DeMaurice Smith: NFLPA will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination information, but players responsible for decisions

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Washington Soccer Crew defensive stop Montez Sweat raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he told newshounds that he isn’t “a fan” of the COVID-19 vaccine and that he wants to gain more information before deciding whether to safe it or no longer. 

Washington coach Ron Rivera had a scientific examiner talk to the team to assist educate the players on the vaccine. 

And for now, that’s all that teams can perform, NFL Players Association scientific director Dr. Thom Mayer says. 

“I’ll speak what our players speak: They’re grown-ass males. You give them the grown-ass info and they’ll safe a grown-ass resolution,” Mayer told newshounds on a convention name on Thursday. 

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith echoed those sentiments. 

“I mediate the totally factor that we will perform is be definite that that that every body in every of our players delight in the total information,” Smith told newshounds before including, “No one wouldn’t delight in all the information that they wish.”

The NFL and its teams are encouraging players to safe vaccinated to assist continue to power down the spread of COVID-19. But Smith acknowledged that many players delight in assorted opinions on the vaccine. 

Smith didn’t know the right share of players who had been vaccinated. But he mentioned the differing views shouldn’t attain as a surprise. 

“Pulling assist for a moment, we’re a microcosm of our country, honest?” Smith requested. He continued, “There’s wide disparities in our country between where some of us are getting vaccinated and why some of us haven’t.”

Smith added that he believes players delight in safe entry to to a lot of information, but that they’ve to think how to proceed. 

“I mediate the country is in a attach of abode honest now where of us are asking whether or not they belief the information and whether the information is ample to take care of any other topic they would maybe moreover honest delight in,” Smith mentioned.