NFL

Friday's NFL: Aaron Rodgers sought treatments instead of COVID-19 vaccine

Barry Wilner
Associated Press

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Friday he sought alternative treatments instead of the NFL-endorsed COVID-19 vaccinations because of an allergy he has to ingredients in two of the FDA-approved shots.

Speaking on SiriusXM's “Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said: “I’m not an anti-vax, flat-earther. I have an allergy to an ingredient that’s in the mRNA vaccines. I found a long-term immunization protocol to protect myself and I’m very proud of the research that went into that.”

Rodgers, who has been tested daily as part of NFL protocols for the unvaccinated, came up positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. He said he didn't feel well on Thursday but was much better on Friday.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Oct. 28, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Packers won 24-21.

He can't rejoin the Packers for 10 days, missing Sunday's game at Kansas City. Rodgers must have a negative test to return to the team on Nov. 13.

Rodgers noted that on the CDC’s website, “it says should you have an allergy to any of the ingredients, you should not get one of the mRNA vaccines. So those two (Moderna and Pfizer) were out already.”

He said with some of the public issues involving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — clotting issues and his “hearing of multiple people who had had adverse events around getting the J&J ... the J&J shot was not even an option at that point.”

His research led him to a treatment he did not detail, and he said the NFL was aware of the treatment protocol he was using, which took “multiple months.”

“The league was fully aware of it upon my return to the Packers (in August),” Rodgers said. "It was at that point that I petitioned them to accept my immunization under their vaccination protocol."

That petition and a subsequent appeal were denied by the NFL, players' union and independent infectious disease consultants.

“And I also said, how come there’s no exemption for medical exemptions, religious exemptions, pre-existing conditions?,” Rodgers added. “And they basically said those are all basically exempted but you would be put in the non-vaccinated category.”

The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rodgers also told McAfee he has concerns about potential fertility issues had he taken one of the vaccinations.

Many scientists, including three doctors who specialize in reproductive health vouched for the safety of vaccinations for couples who want to have a baby and urged people to seek out their doctors or nurse practitioners with any questions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and obstetrician groups also recommend COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant individuals.

Dr. Stephanie Broadwell of Sanford Health Fargo, Dr. Stephanie Foughty of Altru Health Devils Lake and Dr. Ana Tobiaz of Sanford Health Bismarck said at a virtual North Dakota town hall in July to get the vaccine.

“I can understand that people are scared, people are nervous,” Broadwell said. “I think sometimes there can be information that can be helpful and some that can be somewhat misleading. I think it’s just really hard to digest all the information that is out there and stories that are filtering through that maybe even come from trusted sources.”

Rodgers strongly questioned the NFL's protocols, along with any organization forcing health requirements on individuals.

“I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some woke culture or crazed group of individuals who say you have to do something,” he said. "Health is not a one-size fits all for everybody, and for me it involved a lot of study in the offseason.

“If you weren’t in the vaccinated category you were in a different category which involved some draconian measures and protocols you would have to adhere (to), which in my opinion were not based on science and were more based in a shame-based environment to try and get as many guys to get vaccinated as possible, so that the league looks better to the rest of the world. That was the focus of these protocols ...”

The NFL coronavirus protocols were developed in conjunction with CDC guidelines and independent infectious disease experts.

Disconnect: Browns cut ties with OBJ, end drama-filled stay

Cleveland — Odell Beckham’s final target with the Browns was a pass thrown to him late, high and out of his reach.

He tried catching it with one hand.

Another incompletion, and like OBJ's time with Cleveland, a failure.

Out of patience with Beckham's antics and attitude, the Browns on Friday said they're releasing the polarizing star wide receiver, whose arrival 2 1/2 years ago triggered a celebration and spawned wild expectations never met.

Beckham’s unceremonious exit — still not official — came on his 29th birthday and days after his father shared an 11-minute video on social media highlighting plays on which Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw him the ball.

Beckham was excused from two days of practice while his agents tried to work out an amicable parting with general manager Andrew Berry as the Browns (4-4) were preparing to play a critical game on Sunday in Cincinnati.

“This really is not about the video,” Berry said a few hours after the Browns announced the breakup. “It's really about a series of discussions, certainly over the last week but even spanning back longer than that.”

Beckham wanted out of Cleveland almost from the time he was acquired in a 2019 blockbuster trade from the New York Giants. He asked to be traded several times, and now has his wish. Sort of.

It was supposed to be so different. The Browns thought Beckham could be the final piece, the game-changing playmaker for Mayfield, capable of transforming the offense and leading Cleveland to Super Bowls. Instead, Beckham was injured, frustrated and mostly used as a decoy.

"I don’t think anyone envisioned when the organization traded for Odell three years ago that this would really be the resolution,” said Berry, who inherited Beckham after former GM John Dorsey pulled off the trade.

“It’s unfortunate, but at the same time there are some situations in the NFL where things just don’t quite work out.”

The Browns didn't appreciate the video or that Beckham never reached out to Mayfield or coach Kevin Stefanski, who often praised his work ethic in an arduous recovery from knee surgery.

Berry did speak with Beckham, but didn't disclose the nature of their conversations.

Once the sides finalize financial terms — Beckham is owed $8 million this season — Beckham will be waived and can be claimed by any team with enough salary-cap space. If he clears the waiver wire, which probably won't happen until early next week, he'll be a free agent and can sign anywhere.

It's possible Beckham could stay in the AFC or wind up in Cleveland's division. That might worry some fans, but Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett isn't concerned.

“It might happen. I’m not scared of it,” Garrett said. “There’s great receivers everywhere that we have to worry about, and if he goes to another good receiving corps, then we have to step up and prepare for it.

“We know what he can do. We see it on the practice field all the time. No need to worry about the possibility, Twitter’s going to make up enough stories.”

Garrett was shocked by the speed of Beckham's departure.

“It was quicker than anyone expected,” Garrett said. "I wish we got a little bit more communication between upper management and the players, a little bit more knowledge of what was going on because it seemed just like it happened overnight.

“Things just like kind of snowballed."

Now that Beckham's gone, the Browns can put their full attention on the Bengals (5-3). Coincidentally, it was at Cincinnati in Week 7 last season when Beckham suffered a season-ending knee injury and Mayfield threw five touchdown passes.

Garrett thinks this saga could unite the Browns.

“I think it will bring us together,” said the league's sacks leader. “It did the first time he went out, even though that was against anyone’s wishes, but we found a way and I think this year we’re going to do the same thing.”

One of the NFL's most talented receivers, Beckham has also been one of its most irksome.

Although he insisted he was happy in Cleveland, where he was reunited with former college teammate and close friend Jarvis Landry, Beckham didn't seem to like not being in a big market. He reportedly told opponents on the field during pregame warmups to “come get me” in the offseason.

Beckham seemed to fall in line last season under Stefanski, but he never made a strong on-field connection with Mayfield, and their lack of chemistry was a constant topic.

When Beckham got hurt last October, it appeared to free up Mayfield, who played better without the playmaker and led the Browns to their first playoff appearance in 18 seasons and first postseason win since 1994.

This season started ominously as Beckham, who had just two 100-yard games with Cleveland, was set to play in the opener at Kansas City before telling the Browns he couldn't shortly before kickoff, forcing them to alter their game plan.

The final straw came Sunday in a loss to Pittsburgh as Beckham caught just one pass and was noticeably upset while walking off the field with Garrett, who tried to console his friend — and now former teammate.

"I want the best for him and I want to see him prosper and I never want to see him down like that,” Garrett said. “I just threw my arm around him to try tell him that whatever happens we’re going to be all right.”

The Browns are about to find out if that's true.