NFL teams warned of possible forfeits because of COVID outbreaks

The NFL has raised the possibility of teams having to forfeit games in the event multiple unvaccinated players cause a scheduling disruption because of COVID-19 infections.

In a letter distributed Thursday to club owners and executives, a copy of which was obtained by Newsday, commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that as part of the league’s COVID-19 protocols, teams will not necessarily be permitted to have games rescheduled if unvaccinated players render the clubs unable to play.

Goodell wrote that the league "will attempt to minimize the competitive and economic burden on both participating teams" if a Covid spike among vaccinated individuals causes a scheduling disruption. "If a game is canceled due to a Covid outbreak among non-vaccinated players on one of the competing teams, the club with the outbreak will forfeit the contest and will be deemed to have played 16 games for purposes of the draft, waiver priority, etc. For the purposes of playoff seeding, the forfeiting team will be credited with a loss and the other team credited with a win."

Goodell said there will also be financial penalties for any team that has to forfeit a game because of Covid infections among unvaccinated players and/or staff, including the forfeiture of game-related revenue. In addition, neither team’s players would receive their weekly salaries.

"We do not anticipate adding a ‘19th week’ to accommodate games that cannot be rescheduled within the current 18 weeks of the regular season," Goodell wrote. "Every club is obligated to have its team ready to play at the scheduled time and place. A failure to do so would be deemed conduct detrimental. There is no right to postpone a game. Postponements will occur only if required by government authorities, medical experts, or at the Commissioner’s discretion."

Goodell added that games "will not be postponed or rescheduled simply to avoid roster issues caused by injury or illness affecting multiple players, even within a position group. If a game is canceled/postponed because a club cannot play due to a Covid spike among or resulting from its non-vaccinated players/staff, then the burden of the cancellation or delay will fall on the club experiencing the Covid infection."

Training camps open Tuesday, and while most players have had at least one shot — recent reports suggest that up to 75% of players have gotten a minimum of one vaccine dose — Thursday’s memo will place additional pressure on players who have not yet been vaccinated or do not plan to do so.

No games were canceled last year, but a handful of teams, including the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, had to reschedule games because of COVID-19 outbreaks. The NFL has loosened restrictions to allow increased practice squad rosters as a way to build in flexibility in the event teams are impacted by COVID-19 infections.

Giants' draft pick Toney on COVID reserve list. The Giants placed first-round wide receiver Kadarius Toney on the COVID-19 reserve list Thursday, thus delaying his availability for the start of training camp practices next Wednesday.

The Giants said Toney is following NFL protocols by isolating and is participating in meetings remotely.

The Giants did not indicate whether Toney has received any COVID-19 vaccinations or had tested positive or had been in contact with someone who had. Under current guidelines, an unvaccinated player who tests positive will be isolated for 10 days and is then permitted to return if asymptomatic. Vaccinated players can return after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.

Toney was the 20th overall pick out of Florida in this year’s draft after the Giants moved back from No. 11 in a trade with the Bears. Toney played in 38 games, starting 13, for the Gators and had 120 catches for 1,490 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a long reception of 66 yards.

The Giants also announced that they have signed running back Mike Weber and defensive back Jordyn Peters. The 5-10, 211-pound Weber was a seventh-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2019 and was coached by then-Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, who is now the Giants’ offensive coordinator. In three seasons at Ohio State, Weber rushed for 2,757 yards and 24 touchdowns and caught 54 passes for 297 yards.

Peters was signed as a rookie free agent by the Jets on May 2 and was waived on July 2. In four seasons at Auburn, Peters played in 50 games and had 101 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”