Vikings QB Kellen Mond test positive for COVID; three QBs including Kirk Cousins expected to miss practice

[VikingsVictorious]

These analogies miss on one key difference with vaccines, which is your choice impedes on the freedom of others. If you choose not to play for whatever reason, that directly impacts you and the team. When you choose not to get vaccinated, you potentially impact children, the immunocompromised, and those at higher risk. And you impact everyone because the virus is allowed to mutate into new variants. Calling these guys selfish isn't name calling, it's what they are.

If they feel so strongly about this, the selfless thing to do would be to sit out the season so guys like Pierce can play safely. Instead they choose to jeopardize everyone around them and that's not okay.

So in your mind they should not be allowed the choice to be unvaccinated and NFL Football players. Some people think that way.

[S197]

These analogies miss on one key difference with vaccines, which is your choice impedes on the freedom of others. If you choose not to play for whatever reason, that directly impacts you and the team. When you choose not to get vaccinated, you potentially impact children, the immunocompromised, and those at higher risk. And you impact everyone because the virus is allowed to mutate into new variants. Calling these guys selfish isn't name calling, it's what they are.

If they feel so strongly about this, the selfless thing to do would be to sit out the season so guys like Pierce can play safely. Instead they choose to jeopardize everyone around them and that's not okay.

So in your mind they should not be allowed the choice to be unvaccinated and NFL Football players. Some people think that way.

I said the selfless thing to do would be to sit out. Not the mandatory. If your convictions are so strong you should be willing to sacrifice something, right now it's everyone else sacrificing and having to accommodate them.

[MikethePurple]

These analogies miss on one key difference with vaccines, which is your choice impedes on the freedom of others. If you choose not to play for whatever reason, that directly impacts you and the team. When you choose not to get vaccinated, you potentially impact children, the immunocompromised, and those at higher risk. And you impact everyone because the virus is allowed to mutate into new variants. Calling these guys selfish isn't name calling, it's what they are.

If they feel so strongly about this, the selfless thing to do would be to sit out the season so guys like Pierce can play safely. Instead they choose to jeopardize everyone around them and that's not okay.

Unfortunately, the thumbs up button wasn't working otherwise, I'd thumbs up this post as much as I could.

[VikingTom]

These analogies miss on one key difference with vaccines, which is your choice impedes on the freedom of others. If you choose not to play for whatever reason, that directly impacts you and the team. When you choose not to get vaccinated, you potentially impact children, the immunocompromised, and those at higher risk. And you impact everyone because the virus is allowed to mutate into new variants. Calling these guys selfish isn't name calling, it's what they are.

If they feel so strongly about this, the selfless thing to do would be to sit out the season so guys like Pierce can play safely. Instead they choose to jeopardize everyone around them and that's not okay.

Unfortunately, the thumbs up button wasn't working otherwise, I'd thumbs up this post as much as I could.

I think this sums it up.

https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/foo ... 87f70.html

[Pondering Her Percy]

Here is my thing with all this vaccination heat that Cousins is taking. I dont get why it's such a big deal. This entire team and league for that matter were all unvaccinated last year. And in the end how did it effect the Vikings specifically? Adam Thielen missed one game because he was exposed to someone. So all in all, over 90% of the league is vaccinated and 70% of this team is vaccinated but now people are going to give Cousins shi# about it? Come on. The guy just played all 16 games last year with zero vaccination and at a much higher risk of catching COVID than he is now. I'm not saying there isnt a shot he catches it or whatever but in the end, it's much less riskier than it was last year for example given the vaccine wasnt around yet.

Bottom line is, it's just another reason for fans and whoever else for that matter to bitc# and complain about Cousins. If this was Pat Mahomes nobody would give a crap and I can tell you the media wouldnt do what our media did the other day to their QB. I love how so many hate on Cousins but know that we're screwed without him. You give the guy crap for not getting the vaccine and risking the chance of hurting the team but do nothing but complain when he's in there playing for us. Weird how that works.

Two words. Competitive disadvantage.

If this had happened during the season, the Vikings would not have had the services of Kirk Cousins for that weekend’s game. He wasn’t infected. He was in close contact. That could easily happen again.

That’s why people are upset. It’s not just a reason to complain about Cousins (even though haters will find any excuse). Quite the opposite. We know that in our current roster situation, the chances of winning WITHOUT Cousins are pretty small. He’s in a unique position as the quarterback. We can win without Harrison Smith. We DID win last year without Anthony Barr. We probably can’t win without Cousins.

Nobody is criticizing Patrick Mahomes because he didn’t get put on the COVID list and miss four practices. Cousins did. Criticism comes with the position of quarterback. That’s especially true if you openly refuse to get the vaccine, then end up on the COVID list. Couple that with his blaming the Vikings for not providing a big enough meeting room, and he opens himself up to further criticism.

You know me. I’m not a Cousins hater. I’m also not a Cousins apologist. I call it like I see it. Yes, it’s his choice to not get vaccinated. But that leaves him susceptible to ending up on the COVID list. It’s an inconvenience now. It could mean a loss if it happens during the season. If that happens, I’ll be leading the criticism.

I’ll add this. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are frustrated, and I don’t blame them. The Vikings have the lowest vaccination rate in the league, and that’s in no small part because team leaders such as Cousins, Barr, Thielen and Smith refuse to be vaccinated. With that being the case, don’t look for any of them to receive extensions anytime soon, if at all. You may disagree, but it’s the way it is. They’re putting the Vikings at a competitive disadvantage. That’s why people use the term “selfish.” Those types of actions don’t get rewarded.

I dont see near the people calling Thielen, Barr or Smith selfish. Yes, like you said the QB usually takes more heat and we can win without those other guys. But did anyone think the Vikings could win with Case Keenum when he had to come in? No. I dont count any of that out. Sure our chances "lessen". But teams win all the time with backup QBs. If the Vikings defense is back up to par this year, there's no doubt they can still win without Cousins. You hope it's just a game if anything with Cousins and not multiple games. But if Cousins has to miss one game and Jake Browning comes in, if we game plan and play our cards right, I think they could 100% win a game with Jake Browning.

But its 100% more ammo for the haters regarding Cousins. Maybe I brush all of this off a lot easier because I'm not vaccinated, I dont know. But I know myself along with many others, the reasons people arent getting it are mostly due to having no clue what the long term effects are, if any. Along with fertility/effects on future children. Even religion. Regardless, if Cousins, Thielen, Smith or whoever else for that matter dont want to get it, then they dont want to get it. I dont look at that as "selfish" at all. Everyone's number one priority in life should be your family and overall well-being. If you dont believe this is the best/safest route, then that's your opinion. Not everyone gets the flu shot, they arent called selfish.

I mean think about who we're talking about here. Especially two of these players. Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen. Prior to the vaccination crap, if I asked you to name the two LEAST selfish players on this entire team. My guess is, these are the two guys you would name. So the word selfish shouldnt even be mentioned with players/people and this vaccine. It's simply personal choice. Just like getting the flu vaccine is personal choice. I 10000% understand if these guys arent saying "hey let me inject this vaccine into my body when I have no idea what the long term effects are on myself or my future children JUST so I can ease everyone elses mind and please them".

Like I said, we're talking about the two most unselfish players on this team and arguably in the entire league in Smith and Thielen. This is exactly why I think the heat Cousins took over it, especially with the media, is ridiculous.

[StumpHunter]

These analogies miss on one key difference with vaccines, which is your choice impedes on the freedom of others. If you choose not to play for whatever reason, that directly impacts you and the team. When you choose not to get vaccinated, you potentially impact children, the immunocompromised, and those at higher risk. And you impact everyone because the virus is allowed to mutate into new variants. Calling these guys selfish isn't name calling, it's what they are.

If they feel so strongly about this, the selfless thing to do would be to sit out the season so guys like Pierce can play safely. Instead they choose to jeopardize everyone around them and that's not okay.

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/96570304 ... 19-mutants

Vaccines can cause mutations as well and being vaccinated does not prevent you from spreading the virus. It does lower the chances of getting a breakthrough case and spreading it, although it is hard to find actual numbers on that for the Delta variant.

Here are some other things players could do to increase the chances of contracting and spreading the delta variant:

Practicing
Playing in games
Going to any indoor party/club/event
Going to a restaurant
Going shopping
Going to the movies
Having people over at their house
Being around fans
etc, etc, etc

I can pretty much guarantee there are vaccinated Vikings players who do a lot more outside of practice and games to increase their chances of getting covid than boring old Cousins does in his free time, but they aren't selfish for some reason?

[VikingsVictorious]

Two words. Competitive disadvantage.

If this had happened during the season, the Vikings would not have had the services of Kirk Cousins for that weekend’s game. He wasn’t infected. He was in close contact. That could easily happen again.

That’s why people are upset. It’s not just a reason to complain about Cousins (even though haters will find any excuse). Quite the opposite. We know that in our current roster situation, the chances of winning WITHOUT Cousins are pretty small. He’s in a unique position as the quarterback. We can win without Harrison Smith. We DID win last year without Anthony Barr. We probably can’t win without Cousins.

Nobody is criticizing Patrick Mahomes because he didn’t get put on the COVID list and miss four practices. Cousins did. Criticism comes with the position of quarterback. That’s especially true if you openly refuse to get the vaccine, then end up on the COVID list. Couple that with his blaming the Vikings for not providing a big enough meeting room, and he opens himself up to further criticism.

You know me. I’m not a Cousins hater. I’m also not a Cousins apologist. I call it like I see it. Yes, it’s his choice to not get vaccinated. But that leaves him susceptible to ending up on the COVID list. It’s an inconvenience now. It could mean a loss if it happens during the season. If that happens, I’ll be leading the criticism.

I’ll add this. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are frustrated, and I don’t blame them. The Vikings have the lowest vaccination rate in the league, and that’s in no small part because team leaders such as Cousins, Barr, Thielen and Smith refuse to be vaccinated. With that being the case, don’t look for any of them to receive extensions anytime soon, if at all. You may disagree, but it’s the way it is. They’re putting the Vikings at a competitive disadvantage. That’s why people use the term “selfish.” Those types of actions don’t get rewarded.

I dont see near the people calling Thielen, Barr or Smith selfish. Yes, like you said the QB usually takes more heat and we can win without those other guys. But did anyone think the Vikings could win with Case Keenum when he had to come in? No. I dont count any of that out. Sure our chances "lessen". But teams win all the time with backup QBs. If the Vikings defense is back up to par this year, there's no doubt they can still win without Cousins. You hope it's just a game if anything with Cousins and not multiple games. But if Cousins has to miss one game and Jake Browning comes in, if we game plan and play our cards right, I think they could 100% win a game with Jake Browning.

But its 100% more ammo for the haters regarding Cousins. Maybe I brush all of this off a lot easier because I'm not vaccinated, I dont know. But I know myself along with many others, the reasons people arent getting it are mostly due to having no clue what the long term effects are, if any. Along with fertility/effects on future children. Even religion. Regardless, if Cousins, Thielen, Smith or whoever else for that matter dont want to get it, then they dont want to get it. I dont look at that as "selfish" at all. Everyone's number one priority in life should be your family and overall well-being. If you dont believe this is the best/safest route, then that's your opinion. Not everyone gets the flu shot, they arent called selfish.

I mean think about who we're talking about here. Especially two of these players. Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen. Prior to the vaccination crap, if I asked you to name the two LEAST selfish players on this entire team. My guess is, these are the two guys you would name. So the word selfish shouldnt even be mentioned with players/people and this vaccine. It's simply personal choice. Just like getting the flu vaccine is personal choice. I 10000% understand if these guys arent saying "hey let me inject this vaccine into my body when I have no idea what the long term effects are on myself or my future children JUST so I can ease everyone elses mind and please them".

Like I said, we're talking about the two most unselfish players on this team and arguably in the entire league in Smith and Thielen. This is exactly why I think the heat Cousins took over it, especially with the media, is ridiculous.

I wish so very much that everyone was vaccinated. However, I'm not going to declare unvaccinated people selfish. They are just standing up for their IMO mistaken beliefs.
Cousins has never missed a game.

[fiestavike]

I believe Cousins, Barr, Thielen and Smith are here to win and they are not putting themselves ahead of their teammates. They are simply doing what they believe is right.
Seriously, do you believe they are doing this and having to put up with thousands of people like you calling them names just for the fun of it? Taking the grief from the media, coaches and some of their teammates out of selfishness. Having to follow special protocols that seem to me like a huge pain in the #### because they get their kicks out of that? No possible way.

I get questioning their judgment. I don't think they could be more wrong. Questioning their character IMO is going way too far.

Of course they're doing what they think is right... for them. But it is absolutely putting themselves ahead of their teammates. Michael Pierce had to opt out last year because he's high risk. They're putting him first? No, of course they're not. I'm not saying they don't want to win, any athlete at this level wants to win but they cannot come out and say they are doing everything possible to win. It's such a ridiculous statement when even a close contact scenario can make them miss games.

This is what their teammate Patrick Peterson said:

I know it’s personal preference, but if you’re trying to win a championship, I want to put myself in the best position possible. Period. Because at the end of the day, we’ve got something going here. I don’t want to be — obviously you want to build depth, but you have a greater chance at winning with your starters on the field. I feel that if we’re healthy, we’re going to compete each and every Sunday. It’s every player’s personal preference if they want to get the vaccine or not, but me, I feel like I’m too important to this team not to get vaccinated, not miss an important game and now we possibly lose that game and that could be the game that we needed to get into the playoffs.

I think what the biggest problem is, being around the guys, I think the NFLPA is not doing a great job of educating us.

Best position possible. Period. You're either doing the most you can or you're not. You can't qualify a statement saying you're doing everything. If you listen to Zimmer, Peterson, Irvin... they're all saying the same thing. It's their choice but it's a selfish choice.

In terms of football, they should get vaccinated.

In terms of public policy, if 100 percent of Americans were vaccinated with any of our current vaccines, we would still be dealing with Covid from here on out.

sad truth.

[808vikingsfan]

Two words. Competitive disadvantage.

If this had happened during the season, the Vikings would not have had the services of Kirk Cousins for that weekend’s game. He wasn’t infected. He was in close contact. That could easily happen again.

That’s why people are upset. It’s not just a reason to complain about Cousins (even though haters will find any excuse). Quite the opposite. We know that in our current roster situation, the chances of winning WITHOUT Cousins are pretty small. He’s in a unique position as the quarterback. We can win without Harrison Smith. We DID win last year without Anthony Barr. We probably can’t win without Cousins.

Nobody is criticizing Patrick Mahomes because he didn’t get put on the COVID list and miss four practices. Cousins did. Criticism comes with the position of quarterback. That’s especially true if you openly refuse to get the vaccine, then end up on the COVID list. Couple that with his blaming the Vikings for not providing a big enough meeting room, and he opens himself up to further criticism.

You know me. I’m not a Cousins hater. I’m also not a Cousins apologist. I call it like I see it. Yes, it’s his choice to not get vaccinated. But that leaves him susceptible to ending up on the COVID list. It’s an inconvenience now. It could mean a loss if it happens during the season. If that happens, I’ll be leading the criticism.

I’ll add this. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are frustrated, and I don’t blame them. The Vikings have the lowest vaccination rate in the league, and that’s in no small part because team leaders such as Cousins, Barr, Thielen and Smith refuse to be vaccinated. With that being the case, don’t look for any of them to receive extensions anytime soon, if at all. You may disagree, but it’s the way it is. They’re putting the Vikings at a competitive disadvantage. That’s why people use the term “selfish.” Those types of actions don’t get rewarded.

I dont see near the people calling Thielen, Barr or Smith selfish. Yes, like you said the QB usually takes more heat and we can win without those other guys. But did anyone think the Vikings could win with Case Keenum when he had to come in? No. I dont count any of that out. Sure our chances "lessen". But teams win all the time with backup QBs. If the Vikings defense is back up to par this year, there's no doubt they can still win without Cousins. You hope it's just a game if anything with Cousins and not multiple games. But if Cousins has to miss one game and Jake Browning comes in, if we game plan and play our cards right, I think they could 100% win a game with Jake Browning.

But its 100% more ammo for the haters regarding Cousins. Maybe I brush all of this off a lot easier because I'm not vaccinated, I dont know. But I know myself along with many others, the reasons people arent getting it are mostly due to having no clue what the long term effects are, if any. Along with fertility/effects on future children. Even religion. Regardless, if Cousins, Thielen, Smith or whoever else for that matter dont want to get it, then they dont want to get it. I dont look at that as "selfish" at all. Everyone's number one priority in life should be your family and overall well-being. If you dont believe this is the best/safest route, then that's your opinion. Not everyone gets the flu shot, they arent called selfish.

I mean think about who we're talking about here. Especially two of these players. Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen. Prior to the vaccination crap, if I asked you to name the two LEAST selfish players on this entire team. My guess is, these are the two guys you would name. So the word selfish shouldnt even be mentioned with players/people and this vaccine. It's simply personal choice. Just like getting the flu vaccine is personal choice. I 10000% understand if these guys arent saying "hey let me inject this vaccine into my body when I have no idea what the long term effects are on myself or my future children JUST so I can ease everyone elses mind and please them".

Like I said, we're talking about the two most unselfish players on this team and arguably in the entire league in Smith and Thielen. This is exactly why I think the heat Cousins took over it, especially with the media, is ridiculous.

Don't hate Cousins. Just want him off the team.

Cousins is getting more grief because he made fun of people wearing masks. He's getting grief because he was quoted "If I die, I die" and then promoted a hospital that would take care of him if he did get covid (which since dropped him from ads). He's getting grief because he was brought to this team to get over the hump, He's getting grief his team has the lowest vaccinated rate in the league.

He's never missed a practice, ever. Now he's missed 5. Doesn't that say something? Maybe he should get vaccinated? No, he'd rather put himself in a plexiglass box. He's Gambling. Gambling Zimmer's job, the team's success. The team invested millions , He has a responsibility to the organization.

[vikeinmontana]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/320 ... ints-games

Saints requiring proof of vax or negative test to go to games. No capacity limitations.

Be interesting to see if other franchises in sports follows suit.

[YikesVikes]

My point on this topic is Mond's "people are entitled to their own opinion" statement. Yes, people are entitled to their own opinions but they are not entitled to their own facts. That's the issue. All these guys want to make up or listen to made-up statistics and crap from all corners of the internet. Kirk hasn't even spoken to a doctor about Covid. It is really disappointing that my beloved team is so #### backward. That goes for AT, HS, AB and all others. Its selfish because its not about their health, it's about the health of others. When they go home for the holidays, which elderly family member is going to be infected and possibly die?

[vikeinmontana]

My point on this topic is Mond's "people are entitled to their own opinion" statement. Yes, people are entitled to their own opinions but they are not entitled to their own facts. That's the issue. All these guys want to make up or listen to made-up statistics and crap from all corners of the internet. Kirk hasn't even spoken to a doctor about Covid. It is really disappointing that my beloved team is so #### backward. That goes for AT, HS, AB and all others. Its selfish because its not about their health, it's about the health of others. When they go home for the holidays, which elderly family member is going to be infected and possibly die?

If their vaccinated than statistically probably none.

[S197]

Good article about Myles Garrett.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/op ... ar-AANc8XH

[YikesVikes]

My point on this topic is Mond's "people are entitled to their own opinion" statement. Yes, people are entitled to their own opinions but they are not entitled to their own facts. That's the issue. All these guys want to make up or listen to made-up statistics and crap from all corners of the internet. Kirk hasn't even spoken to a doctor about Covid. It is really disappointing that my beloved team is so #### backward. That goes for AT, HS, AB and all others. Its selfish because its not about their health, it's about the health of others. When they go home for the holidays, which elderly family member is going to be infected and possibly die?

If their vaccinated than statistically probably none.

They are not

[VikingsVictorious]

I dont see near the people calling Thielen, Barr or Smith selfish. Yes, like you said the QB usually takes more heat and we can win without those other guys. But did anyone think the Vikings could win with Case Keenum when he had to come in? No. I dont count any of that out. Sure our chances "lessen". But teams win all the time with backup QBs. If the Vikings defense is back up to par this year, there's no doubt they can still win without Cousins. You hope it's just a game if anything with Cousins and not multiple games. But if Cousins has to miss one game and Jake Browning comes in, if we game plan and play our cards right, I think they could 100% win a game with Jake Browning.

But its 100% more ammo for the haters regarding Cousins. Maybe I brush all of this off a lot easier because I'm not vaccinated, I dont know. But I know myself along with many others, the reasons people arent getting it are mostly due to having no clue what the long term effects are, if any. Along with fertility/effects on future children. Even religion. Regardless, if Cousins, Thielen, Smith or whoever else for that matter dont want to get it, then they dont want to get it. I dont look at that as "selfish" at all. Everyone's number one priority in life should be your family and overall well-being. If you dont believe this is the best/safest route, then that's your opinion. Not everyone gets the flu shot, they arent called selfish.

I mean think about who we're talking about here. Especially two of these players. Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen. Prior to the vaccination crap, if I asked you to name the two LEAST selfish players on this entire team. My guess is, these are the two guys you would name. So the word selfish shouldnt even be mentioned with players/people and this vaccine. It's simply personal choice. Just like getting the flu vaccine is personal choice. I 10000% understand if these guys arent saying "hey let me inject this vaccine into my body when I have no idea what the long term effects are on myself or my future children JUST so I can ease everyone elses mind and please them".

Like I said, we're talking about the two most unselfish players on this team and arguably in the entire league in Smith and Thielen. This is exactly why I think the heat Cousins took over it, especially with the media, is ridiculous.

Don't hate Cousins. Just want him off the team.

Cousins is getting more grief because he made fun of people wearing masks. He's getting grief because he was quoted "If I die, I die" and then promoted a hospital that would take care of him if he did get covid (which since dropped him from ads). He's getting grief because he was brought to this team to get over the hump, He's getting grief his team has the lowest vaccinated rate in the league.

He's never missed a practice, ever. Now he's missed 5. Doesn't that say something? Maybe he should get vaccinated? No, he'd rather put himself in a plexiglass box. He's Gambling. Gambling Zimmer's job, the team's success. The team invested millions , He has a responsibility to the organization.

Those of us who trust the medical professionals think he should get vaccinated. He doesn't trust the medical professionals, or possibly has religious objections to the vaccine. I don't get why people have religious objections. God does heal and one of his best ways to heal is medical professionals. I actually agree with him that if I die I die. My life isn't that big of a deal. However, I do like living and since I want to live as healthy as possible I got the vaccine.