Surely you didn’t expect real and meaningful consequences, did you?
Despite an obvious failure to adhere to the protocols attached to unvaccinated players, the Green Bay Packers are being gently nudged – you can’t even call it a slap – with a fine by the league, and players Aaron Rodgers and Allen Lazard are receiving a token fine:
The NFL’s review of the Packers’ COVID-19 protocols is done.
Per league source, Packers fined$300,000 for violations of the NFL and NFL Players Association protocols, while Aaron Rodgers and Allen Lazard were each fined $14,650.
Full story coming on ESPN momentarily
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 10, 2021
The league may as well have done nothing at all. I’m sure there are limits within the agreements between the league and the teams and the players, but still. Just don’t even bother if that’s where this goes after months of flouting the rules and public deception.
Heck, it doesn’t even sound like Rodgers’ fine primarily comes from his many maskless media appearances – where he said he thought having to wear a mask didn’t make sense – but instead from his Halloween party:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Allen Lazard we’re fined $14,650 each for attending a massless Halloween party. The party wasn’t sanctioned by the team but the league determined the club should have penalized both players. https://t.co/jdF7ns7zXh
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 10, 2021
So the NFL found no widespread compliance issues, but a few lapses — namely Rodgers’ maskless pressers and the Halloween party — got the #Packers dinged. And the team was made aware future violations could result in escalated discipline, including lowered or lost draft picks.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 10, 2021