Pete Carroll wants Seahawks to get COVID-19 vaccine shots

The NFL and NFL Players Association have made it clear that players do not have to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots to participate in league-related activities and absolutely cannot be cut only because they're unvaccinated. 

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll realizes this but told reporters Thursday he'd prefer his players get their jabs as soon as possible. 

"I’ve been in the conversation since the whole vaccination thing gunned away, with the players; trying to educate them and introduce them to ways of looking at stuff in perspective for the guys that are in question and had questions," Carroll explained, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I don’t know what our numbers are. I made a pitch again today to our guys today so that they are aware that the time frame that is left from the summertime until before camp starts, that ideally, we would like to get everyone vaccinated before we report to camp just to make it as safe as possible to everyone. I have had some conversations with guys. We brought in [Dr.] Vin Gupta, he came in here and talked to our guys about it and gave a really big pitch. We have had some opportunities for the families also to get vaccinated, just to keep the message alive and keep it moving. We have a ways to go but our goal is to get everyone vaccinated before we start them up."

Carroll was, however, sure to point out a player's vaccination status won't determine if he has a place on the roster come September.

"It’s not going to be a personnel decision," he added. "This is an individual’s decision to make. Sometimes it takes other elements to motivate you to do things. In this case, we would like guys to do it for everyone around them as well as themselves, as well as their families. It’s not going to determine a guy making or not making the football team, but it does change your mentality, it does adjust how you’re thinking. There’s a freedom to it that is refreshing. There is a sense of confidence about it that supports your work and your interaction with the guys around you. We will do the best we can and it’s important that we get it done in all directions."

On Wednesday, the league informed owners that certain health and safety protocols have officially been relaxed for fully vaccinated players. The previous day, multiple Cleveland Browns players not fully vaccinated were sent home because they were exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. 

As of Memorial Day weekend, the NFL and NFLPA are not divulging what percentage of players are either partially or fully vaccinated. The Buffalo Bills are at least one club seemingly struggling with getting an abundance of union members to willingly get their shots before training camp sessions open.