Will Cam Newton Lose His Starting Job Over Being Unvaccinated?

Cam Newton of the New England Patriots will be a virtual participant at practice for a few days this week after a “misunderstanding” regarding the NFL’s Covid protocols. While the rules Newton broke were not spelled out, it’s clear that the second year QB hasn’t done something that most players in the NFL have … receive a vaccination. As a result, will Cam Newton lose his job to rookie Mac Jones over him being unvaccinated? 

The Patriots announced that QB Cam Newton will be out five days as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, “due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities.” pic.twitter.com/b8Cmouhtj6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 23, 2021

Cam Newton is not at practice this morning and the Patriots have released this statement explaining why: pic.twitter.com/VmY989fTpE

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 23, 2021

The debate between personal freedom and the need to vaccinate has touched sports deeper than almost any other sector of American society. With unions and franchise owners in lockstep since it is in their best interest to protect their multi-billion-dollar business, some athletes have chosen to step outside the mainstream and not get vaccinated, citing their right to choose what goes into their bodies. Other players, like New England quarterback Cam Newton, have called the issue of being vaccinated “too personal to discuss” when asked about it. Yet, has been seen wearing a mask during outdoor press conferences and on the sidelines during games. This, it seems, is required for those players who have not been vaccinated under the NFL’s Covid protocols.

Two other things unvaccinated NFL players must do is be tested on a daily basis and be subject to travel restrictions. These two rules came into play when Cam Newton needed to travel to a doctor outside of the New England area. During the trip a “misunderstanding” took place and based upon a vaguely written team statement, Newton either received the wrong kind of test, went to an unapproved tester, or failed to be tested the day he went to see the doctor. The result is that Newton, who is fighting for a starting job, will be unable to enter the team facility until Thursday, leaving the door open for Mac Jones to take more snaps and take hold of the starting job.

When it comes to Covid, sports leagues are in a difficult spot, but like most of the time when in a bind, have come up with a solution that fits their needs. I say this since in one respect, getting a vaccine is no different than asking a player who has never been hurt before to wear a knee brace; what one might call a preventative action against injury.

The major difference, however, is that Covid is something that has the potential to take out a large enough portion of an NFL team for weeks, where game forfeits could come into play. This complexity is the razor’s edge the NFL and NFLPA are sitting on, because on one hand there is a person’s right to choose what is best for them, while on the other hand it’s the league’s right to protect their business biggest asset, the players, which one person in any locker room can potentially jeopardize.

I don’t think it is right or fair to say that Cam Newton may lose a chance to be the week one starting quarterback for the New England Patriots because he is unvaccinated. I say this because as much as the NFL and the union would like every player to get vaccinated, they do have rules in place to accommodate those who don’t want to for whatever reason.

So, don’t blame Covid for why Cam Newton will be home watching his job slip away; blame his lack of understanding of a rule designed around his personal right to choose. Cam Newton can’t be mad at a system put in place for him … he should be mad at himself for not learning and following that system to the letter, something he may have plenty of time to think about on the bench in week one. 

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The post Will Cam Newton Lose His Starting Job Over Being Unvaccinated? appeared first on TOOATHLETIC TAKES.

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By: Rafael Thomas
Title: Will Cam Newton Lose His Starting Job Over Being Unvaccinated?
Sourced From: tooathletic.com/will-cam-newton-lose-his-starting-job-over-being-unvaccinated/
Published Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 22:43:26 +0000

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