The early part of July is the NFL dead season, but that doesn’t mean that there is no news to report. According to the latest NFL rumors, head coach Sean McDermott isn’t worrying about an extension for star quarterback Josh Allen and believes both sides will agree to a deal before long. In other news, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reports that 68% of league players have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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NFL Rumors: Josh Allen, Sean McDermott, COVID Vaccine Update
Josh Allen is coming off an absolutely fantastic season, leaving no doubt that he is the future of the position in Buffalo. During his third year in the league, the quarterback finished the season by completing 69.2% of his passes for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while leading Buffalo all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
The Bills will extend Allen at some point in time, but head coach Sean McDermott isn’t getting too worried about the timing of such an extension. Saying that “these things handle themselves”, McDermott mentions that both sides are interested in coming to a long-term agreement and that he believes this situation will “work itself out”.
For what it’s worth, the Bills still have a long time to figure it out before Allen hits the open market. Buffalo exercised Allen’s fifth-year option for 2022, and could even retain him in 2023 via the franchise tag. Of course, coming to terms on an extension early will probably help Buffalo in the long run, as fellow 2018 draftees Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson are both due for contracts of their own. Each one of these players will presumably reset the quarterback market when they eventually sign, and coming to terms with Allen early could save Buffalo money in the long run.
COVID Vaccine Update: 68% Of Players Vaccinated
The NFL wants all of their players to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and early reports indicate that the majority of players are doing the smart thing. According to Tom Pelissero, 68% of players have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, up from the 65% number reported a few weeks ago.
Vaccination update 20 days before most NFL teams report to camp:
– Five teams have 85%+ of players with at least one shot
– 68% of players league-wide with at least one shot (national rate is 67.1%, and 53% among men 18-39)
– Virtually all Tier 1 and 2 personnel are vaccinated
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 7, 2021
This rate compares favorably to the national average, as the nation currently has a 67.1% vaccination rate. Of course, not all demographics are created equal, as only 53% of men between the ages of 18 to 39 are vaccinated. Considering that the vast majority of NFL players fall within this age group, the fact the league is at such a high vaccination rate is actually pretty encouraging.
While players are not forced to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, they are heavily encouraged to do so. While fully vaccinated players are allowed to return to the old way of doing things, those that refuse are not allowed to eat with teammates or leave hotels during road games. Additionally, said players must wear masks while at the facility. These restrictions, while understandable, have drawn the ire of some players throughout the league. The NFL allowed players to opt out of 2021 rather than face these restrictions, but nobody decided to go down that path.
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