Rodgers, OBJ and Ruggs: A horrifying swing through the NFL news cycle
There were three NFL stories that popped up this week that have nothing to do with games, ranging from eyebrow-raising to flat-out horrifying and immeasurably tragic.
All three could have carried news cycles on their own. But they all started Tuesday and Wednesday, proving just how dramatic the country’s most popular league can be, even if none of these stories happened between the white lines.
The most devastating surrounds now-former Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III, who was released from the team Wednesday morning after he was accused of driving under the influence in a car crash resulting in death.
A 23-year-old woman, identified as Tina Tintor, was killed along with her dog when Ruggs’ car collided with her on a Las Vegas road just before 3:40 Tuesday morning.
Prosecutors said Ruggs’ Corvette was going 156 mph two seconds before the crash. He was reportedly “argumentative and uncooperative” with police and first responders. Blood tests taken at a hospital revealed his blood alcohol level was .16%, twice the legal limit for drivers in Nevada. There was also a loaded gun found in the car.
Ruggs’ decision to get behind the wheel after drinking cost Tintor her life and could cost Ruggs his playing career — and immediate freedom. The penalty for his crime ranges from two to 20 years in prison.
No one should need lessons about drunk driving. It’s common sense and beyond debate. Yet there are roughly 10,000 deaths resulting in drunk driving in the U.S. each year.
I asked 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday for his reaction, given he’s overseen hundreds of players since becoming head coach in 2017. Ruggs was someone San Francisco considered during the lead up to the 2020 NFL draft. The former Alabama receiver went 12th overall to the Raiders, one spot ahead of the 49ers’ original pick at No. 13. Ruggs, one of the fastest players in the NFL, met with the 49ers at the combine.
“I talked to guys individually, just because it’s such a big deal and it’s such a tragedy and it’s such a sad thing to see,” Shanahan said. “We went through the draft process with him a year ago and I think a lot of guys do know him, but just anytime you see something like that, I think we had the same reaction that probably everyone else on the planet has, it makes you sick to your stomach on both sides and something that happens too much in this world and something that everyone cannot see enough lessons on that and why it can end very fast.”
Rodgers on COVID-19 list
There’s no smooth transition away from Ruggs’ story to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who landed on the reserve COVID-19 list Wednesday morning after testing positive for the virus. He’ll miss Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which was one of the premier games of the weekend.
Rodgers will be out a minimum of 10 days. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. Rodgers is unvaccinated, meaning his protocol is different than those who received the vaccine. Had he been vaccinated, and not felt symptoms, he could have returned to the team after testing negative twice in tests separated by 24 hours.
We’ve known about quarterbacks who refuse to get the vaccine. Kirk Cousins and Carson Wentz were the most notable examples before the Rodgers story broke. What’s unique about Rodgers was he portrayed himself as vaccinated, telling reporters in August he had been “immunized,” then answered follow-up questions as if he’d gotten the shot.
Instead, Rodgers received “homeopathic” treatment from a private physician to develop antibodies. Not surprisingly, the league and the NFL Players Association determined Rodgers was not adequately protected from the virus.
“You know, there’s a lot of conversation around it, around the league, and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements, owners who have made statements,” Rodgers told reporters over the summer. “There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There are guys that’ve been vaccinated that have contracted COVID. It’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season.”
Here’s the thing. The NFL mandates all unvaccinated players wear masks inside their facilities at all times. It’s spelled out clearly in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. But Rodgers has done his press availability throughout the season without a mask, perhaps risking Packers public relations staffers and the media attending his news briefings. It stands to reason those weren’t the only times Rodgers went mask-less inside the facility.
In light of the Rodgers story, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on Wednesday confirmed he was vaccinated.
“I have, yeah. It’s unfortunate for Aaron,” Garoppolo said.
The NFL isn’t commenting on how it will handle the Rodgers situation. But it’s worth remembering that Tom Brady was suspended four games in 2016 for deflating footballs. The league isn’t exactly known for its tact when handing out discipline, but Rodgers knowingly risking the health of those around him warrants more of a punishment than someone who might have preferred gripping a softer football. That’s my opinion, anyway.
OBJ drama
Finally, there’s the Odell Beckham Jr. saga in Cleveland.
It might have dominated the headlines in any other week the Ruggs and Rodgers stories didn’t come out. Apparently, one of the league’s most famous receivers — though he hasn’t had a productive season since 2019 — has played his last snap with the Cleveland Browns, with national reporter Michael Silver reporting Wednesday that Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski told the team to proceed as if Beckham is no long a part of it.
Beckham’s father took to Instagram this week to throw Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield under the bus for being unable to find Beckham consistently. That once-promising relationship appeares to have soured while the Browns are mired in a disappointing 4-4 season. Beckham had one catch for 6 yards in the loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The trade deadline came and went Tuesday with Beckham not getting dealt. Any team trading for Beckham, or picking him up should he get waived, will be responsible for roughly half of his $14.5 million base salary for the season. That could be an expensive proposition if Beckham isn’t going to play like a top-flight receiver. He tore his ACL in 2020.
It appears Beckham is likely to get released and then signed by a team after he clears waivers. After all, only a handful of teams have the cap space to absorb Beckham by claiming him. A team that does would be on the hook for his current contract, paying him $13.75 million in base salary each of the next two seasons. If he’s signed off the street, he would get an entirely new contract.
Oddly enough, what makes the most sense is joining the Raiders to replace Ruggs. Which speaks to just how crazy and horrifying the NFL news cycle can be.
