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FOXBOROUGH, Mass .– New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Cam Newton’s vaccination status was not a factor in the team’s decision to release him.
“No. Look, you keep talking about it,” Belichick told reporters Wednesday morning.
“I would just like to point out that I don’t know what the number is, but the number of players, coaches and staff who have been affected by COVID in this training camp – who have been vaccinated – is a pretty high number. So I wouldn’t lose sight of that. “
The NFL previously announced that 68 players and staff tested positive for COVID-19 out of 7,190 people tested during a three-week period from August 1 to 21. The rate of positive tests among unvaccinated NFL staff was seven times higher than the rate of positive tests among vaccinated staff, according to the league.
Newton was out of the Patriots for five days last week due to what the team called a “misunderstanding” of the COVID-19 protocol. He missed three practices in that streak, allowing rookie Mac Jones to take control of the squad.
The Patriots had revealed Newton had daily tests at the time, all of which were negative. According to NFL-NFLPA protocols, individuals in Levels 1 and 2 – including all players – are exempt from daily testing if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Newton had never confirmed his vaccination status, claiming it was personal.
Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said on Tuesday that he and general manager Trent Baalke had taken a player’s vaccination status into consideration during the final retirement from the squad.
Meyer said it was considered due to the more stringent COVID-19 protocols imposed on unvaccinated players who test positive or who are identified as high-risk close contacts compared to protocols for vaccinated players.
Meyer’s comments did not go well with the NFL Players Association. George Atallah, deputy executive director of external affairs for the NFLPA, told ESPN by email that Meyer’s statements “led us to open an investigation.”
Of the decision to go with Jones over Newton, Belichick called it a “very competitive situation”.
“Both players did about an equal number of reps in total between practices, games, going back into the spring,” he said.
“I have a lot of respect for him as a player. Huge respect for him as a human being, ”said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. “I think he did everything he could to get us to ask him to try to help us win and help us prepare this year to improve. And for that I am very grateful and j ‘appreciates everything he’s done, all the work he’s done. put it in. “
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