leonard on not getting COVID-19 vaccine: 'I want to get more educated about it'
In early August, Leonard and the Colts agreed to a five-year deal worth $99.25 million

By Daniel Canova | Fox News

Fox News Flash top headlines for September 2
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Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard spoke to reporters on Thursday about being unvaccinated. The three-time All-Pro said not getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a "personal decision" and he believes in getting "comfortable with something" before putting it into your body.
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"I’m just a down South guy. I want to see more. I want to learn more," Leonard said via The Athletic. "I want to get more educated about it. Just got to think about it. Don’t want to rush into it. I’ve got to see everything. I’m listening to all the vaccinated guys here. I’m not – you see on social media – I’m not pro-vaxx. I’m not anti-vaxx. I’ve got to learn.

"When you don’t know about something, you’ve got to educate yourself more about it and figure out what it is, and you’ve got to make a decision from there. You’ve got to make sure you understand your decision and understand what’s going in your body and the long-term effects and stuff like that.
COLTS' CARSON WENTZ ELABORATES ON NOT BEING VACCINATED: 'IT'S A PERSONAL DECISION'
"I think once I get a grasp of it – just like the playbook – you’ve got to get comfortable with something. You can say, ‘OK, I’m going to put this in my body.’"
In early August, Leonard and the Colts agreed to a five-year deal worth $99.25 million, including $52.5 million guaranteed, which made him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league.
Taken with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Leonard had a league-high 163 tackles and was named honored as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2020, and a second-team All-Pro in 2019.
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Since entering the NFL, Leonard leads all inside linebackers with an average of 9.9 tackles per game, 15 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. He also has seven interceptions, which ranks second in the league at his position.

Last season, Leonard piled up 132 tackles and three sacks.

 
Carson Wentz weighing 'every pro and con' of vaccine after return from COVID list
Jason Owens
Thu, September 2, 2021, 4:28 PM·3 min read





A day after Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke of the "consequences" of not being vaccinated, Carson Wentz returned to practice from the COVID-19 list.
He's still not sure about receiving a vaccine.
The Colts quarterback spoke at length with reporters on Thursday, describing his vaccination status as "a fluid process."
“This has been a fluid process for me this whole time," Wentz said, per the Indianapolis Star. ..."It’s a process. I’m weighing every pro and con out there. It keeps me up at night, and a lot of things go on inside my head, but it’s where we’re at right now.”
'I'm not going to act like I'm an expert'
Wentz declined to address the perceived cons of receiving a safe, FDA-approved vaccine that's proven highly efficacious against the impact and slows the transmission of a virus that's killed more than 640,000 Americans. He admitted that he doesn't know much about it.
"I’m not going to act like I’m an expert on a vaccine or a virus, so that’s just where we’re at,” Wentz added.

Carson Wentz returned from COVID-19 quarantine on Thursday after a close contact. (Marc Lebryk/Reuters)
'Frustrated' Colts brass urges players to get vaccinated
Wentz hasn't actually said whether or not he's received a vaccine. But his placement in a five-day quarantine this week after a close contact with an infected person is a status reserved for unvaccinated players. His All-Pro teammate linebacker Darius Leonard hasn't been vaccinated. He told reporters on Thursday he still needs more information.
As Wentz and some of his teammates missed practice this week while on the COVID-19 list, both Ballard and Colts head coach Frank Reich urged their players to get vaccinated.
"There's consequences to not being vaccinated," Ballard told reporters on Wednesday. "Do I think everybody should be vaccinated? Absolutely.
"I'm for the vaccine. Frank is for the vaccine. We have a lot of guys on our team who are for the vaccine. Is it 100% perfect? No. But it's a good thing."
After starters Ryan Kelly, Eric Fisher and Zach Pascal joined Wentz on the COVID-19 list, Reich had this to say:
“I’ve had a lot of conversations and I think it’s fair to say, at times, I get frustrated," Reich said on Tuesday. “I do try to listen and respect, but I also don’t shy away from saying what I believe and what I believe is right — the research that I’ve done."
In addition to the risks to public and personal health, declining a COVID-19 vaccine has the potential of significant football consequences in the NFL. Had Wentz been placed in quarantine during the regular season that starts next week, the Colts could've been without their starting quarterback for a game. If Wentz and enough of his unvaccinated teammates were part of an outbreak during the regular season, the Colts would forfeit a game, and players from both teams would forfeit their checks for the canceled game.
 
Colts' Carson Wentz addresses vaccination status: 'It's a personal decision'
By The Athletic Staff
347 Comments

Colts quarterback Carson Wentz and linebacker Darius Leonard addressed their stances on vaccination, with both players calling it "a personal decision" and asking for respect.

"I'm not going to go in-depth on why, but it's a personal decision for me and my family," Wentz told reporters on Thursday. "I respect everybody else's decision and I just ask that everybody does the same for me. I know that's not the world we live in. Not everyone is going to view things the same. But no one really knows what's going on in someone else's household and how things are being handled."

On Monday, the Colts placed Wentz, who has not said if he's vaccinated or not, center Ryan Kelly and wide receiver Zach Pascal on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A source told The Athletic that all three players were close contacts of someone who tested positive.

Earlier on Thursday, the three players were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Asked whether he's weighed the possible ramifications for the team and not just his family, Wentz said: "Trust me, I've weighed a lot of things. I know what's at stake. I know all those things.

"That’s just where I'm at, where I'm at with my family. That's why understanding the protocol to truly understand everything we can do to avoid what happened this week. It is what it is whether we agree."

Meanwhile, Leonard said he's neither pro-vaccination nor anti-vaccination and is still trying to gather information before making his choice.

"I think that's a personal decision of mine … I just want to see more, I want to learn more, I want to get more educated about it," he said. "I just have to think about it. Don't want to rush into anything. I just gotta learn.

"When you don't know about something, you have to educate yourself more about it and figure out what it is and make a decision. You have to make sure you understand your decision."

 
Report: NFL's COVID-19 vaccine rate at 93% after roster cuts
Jason Owens
Fri, September 3, 2021, 3:20 PM·1 min read





With less than a week before the NFL kicks off its season, the league's COVID-19 vaccination rate among players sits at 93%, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.

The updated number reflect rates after Tuesday's deadline to cut rosters to 53 players and 16-man practice squads. The number represents no effective change from the pre-deadline rate of 93% reported on Aug. 26.

While Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer admitted that vaccination status played a role in roster decisions amid assumptions that the increased availability afforded by vaccines would do so league-wide, it appears that any such decisions didn't move the needle on the overall vaccination rate.

2 teams at 100%

Friday's report arrives a day after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the second team to announce a 100% vaccination rate among players. The Atlanta Falcons were the first to do so on Aug. 16.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wears a sticker that reads "COVID-19 Vaccinated" at the NFL draft. (Kirby Lee/Reuters)

The Indianapolis Colts were among the league's laggards at 75% earlier this week, according to the Indianapolis Star. The Colts placed four starters in COVID-19 protocols this week, including quarterback Carson Wentz, whose placement in a five-day quarantine as a close contact indicated that he was not vaccinated. All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard told reporters on Thursday that he's not vaccinated.

Declining a COVID-19 vaccine opens the door to significant football consequences in the NFL in addition to the inherent public and personal health risks. Teams with outbreaks among unvaccinated players that prompt a game cancelation will forfeit that game. Players from both teams would forfeit their checks for the canceled game.
 
:hithead:



As if Tom Brady needs anything to help him get motivated for a game….

Cowboys rookie defensive tackle Osa Odghizuwa, a third-round pick in April’s draft, decided he was going to poke the bear when he was asked about Brady’s weakness as a player.

Instead of saying nothing at all, he took the bait and gave the opposing team bulletin board material.
 
Was this dude Sam Howell that good last year for the Tarheels. All they keep talking about is him being a Heisman hopeful and #1 pick. I'm not impressed yet.

Edit: They just scored.
 
Leonard Fournette pledges to put up $100K in Hurricane relief efforts for New Orleans

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Welp Dak better hope his shoulder and ankle are ready cuz he's gonna be without one of his best O-Linemen against the Bucs

Always some shit with them Cowboys..

 
:hithead:



As if Tom Brady needs anything to help him get motivated for a game….

Cowboys rookie defensive tackle Osa Odghizuwa, a third-round pick in April’s draft, decided he was going to poke the bear when he was asked about Brady’s weakness as a player.

Instead of saying nothing at all, he took the bait and gave the opposing team bulletin board material.

idiot. who is this dude and will he even get to play? Brady is gonna torch their asses come thursday.
 
Yooo JuJu just can't help himself with the social media nonsense. How you gonna risk your NFL career over some damn TikTok challenge :smh:

Mike Tomlin Responded To JuJu Smith-Schuster Risking Injury By Doing The Crate Challenge
mike-tomlin-juju-1024x512.jpg


JuJu Smith-Schuster had a 2020 season filled with him being the main topic of him doing things that had nothing to do with the game of football as opponents used his TikTok dances on their logo as motivation to play them.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is starting the 2021 season off on the wrong foot after footage surfaced of him doing the dangerous crate challenge.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin did not call out JuJu Smith-Schuster by name, but he made it clear that he wants the focus of his players on football.

“I don’t spend a lot of time focusing on those (social media) things,” Tomlin said. “If you’re talking about those things and not football, you’re setting yourself up for failure. We’re a group that’s singularly, professionally focused on what it is that we have to do and guys have individual responsibilities as adults.”



The Milk Crate Challenge consists of a single person walking walking across a pyramid of crates without falling off. We have seen various videos of people getting seriously injured during a time where hospitals are already crowded with COVID patients.

The Steelers have high expectations for the 2021 season after their 2020 season started with an 11-0 record until the wheels fell off.


DIS NIGGA AND THIS SOCIAL MEDIA BULLSHIT YO!!!! NIGGA ACT LIKE HE 15!!! :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

E1vZ7a.jpg
 
they like drama. always finding ways to lose games.

And always finding ways to make way more money than the other teams. The fans will turn on the team at some point, but for now, they still draw the highest ratings, even as losers.

Jerry runs a circus act, not a football franchise, that's why the other owners are jealous of him even though they have not won a SB in a long time.

 
Any of y'all watching First Take this morning. Michael Irvin's lovefest with the Cowboys has started already with him giving a top 5 list of why the Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders. He must've had some good coke before the show cuz he actually had the schedule and their defense as part of that top 5 list :smh:
 
Fuck outta here! All the info in the world is out there. Just say you don't want to get it, and keep it pushing.

PERIOD

It is the lack of courage of their convictions that is insulting and infuriating

and the fact the bullsh*t media who have asked the worst most evasive questions in the past over PLAY CALLING and INJURY

under the guise of the PUBLIC has a "right" to know

Have completely accepted this and "personal choice" as acceptable responses.
 
Any of y'all watching First Take this morning. Michael Irvin's lovefest with the Cowboys has started already with him giving a top 5 list of why the Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders. He must've had some good coke before the show cuz he actually had the schedule and their defense as part of that top 5 list :smh:

Good lawd...

Stephen A & Michael Irvin smiling so hard for Jerry Jones

The sunken place found a new low

our ancestors are crying.
 
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