he said the nfl doesn't need you. right. individually, the nfl doesn't need you.corporation. it's one of the largest american sports, franchises on the planet. they're going to protect their assets. they have been in the stance to protect the shield onds having outbreaks on teams is not going to benefit the nfl and if these players want to opt out, the nfl gave players an option to opt out last year. hundreds of players opted out. it was no force on them to come and play. playing in the nfl is a privilege. the nfl has the right to implement rules and restrictions it deems to protect the brand and the shield. that's what they're doing. they have a bunch of rules. you can't smoke marijuana. you can't do certain things. you may not agree with those rules but those are the rules in n and the nfl has the right to implement them. >> he talks about it's delicate. >> it's a kind of touchy subject. you can't somebody what to do with their body. i grew up inidn't get vaccines. i got it because i wanted to put myself in the best situation to be out there with my team weekend

he went out of his way to highlight the nfl's policy. he wen>> it will command the nal football league that has announced that if there are outbreaks among unvaccinated personnel that the team risk forfeiting games. they need to take every step they can. every day, more business are implementing their own vaccine mandates. the justice department has made it clear that it is illegal to require covid-19 vaccines. we all want our lives to get back to normal. and fully vaccinated workplaces will make that happen more quickly, and more successfully. >> now, president biden is smartly like the nfl not forcing vaccination, like the nfl, the biden policy of federal workers putting a storm on the scale and hopefully by stepping up the federal government will get leeway from other organizations and businesses to do the same. here's the thing, folks, we have to get this done. we are in the midst of an outbreak of the delta variant, there are places in this country like florida and missouri now seeing hospitalizations at all-time highs. and keep in

even the nfl, big time. so tonight, a new rule in the nfl is if a game is cancelled because of a covid outbreak, among unvaccinated players, guess what? that team will have to forfeit, and will be credited with a loss. we are going to talk about that, in just a little bit. on capitol hill, republicans are putting politics over public health. even the gop's doctors -- well, caucus doctors. they don't seem to -- to see the need for republicans to be more vocal about vaccines. dr. ronny jackson. you remember, he -- he was the white house doctor to, not one but, two presidents. president barack obama and the former guy. he got pretty hot under the collar about the idea of republicans being asked to say whether or not they were vaccinated. >> yeah, i was just going to chime in and say i think that you, as the press, have responsibility to ask questions of the democrats, as well. how many of the democrats are willing to say whether or not they've been vaccinated? and what about the texas delegation from the -- fro

i don't think this is a battle the nfl needs to be fighting. neil: some people were making fun of us when we said why are we doing all this testing on young people when so many over the age of 60 have the vaccine? for what reason? or they already got exposed to covid? >> i think people should make rational decisions. i told my parents, they are over 75, you need to get the vaccine as soon as you can but the idea that a 22-year-old playing the nfl in supreme physical shape needs to be concerned about covid and we are not still saying they can't get covid after vaccination and also we are not giving a strong discussion about people like me who already had covert and have the antibodies which i do, that is a big part of herd immunity. we need to consider natural immunity and vaccine immunity and the nfl needs a more sophisticated policy than the one they're rolling out which will alienate a lot of players and coaches and create unnecessary issues for the league going forward. neil: laura: cnn thought they had a sympathetic ear with this former nfl

so there's going to be a lot that goes into this nfl season.you know, i wouldn't want to be the guy on the end that cost my team a playoff spot or that cost my team a home seed, a number one seed in the playoffs because you had to forfeit a game because you were unvaccinated. >> dontÉ stallworth, it's always great to have you on, thank you. >> thank you, chris. >>> in st. louis county, missouri, there are covid cases there surging. missouri got hit early by the delta variant, transmission is high. this is what it sounded like when the county council voted for overturn a recommended reinstatement of a mask mandate. [ cheers and applause ] a public health official behind that mask recommendation had been in that same room just hours earlier where he says he was heckled and racially harassed as he tried to do his job. he'll join me live, next. >>> sir, i don't want to engage in a debate with you about what constitutes a mask or not. i commend the 16-year-old. madam chair, if you do not restore order, i will walk away and we will have to have that

as the nfl going about this the wrong way? what is happening. >> first thing, yes, the nfl is going about it the wrong way. these are young, healthy players. if they want to get vaccinated, they should but if they choose not to do so we don't need to keep testing all of these players. they aren't in danger from covid. i know some people get mad about this but it's an important message in the world of sports. we need high school is to play, we need a little league is to play and pro sports to be taking place and college athletics as well and we don't need to be concerned any longer. we have the data. if you are young and healthy and playing a sport, you are not in danger from covid. if you feel like you are in danger you can get vaccinated, but i don't think we need all these policies. it just happened a little bit earlier, the minnesota vikings fired one of their sister coaches because he doesn't want to get their covid vaccine. i don't think sports needs to make this decision. i don't think this is a battle the nfl needs to b

they write "how stupid of the nfl who is currently white bald former nfl quarterback colin kaepernickd social justice movement in the league play kneeling during the national anthem. the nfl trying to be the leader in sports with their social justice b.s.." they spell out the word. they think it's phony. on the left, at least this group does. >> i happen to agree. it's totally phony and it's very transparent. the nfl has always been a meritocracy. people have always been drawn to sports, institutions like sports in the military. they are a meritocracy. they represent the american values of hard work, color-blind society. people coming together from different backgrounds. the social justice narratives insert politics and ideology into something that americans. they want an escape from that. that's why we like sports. want competition and distractions from politics in the mainstream media. these things infect more and more professional sports leagues, the nfl better watch out. i'm sure you saw the mlb, they had their lowest rated all-star game in the history of the entire game. lowest r

benjamin watson, former nfl player, now the vice president of the nfl players association joins us now it's put out a stern message if teams spread the virus and you haven't gotten the shot, so what are the players saying about this? >> well, i think we've heard a lot about what players are saying. you know, some players feel disrespected because of this new rule -- well, actually this new memo that has come out. other players have decided to get the vaccine. emanuel sanders is an example of that. he actually had to sit out a couple of games last year because of covid-19 and he decided to go ahead and get the vaccine even though it may have been reluctantly. i think the overarcing issue is the rules haven't necessarily changed too much from last year other than the penalties so there is a clear message that's being sent from the nfl to players that we want everybody to be vaccinated even though they will not mandate vaccines. >> we heard in that report from zachary leonard fournette came out and said, vaccine, i can't do it, so when a player comes to you, what is the union's position o

this morning at least one nfl player is questioning his future in the league after the nfl revealed itsew stance against unvaccinated players. >> what the league is doing instead of requiring it is trying to incentivize it. >> reporter: the nfl has insisted it will not mandate vaccination, but it's now warning teams that outbreaks among unvaccinated players could lead to games being forfeited this season and players not getting paid. the nfl telling teams in a memo, "if a game is canceled/postponed because a club cannot play due to a covid spike among or resulting from its non-vaccinated players or staff, then the burden of the cancellation or delay will fall on the club experiencing the covid infection. but if a team can't play because of cases in vaccinated players, the league will attempt to minimize the competitive and economic burden on both %-pg special requirements for unvaccinated players. >> if you are vaccinated, you have different rules that will apply to you this year than if you're unvaccinated. you don't have to get tested every day. you don't have to wear a mask. there ar

at this point. >>> coming up a warning to players in the nfl.he leagues tough new covid policies. >> mask upper show proof you are vaccinated. the new guidelines you may have to follow the next time you walk into a bay area restaurant. >> our news app gives you 24/7 access. team usa is ready for the olympic games, and so is erica! she's got the fastest internet, with wifi speeds faster than a gig. so when all of team usa is going for gold... ...her wifi can power it all, and more. i. love. you. can your internet do that? cheer on team usa with wifi speeds faster than a gig. or, get started with xfinity internet for $19.99 a month for 12 months. switch today. >>> welcome back. the nfl has a tough new policy on games that will get canceled because of a covid outbreak. the league rules apply to outbreaks caused by unvaccinated players if the game can't be rescheduled. would forfeit the game and be credited with the loss and what is more, players on both teams would not be paid for that game. part of the memo to teams the nfl commissioner said the o

anthony fauci weighing in on the nfl's new policy >> the nfl is sending a very strong signal at that to get vaccinated if you want to play football and you want to do it in a way that you feel unrestricted and not worried about any penalties, you just get vaccinated, because they're saying if unvaccinated people get infected, there are going to be consequences >> so the nfl is not explicitly requiring players to get a shot. but it is incentivizing them competitively and financially. so far the teams have vaccination rates of 80% among the players. joining us, jabari young both players and fans have really been reacting to the nfl's announcement players appear to be all over the map. buffalo bills' receiver stefan diggs, accountability, availability cole beasley wrote, nothing has changed. i'm still livin' freely. doesn't sound like he's got the shot do you think the nfl is sending the right message? >> well, i mean, you don't know if it's the right message, frank, and hello to you and great friday this is the message they're sending out. listen, this is our business, this is how we'r

one is saying that he may quit the nfl if he has to get a shot yet. wow. guess he thought about it realize makes a whole lot of and you know, probably want to be very smart to be. did that. it's amazing what makes somebody change your mindset 100. but the nfl is not saying you have to be vaccinated to play or teams are saying that this is just a consequence is an unvaccinated player causes an infection basically saying, hey, if a bunch of unvaccinated players causes us to have to cancel a game. we're going to lose a lot of money. you're going to analyzed for. >> but not a vaccinated player. not a bad break through in accident. right. and one big thing in the game is canceled. no one gets their game checks while low pressure on those who are not vaccinated. exactly. thank you, jason. yes, if it we'll you, jason. yes, if it we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ you, jason. yes, if it we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ monitor, check and lock down you money with security from chase. control feels good. chase. make more of what's yours. at chewy, we know walks are made better wi

i want to go back to something you were talking about with the nfl.t's interesting because sports so many times throughout this pandemic has led the way in terms of making some changes. you know, with the nba bubble, for example, this nfl policy will be really interesting. it will be provocative and contentious but might make dampbs. we took a little deeper dive into it. take a look. with the first pre-season less than two weeks away, the national football league is sending a warning to unvaccinated players. cnn obtaining this memo saying if a game cannot be rescheduled within the current 18-week schedule and is cancelled due to a covid outbreak among nonvaccinated players, the club with the outbreak will forfeit the contest. the threat comes with financial consequences. players from neither team will receive their scheduled salary and the team with the outbreak will be responsible for all additional expenses incurred by the opposing team. >> last year when we did not have a vaccine to help out, the nfl held a game on every day of the week. the nfl do

if some decide to retire the nfl 's attitude is fine.breaking sports news happening this morning, mike, as we get our espn on a little bit here on the show. i live in washington, where there's the washington football team, right, changing its name. cleveland, the baseball team has now changed its name, we've learned just in the last hour not even that they will be the cleveland guardians, that is the new cleveland team name. i wonder what the reaction is you've seen so far and what you make of this. it's a long time coming after cleveland officials wanted to change their former name because it many native americans think it was disrespectful and having real problems with it. >> and what's amazing, hallie s how quickly the cleveland baseball organization moved to adopt its new name. the washington football team continues to be the washington football team. >> tell me about it. >> more than a year later but vow to unveil their new name early next year. what really catches my eye here and did from the moment that cleveland announced its dec

the nfl is a business that has now set some rules they want followed.ot have a forfeit. it may be a moot point. it doesn't surprise me at all that some players are speaking out. but i will say this about a term i used to use on air a lot, that i don't think there's anyway on god's green earth that a player will retire over this. i heard deoneandre hopkins twee that out and he took it down immediately. i don't think you're going to get a high profile player making a whole lot of money that is going to retire over this. i do not see that happens. >> from the buffalo bills cole beasley making a similar threat. your team on the cleveland indians saying good-bye to their nickname and coming up with the new name of the cleveland guardians. they're saying they're being respectful, a certain former president last night saying he's not buying it, former president trump. do you think cleveland is making the right move here? >> well, we've seen so many sports teams change their names. we're seeing the washington football team do the same thing. my answer to this,

anthony fauci weighing in on the nfl's new policy. >> the nfl is sending is 'strong signal that it'saccinated. if you want to play football and do it in a way that you feel unrestricted, not worrying about any penalties, you just get vaccinated because they're saying that if unvaccinated people get infected, there are going to be consequences >> the nfl is not explicitly requiring players to get a shot, but it is incentivizing them both competitively and financially. so far the league reports they have vaccination rates above 80% among the players on half of the teams. joining us now correspondent jabari young joins us. thanks for being here. both players and fans have been reacting to the announcement players appear to be all over is the map. we see that on social media. for example, stephon diggs, he tweeted, accountability, dot dot dot availability his teammate cole beasley wrote -- nothing has changed i'm still living freely. it doesn't sound like he's got the shot do you feel the nfl is sending the right message? >> you don't know if it's the right message. hello, and great frid

and this is something that the nfl players union previously agreed to. so there's no wiggle room in terms of the players trying to say, hey, wait a minute. yeah. >> a little sarcasm here. chris long, son of raiders. great. howie long sarcastically tweeted today. it's 6 to be strongly encouraged to take something so risky. the vaccine. just so you can engage in a risk free activity like football. >> yeah. right. there you go. laugh a little right. the biden administration is directing one 0.6 billion dollars for covid-19 testing in high-risk settings, including. >> prisons and homeless shelters. the administration also announced that it's going to send a 100 million dollars to rural communities to vaccinate and educate americans about covid-19 this funding will provide roughly 2000 healthcare clinics with resources to vaccinate people. according to the cdc nearly 162 million americans are fully vaccinated. but there's a growing concern among health officials about the spread of this virus in communities with lower vaccination rates could force always trac

property here in the states but you know that's one of the reasons that the nfl decided and they wantreness you saw in the nba, they're one and done with it the nba has done a financial job on their economic contributions, but -- obviously allowing players to wear shirts but you want to hear from them on what they plan to do. they've done a great job of contributing and studying the economic issues going on in black communities. but i think the nba, this is business for them at the end of the day too. it is. and credit to them, again, what they did economically. i would like to see the signs on the sidelines and we'll see if they're going to emulate the nfl and input those signs in some capacity in the season moving forward. >> great stuff as always we're both from philly our team is not in it. really quick, your finals prediction >> i'm rooting for chris paul and monte williams he's a great guy i'm rooting for them from afar, but this is a great finals series pretty good ratings. i think this is a great series i think the suns are going to pull it out. at the now footprint center. >>

the nfl is threatening teams they may have to forfeit games or pay pretty big fines, financial penaltiesf they're responsible for a covid outbreak. a lot to talk about with our senior medical correspondent elizabeth cohen. good morning to you. talk about this in the most clear terms. that map just showed, et cetera, this is really now become a pandemic of the unvaccinated. >> it has, because these vaccines that had been so miraculous, they work. so, if you are choosing not to get vaccinated, you are choosing to possibly get sick and die. you are choosing to infect people around you who are not vaccinated. and you're choosing to make life, frankly, a mess for the rest of us. if you're vaccinated and you get a breakthrough infection and you have to quarantine or miss work, you can blame the unvaccinated. these folks are making life a mess for the rest of us. and frankly, they're killing people. let's take a look at that same map that you just used, poppy. the ten states that have the lowest vaccination rates, not shockingly, are among the states that have the highest covid transmission rat

meantime, growing fallout now from the nfl's vaccine push. an assistant coach for the minnesota vikings is now out of a job after refusing the vaccine. it's not mandatory for players, but player who's do get covid could face hefty fines, and their teams may have to forfeit games. dr. sanjay gupta has this report. >> with the first pre-season game less than two week as way, the national football league is sending a warning to unvaccinated players. cnn obtaining this memo sent leaguewide on thursday saying, if a game cannot be rescheduled within the current 18-week schedule and is canceled due to a covid outbreak among nonvaccinated players, the club with the outbreak will forfeit the contest. the threat comes with financial consequences, too. according to the memo, if a -- >> last year when we did not have a vaccine to help out, the nfl held a game on every day of the week. if the nfl does not want to do that again, nor should they do that again if there is science that can be relied on to make things potentially easier and safer. >> some curr

i think the nfl is doing that strategically. not just one person the team that makes up the whole squad. you have to rely on the other ten players the field with you, it is a collective sort of group moving tort e ing toward one co. you to buy into what's happening if you want to make sure your team is in the best position to win football games to advance to the playoffs and make it to the super bowl as well. given the fact there has been so much data and so much evidence out there that this vaccine is safe, efficacious, that it protects you and protects your family now and into the future, when i speak to these nfl teams, i try to emphasize those important points and dispel the conspiracies, the rumors, dispe disreputable sources they're getting information from. >> we've heard from health experts and officials that those are the conversations that really matter. it's having a conversation with someone in your community, whether it's a friend or a family or someone maybe who gets you, right? athletes that are playing this sport

the nfl says only 13 of the 32 teams have at least 85% of the players vaccinated.e teams are under 50% vaccinated. dante stallworth joins me. this is an exciting time, getting on the field and training, but with covid and a rise in cases, how concerned would you be if you were an active, you know, player about the vaccination rate amongst the teams? >> i think i would be pretty concerned as a player. i know just from talking to a number of guys, they are concerned. >> and what can they do, what can they say to encourage fellow teammates to get vaccinated? >> i think a lot of them have been speaking to teammates, personally, individually, and some have posted on social media. we're still in the midst of the pandemic and the delta variant has brought a lot of changes that people were not expecting. i think the nfl is a microcosm of american society at large, and the vaccination hesitancy and the larger concern of herd immunity, we need at least 75% of people vaccinated. training camps are starting soon. if teams don't get these guys vaccinated, there's been a small p

so what is your general reaction of this news from the nfl?ames, and play games on days they don't normally play games, and considering that we have a vaccine available, they don't want to mess up the money. there is an old phrase don't mess up the church's money. so if they mess up the money for larger league, there has to be a penalty for that. so with the vaccination, they can get covid-19 under control. >> you are right, it is a private organization, and the league can do what it wants, and money is a factor, but it is not mandating the vaccines, but the threat of a loss and not getting paid is as close of a mandate as you can come. >> yeah, a lot of people have framed that it the nfl is forcing players to get vaccinated. no, they are not forcing them to do anything, but to make a choice to get vaccinated or not, and these are the consequences that come with it. if you are unvaccinated and if you are not protecting yourself, and not adhering to the protocols, and not being careful when you leave the facility and the team. and realize, ther

he is a vice president of the nfl players association. today the association releasing a statement saying they've activated the domestic violence crisis protocol for the protection and support of everyone involved tonight his manager telling nbc news he is shocked, calling sherman a family man erin mclaughlin, nbc news >>> the government of iran calls the charges baseless, but tonight the fbi says it's all very real, accusing four iranian intelligence operatives of plotting to kidnap an outspoken critic of the regime right here in the u.s. here is pete williams. >> reporter: the fbi says it was no movie plot a secret two-year effort by iran to keep close tabs on this woman, masih alinejad at her house in brooklyn with the goal of kidnapping her. >> i'm an iranian journalist, activist but to be honest, the government in iran have different names for me. >> reporter: she is an outspoken critic especially its treatment of women, an author with a big profile on social media. federal prosecutors say these four men in iran, operatives of its in

the nfl is announcing that teams that experience covid outbreaks among unvaccinated players could be forced to forfeit games this season. ♪ >>> thank you so much for waking up early with us this saturday, july 24th. we have a special guest for you, kaitlan collins is here. that alarm went off early, kaitlan, i hope you got some coffee or apple juice as i prefer. >> i don't think i've ever had this much coffee by 8:00 a.m. in my life, but i'm happy to be here. >> welcome. welcome. we're glad to have you. >>> we begin this morning with more evidence that the u.s. is in the middle of a dangerous summer surge of covid-19 fueled by the spread of the delta variant and those who refuse to get vaccinated. case rates are climbing while the rate of people getting fully vaccinated is falling. >> yeah, the rate of new infections is now four times higher than it was just a month ago. look at all the red on that map. infections are rising faster than in the pandemic's first surge in spring of last year. case rates are rising faster than in the beginning of last year. vaccinations still not where t

the nfl says it will investigate.pected in court today. >>> the milwaukee bucks have tied up the nba finals. khris middleton scored ten consecutive points late in the game helping the bucks beat the suns, 109-103, and game five saturday night in phoenix. >>> coming up, the most expensive steak in the world. >>> but first a family is reunited with their son kidnapped 24 years ago. why hide your skin if dupixent has your moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis under control? hide our skin? not us. because dupixent targets a root cause of eczema, it helps heal your skin from within, keeping you one step ahead of it. and for kids ages 6 and up, that means clearer skin, and noticeably less itch. hide my skin? not me. by helping to control eczema with dupixent, you can change how their skin looks and feels. and that's the kind of change you notice. hide my skin? not me. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which is severe. tell your doctor about new o

. >> reporter: meanwhile, the nfl is -- forfeited games and players not getting paid.he nfl commissioner says more than 75% of the league's players are at least partially vaccinate. >>> a former coach with the 49ers and raiders has passed away. greg knapp was critically injured when he was hit by a car over the weekend in san ramon. jared stone spoke with close friend who is are remembering the beloved coach. >> reporter: flowers are all that's left near the san ramon site where 58-year-old greg knapp was hit while riding his bicycle last saturday, a ride that proved to be fatal knapp. >> the nfl lost a good dude. >> reporter: that from curt morrison. he says it was that good dude that always gave it his all. >> he was one of those coaches that every day, he was going to give his best. and even the days the team didn't have a lot of juice, greg knapp was going to come with the juice. >> reporter: this is what the bicycle accident scene looked like on saturday. police do not believe the 22- year-old driver who collided with knapp was under the innocence of drugs or alco

this became the highest-paid linebacker in the nfl today.red warner spoke about what that all meant to him. he's said that he wants to be a 49 er for life and finding that contract was the first step. i guess you can say second after getting drafted. now he can fully focus on football and getting the niners back to the super bowl and this time winning it. >> the only thing i wanted was obviously be an honor for for a long time and to and to get what i deserve. >> you know, we did both of those things. it's been something that is kind of just a whirlwind. something i still have the right wrap my mind around. yeah, you know, quite yeah. it's. >> it's a it's a dream come true. but you know, this is just the start. and that's that's what's exciting. >> speaking of nfl and linebackers and just football in general. i'll say before i read this story, warner is vaccinated. he told us today. now the nfl they're taking a hard stance when it comes to minimizing covid outbreaks during the coming season today. the league sent a memo to teams explaining t

but the nfl does that all the time. one of their jobs is to protect players' safety. the nfl's policy will stand. >> fascinating. i think that got everybody's attention. if the nfl could help out and fix this vaccination issue, it's certainly going to be welcomed by a lot of americans. elie, thanks so much. great insights as always. >> thanks, jim. >> as we head to break, a quick programming note. tomorrow on "history of the sitcom" we revisit the office-themed shows where characters were working for less. that airs tomorrow night at 9:00 right here on cnn. surfaces kills more gee than lysol spray. it's a simple fact: it even kills the covid-19 virus. science supports these simple facts. there's only one true lysol. lysol. what it takes to protect. people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes are waking up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ my only sunshine... ♪ rybelsus® works differently than any other diabetes pill to lower blood sugar in all 3 of these ways... increases insulin when you need it... decreases sugar... and slows food. the m

the nfl is taking a stand, too.nk you. >>> after a year of delays, setbacks, and embarrassments, frankly, the tokyo olympics are finally happening right now. the opening ceremony is being held in a largely empty stadium. this year's games will feature 33 sports and more than 11,000 athletes from around 200 countries, all in the shadow of this pandemic. jamie yuccas is in tokyo with more on the story. good morning. we're hearing that many people are very skeptical about how the games are going to play out. what's happening? >> reporter: that's for good reason, right? we're just learning that at one point there were not enough test kits at the olympic village. but the issue has been fix wanted -- fixed. that on top of no spectators due to a coronavirus state of emergency might make this the most controversial opening ceremony ever. >> it's obviously a huge honor and a big moment. and i'm so glad that my team's going to be with me -- >> reporter: team usa star sue bird and baseball infileder eddy alvarez are flag beare

>> all of our covid protocols are collectively bargained between the nfl and the nfl players associationhat those two groups have come to. we've elected not to mandate vaccines at this point. we're doing all that we can to educate and hopefully persuade all our players to take the vaccine. >> and how is this covid policy being received so far by coaches, staff, players, and fans? >> well, i think that everyone references back to last year. and they know there's a lot of aspects to this. but that's what allowed us to keep safely on track last year. so i think there is a trust that we earned last year with what we're able to do. clearly we know we have a big challenge in front of us. one of the things that made us successful last year was everybody pulling in the same direction. coaches, players, staff, all dedicated to the task of staying safe and moving forward, that's what we're doing again this year. >> clearly when it comes to the vaccine, not all players are moving in that direction, a number are speaking out against these rules. why don't they want to get vaccinated? what's your mes

but many issues have come out criticizing the nfl.dinals wide receiver deandre hopkins now deleted tweet went to far as to request his future with the league around this. what's fascinating, i understand you used to be a vaccine skeptic, now you're not. but what would you say? what do you say to those players that are still holding out, still unvaccinated? >> well, i think first of all you have to look at it's a life or death measure. it's that important. and to go without the vaccine risks everything that you have. i think it's better to ere on the side of caution or not. it's an act of lunacy here we have an answer to the greatest scourge that we know in our lifetime and people are afraid or refuse to participate and take the vaccine. that to me is insanity. >> indeed one of the definitions is doing the same thing regardless of changing facts. we have changing facts. now you are a former president of the player's association, which negotiated with the league that vaccinations would be up to individual players. so, do you think the l

you know, the nfl is asking for accountability. people want freedom to choose or they get vaccinated, i believe in that, but if you'll have freedom you also need accountability and if you're the one unvaccinated player who then gets infected and causes breakthrough infections in a lot of other vaccinated players that will be a real problem and this is the kind of thing we need to see from businesses around the country. personally, i would prefer that the nfl be mandated, and if not, this is a good second stop. >> there's increasing pressure on the fda to get to full authorization. everybody knows it's coming. the president said it's coming quickly, but if you got past that emergency use, wouldn't that strengthen the ability of companies, states, if they're willing to do it if governors are willing to mandate vaccination? >> absolutely. i think it's a psychological barrier more than it is a legal one. lots of organizations are, obviously, at this point mandating vaccines. the university where i work is doing it. it's totally fine to

nfl says it's looking to evolve its social-justice messaging. we the national football league condemn racism and the systematic oppression. a black people, the league planning to bring back a lot of elements first implemented last year, including on field signage decals on player helmets. >> and the continuation of playing the black national anthem at flagship events and saying. >> nfl reps say this year they're stepping it up a notch adding in-stadium p essays. >> that's how much the nfl on this team is committed to social justice causes the league touting its 10 year. 250 million dollar commitment to combat systemic racism for for the rap mogul. jay z and his roc nation label advising what's been coined the inspire change initiative. but it's already getting some backlash. but you said the league of mess, the mark on this one. >> i think the league is reactionary. >> you know, i think what happens is they react to things are not. you know, these are things that they could have done many, many, many years ago. the league's new found social acti

. >> reporter: meanwhile, the nfl is -- forfeited games and players not getting paid.he nfl commissioner says more than 75% of the erarat least pathe 49ers and raiders has passed away. greg knapp was critically injured when he was hit by a car over the weekend in san ramon. jared stone spoke with close friend who is are remembering the beloved coach. >> reporter: flowers are all that's left near the san ramon site where 58-year-old greg knapp was hit while riding his bicycle last saturday, a ride that proved to be fatal knapp. >> the nfl lost a good dude. >> reporter: that from curt morrison. he says it was that good dude that always gave it his all. >> he was one of those coaches that every day, he was going to give his best. and even the days the team didn't have a lot of juice, greg knapp was going to come with the juice. >> reporter: this is what the bicycle accident scene looked like on saturday. police do not believe the 22- year-old driver who collided with knapp was under the innocence of drugs or alcohol, but haven't said what went wrong. >> he didn't know any

the nfl does not want to do that again.they do it again if there is science that can be relied on to make things potentially easier and safer. and so i think the nfl has decided to make this maneuver. i will say that if the game can't be rescheduled throughout the year somehow, it's not going to be an automatic forfeiture on the spot for that week. they're going to try to get the game in. but last year, there were no cancellations. and there was a very low positivity rate in the nfl of .08, so hopefully, this year, with vaccines, it can be even better. i would just counsel all of the players who are unvaccinated right now to consult their team doctor who will tell them i think what i just said. >> yeah. rich eisen, i'm so glad you are doing okay, and i hope your daughter continues to do okay. and the rest of your family as well. and i appreciate you speaking out because everybody needs to talk about this stuff. and the more we talk about it, hopefully more people will get vaccinated. thank you very much. >> thanks for havin

um, the nfl held a game on every day of the week.ay, saturday, sunday, monday, are scheduled-game days throughout the year. but tuesdays and wednesdays are not. there was a friday game because it was scheduled christmas day which made it every single day of the week had an nfl game scheduled on it last year. there was a thanksgiving-night game on a partner of nbc that got pushed all the way to the following wednesday. i proffer to say the nfl does not want to do that again, nor should they do that again if there is science that can be relied on to make things, potentially, potentially, easier and safer. and so i think the nfl has decided to make this maneuver. i will say if the game can't be rescheduled throughout the year somehow, it's not going to be automatic for on the spot. but last week, there were no cancellations and there was a very low positivity rate in the nfl of .08. so hopefully, this year, with vaccines, it can be even better. and i would just counsel all of -- of the players, who are unvaccinated right now, to consult

>>> the nfl team slapped with a $10 million fine, the largest in league history for a culture of harassment. >>> princes william and harry reuniting to honor their late mother >>> why a popular social media platform is banning weight loss ads. >>> and behind the scenes, as america's biggest fourth of july celebration makes its spectacular comeback >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >> good evening, everyone former president donald trump's real estate company is facing criminal charges tonight, as is its cfo. new york prosecutors unsealing a grand jury indictment against the trump organization related to tax fraud prosecutors calling itweissel trump execs to be paid under the table in the form of sometimes pricey perks, including a manhattan apartment, a luxury car, and private school tuition for family members expenses disguised on the company's books and unreported in tax filings. both defendants pleading not guilty. not mentioned by name or title, mr. trump himself. tonight he is calling it all a witch hunt. hallie jackson leads us off tonight >> reporter: the trump

"nfl vax or lose." that says it all. >> raymond: i spoke to an nfl player.cker rooms over this and they go back to training camp. a lot of african american players are saying i don't want this vaccine. whether they're cultural blockades there or whether it's a deeply held belief, that should be up to them. to deny a whole team -- because remember, the rule is if you're unvaccinated and covid spreads, you not only forfeit the game but you lose your seed playoff space. the whole team suffers. players are talking about this. i think it's very complicated. the nfl has to backtrack on this. this is a draconian measure and they did not consult with the players. >> emily: kayleigh? >> haleigh: yeah, i don't believe in mandates by companies, by the government. i believe in personal choice. i have given the reasons why my personal choice was to get vaccinated. i believe the vaccine created by president trump saved a lot of lives and i feel confident being around the elderly now. the bottom line is this is punitive. it's between you and your doctor. when an employer g

>> i would say the nfl is collective bargaining. it's a unique league.afted into and your pay can be slotted. i thought this would have been better served to be collectively bargained, but instead they're basically penalizing you for not being vaccinated instead of finding a way to incentivize you being vaccinated. >> you're saying they should have sat down with representatives for the players and figured out a way other than having this, in a way, a mandate. >> absolutely. i think so. i think that would have been a better way. i think that would have went over better. for me it's basically they're forcing it down your throat. me personally, i'm vaccinated. and i think that -- it was hard for me to get vaccinated. i had to do some more research. so i'm not against vaccination, but what i am against is people forcing vaccination down others. >> look, i find your perspective on that incredibly interesting, orlando, because you are someone who was vaccine hesitant, did research, and then decided, i am going to go ahead and get the vaccine. and clearly this

current and former nfl teams and his current nfl team. the new york jets sharing their condolences and honoring his legacy as a coach. nfl teams and many others are remembering the life of danville resident greg knapp also known as snap or the 58 year-old football coach died thursday after a tragic weekend bicycle accident in san ramon. >> it's 33 year coaching career began at sacramento state. he later had coaching stints with the forty-niners and the raiders both nfl teams sharing their condolences saying he was a valued member of the forty-niners as he climbed the coaching ranks our entire organization offers its heartfelt sympathy to greg's family and friends during this difficult time the raiders saddened and stunned by the death of their former offensive coordinator sharing the thoughts and prayers of the entire raider nation are with coach knapp's family most recently nap was with the new york jets who are remembering him as someone who loved the challenge of teaching now was killed near his home. all riding his bike along doherty

the nfl threatens players and teams with harsh punishment if there's a coronavirus outbreak. >>> andoncert collapse. a giant video screen crashes on to a stage one day before the start of a hip-hop music festival. >>> this is the "cbs morning news." cbs morning news." is now a good time for a flare-up? enough, crohn's! for adults with moderate to severe crohn's or ulcerative colitis... stelara® can provide relief and is the only approved medication to reduce inflammation on and below the surface of the intestine in uc. you, getting on that flight? back off, uc! stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection... flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition, may be possible. some serious allergic reactions and lung inflammation can occur. lasting remission can start with stelara®. if you've been financially impacted by covid-19, janssen may be able to help. does your plug-in fade too fast? try f