Seth Udinski, FISM News
The NFL announced yesterday that they had fined the Green Bay Packers $300,000, as well as quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Adam Lazard $15,000 for not following the league’s COVID policies.
This is the latest development in the media circus that has surrounded Rodgers since it was found out that he tested positive for COVID-19. In a second appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday Rodgers apologized for misleading people by saying he had been “immunized” after being asked about his vaccination status earlier in the season. He said that he made the decision to not be immunized, but rather use preventative measures, because it was “in [my] best interest based on consulting with my doctors.”
He added that he has no desire to be a poster-child for either side of the issue. He said,
I understand that not everybody’s gonna understand that necessarily, but I respect everybody’s opinion. I’m an athlete, I’m not an activist. So I’m going to get back to doing what I do best, and that’s playing ball. I shared my opinion. It wasn’t one that was come to frivolously, it involved a lot of study and what I felt like was in my best interest for my body.
It appears Rodgers is not standing alone. His sponsors at State Farm is backing his decision, saying they support his right to make a medical decision, even if they disagree with the nature of that decision. In a statement to USA Today, State Farm representatives said,
We don’t support some of the statements that he has made, but we respect his right to have his own personal point of view. We recognize our customers, employees, agents and brand ambassadors come from all walks of life, with differing viewpoints on many issues. Our mission at State Farm is to support safer, stronger communities. To that end, we encourage vaccinations, but respect everyone’s right to make a choice based on their personal circumstances.
Rodgers should be cleared to play, barring any setbacks, in the Green Bay Packers’ game on Sunday versus the Seattle Seahawks.