Arians: nfl must dig deeper on vax issues
Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians would like to see the NFL expand an investigation of the COVID-19 vaccination status of two players on his team to include other rosters around the league.
Responding publicly for the first time to the league suspending wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards for three games for misrepresenting their status with fake vaccination cards, Arians said Friday those might not be the only cases of their kind in the league.
“The league did their due diligence, and we move on,” Arians said after practice. “I will not address these guys for the next three weeks. They’ll just be working out, and we’ll address their future at that time. Other than that, there’s really nothing to say.”
A third player, former Bucs receiver John Franklin III, also was suspended for three games. He was cut during training camp and is a free agent.
Arians said the reigning Super Bowl champions have done as good a job as any team managing the coronavirus pandemic the last two seasons.
Asked if he thinks there may be issues with the vaccination status of other players around the league, Arians replied, “Maybe.”
“It is what it is,” Arians said. “We’ve done everything. I mean, everything. There’s a lot more to that story. I just hope they don’t stop looking.”
Brown, who has missed the last five games with an ankle injury and likely was going to remain sidelined for the next two as well, loses a little over $181,000 during the suspension.
The discipline will cost Edwards, a backup who leads the team with three interceptions, about $141,000.
Vikings DE Griffen says he is bipolar
Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen announced that he is bipolar in an Instagram post and said he will be an advocate for mental health after an incident last week in which he called police to his home and then refused to leave.
“It’s true I am bipolar. I will embrace it and I will be an advocate for mental health,” Everson’s post read. “I been running from it a long time. I’m not ashamed of it anymore. It all started when my mother passed away. Went into a dark place, thought I was great for many years. I promise this time I will do everything the experts say.”
GIANTS QB Jones ruled out vs. Dolphins
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will not play against the Dolphins because of a neck injury he suffered last week against the Eagles, and he could be out longer.
Coach Joe Judge would not discuss the specifics of Jones’ injury, saying the decision to rule him out was solely for this week. Judge said it is uncertain at this point when Jones will be cleared to play.
Former Bears quarterback Mike Glennon will get the start, his first with the Giants.
More injury news
Saints quarterback Taysom Hill will try to play through a mallet finger injury that he suffered in Thursday night’s loss to the Cowboys without having surgery, a source told ESPN.
Lions running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder) is out against the Vikings, and coach Dan Campbell said Swift is likely a week away from returning to action.
Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (hip and shoulder injuries) is doubtful against the Chiefs.