NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith Assures NFL Will Not Cut Line for Vaccines

With many worried that the NFL will attempt to cut the line for COVID-19 vaccines when they become available, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has put those concerns to rest.

Speaking with members of the media Tuesday, Smith assured the league will not take valuable doses away from those who desperately need the protection most.

“Nobody should think about a vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and our most vulnerable people right now,” Smith said in a zoom interview.

Smith also added that “football is not an essential business.”

NFLPA Exec Director DeMaurice Smith: "Nobody should think about a vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and our most vulnerable people right now… Football is not an essential business."

— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) December 8, 2020

Multiple vaccines still await approval in the U.S., as the league is coming off the heals of its largest COVID-19 outbreak to date with the Baltimore Ravens.

The league and players’ association announced slightly improved, but still concerning testing data as well Tuesday, with 45 new positive cases of the virus determined last week.

Smith also said that the NFLPA has discussed the idea of bubbles for the upcoming playoffs, but that no decision has been made yet.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says they discussed the idea of “local bubbles” in the playoffs in a recent call with player reps, but no decision yet and it’ll be data-driven.

Background on the idea NFL officials have been discussing: https://t.co/yAg1TO3dbu

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 8, 2020

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discussed plans for the playoffs last week, but ruled out an NBA-style, single location bubble for the postseason. Each team would likely have their own individual bubbles, limiting contact with those beyond players and staff even further.