Report: Assistant coach Rick Dennison to remain with Vikings
from Zac Wassink, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The NFL community was surprised to learn this past Friday that Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach/run game coordinator Rick Dennison was parting ways with the organization after he refused to receive one of the available and safe COVID-19 vaccines, but the Vikings later shared a statement with Pro Football Talk explaining the two parties were still having “discussions” on the subject.
PFT’s Mike Florio now reports Dennison and the Vikings have reached an agreement that will allow him to remain with the club.
Florio added that Dennison previously requested to be exempt from receiving one of the shots. Coaches can gain an exemption based on legitimate health or religious reasons, and it’s unclear if Dennison agreed to get vaccinated or is working as an unvaccinated coach who won’t be permitted to have direct interactions with players per the terms agreed upon by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
With the NFL threatening to force forfeits and even withhold game checks if a contest cannot be played this fall because of a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated personnel within any team, it’s understandable owners and front offices want as many employees vaccinated, as possible, before the preseason concludes late next month.
New England Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich is reportedly no longer with that organization over the league’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements.