Fallout from the Aaron Rodgers COVID-19 saga in terms of league punishment is still to come, but we’re starting to see rumblings of what it could look like when it comes down.
For instance, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reports Rodgers and the Packers are facing fines if the league’s investigation finds possible protocol violations and failure to enforce the protocols in place. However, Rodgers will *NOT* face a suspension at this time. On the one hand, part of me feels as if a suspension is a bridge too far. But on the other hand, a high-profile player publicly violating protocols while the team fails to enforce rules feels like a good time to set an example and prove a point. If I had a third hand, I’d request fines, suspension, a stripping of picks, forfeiture of wins, and a postseason ban for 2021. You know … just to make a point.
Meanwhile, Dov Kleiman notes that NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer was reporting the Packers wouldn’t lose draft picks as part of their punishment. That is a bit surprising, if not disappointing. Remember, the NFL hit various teams with fines for COVID violations. The Patriots got caught up and were given a $350,000 fine for violating COVID protocols. Elsewhere, the Saints were repeat violators of COVID protocols, even losing future draft capital with a third disciplinary action from the league. And the Raiders were the first team to get caught up with high-profile punishments for COVID protocol violations. They were repeat offenders in such a quick time span, it led the league fine the team and then-coach Jon Gruden, and take away a draft pick.
No wonder Schefter quotes a team executive who seems to feel there are double standards when it comes to COVID-19 protocol standards.
“That’s B.S.,” one executive reportedly told ESPN. “… What’s going on in Green Bay, that’s not what teams were told by the NFL. Our players wore masks all the time. We made our guys that weren’t playing wear masks.”
Let’s be honest with each other. The NFL put these protocols in place with having a safe playing of a second NFL season in a pandemic. So, whether you like the protocols or not is beside the point. What is the point is that everyone must operate under the same rules. All players, from each of the league’s 32 teams working under the same bubble. Hence, my belief that coming down with a heavy (yet, fair) punishment would be beneficial. It could go a long way toward letting teams know you’re serious about following protocols in place. After all, the NFL and NFLPA came to an agreement on these rules in the offseason. It’s not as if they just came about last week.
I’ll be curious to see how the league punishes Rodgers and the Packers. There probably won’t be something earth-shattering. However, there is precedent if the league finds protocol violations to be egregious.