Mark Madden: When it comes to NFL and vaccines, 'dependability is more important than ability'

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he didn’t cut quarterback Cam Newton because Newton declined to get a covid vaccination.

But absolutely, he did.

Belichick just wasn’t dumb enough to say it out loud like Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer.

Belichick doesn’t necessarily appear to be pro- or anti-vaccine, though he did issue a clumsy quote when he said to a reporter, “Your implication that the vaccine solves every problem has not been substantiated.” Belichick then cited players and staff that got infected despite being vaccinated but ignored that the rate of positive tests among unvaccinated NFL personnel is seven times higher than it is for those who got jabbed.

But Belichick has a more famous quote that applies here: “Dependability is more important than ability.” (Zach Banner has little of the latter and none of the former.)

Newton has refused vaccination. He has run afoul of covid twice: He missed a game last year when he was infected and three practices during this preseason when he violated covid protocol.

Why would Belichick not think Newton very likely would be sidelined again? Why would he not turn to a good alternative in rookie Mac Jones, who excelled in Newton’s recent absence?

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has caught covid two times and still refuses vaccination. He said he’s “learning as much as I can.”

Hey, Dr. Salk … you’ve already had covid twice. How much more do you need to know?

Newton isn’t Jackson. Not anymore, anyway. Baltimore has no legit alternative. New England does.

A star won’t get cut because of covid. Disposable talent will. That’s football. Stars get the benefit of many doubts.

Newton decided to not be vaccinated. Belichick decided to cut him. There’s nothing unfair about that.

Meyer was honest but ill-advised when he said that vaccination status “was certainly in consideration” when he made his team’s cuts. That’s not supposed to be the case as per the NFL CBA, so the NFL Players Association has opened an investigation. The Jaguars issued a statement backpedaling from Meyer’s comment.

But you’d have to be an idiot to think that every NFL coach didn’t do as Meyer did, and said.

You’d also have to be an idiot to think that’s unreasonable.

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved formally by the FDA. What else does anyone need to know?

The minute that vaccine was approved, the NFL should have required vaccination for participation. If you don’t get it, you don’t play.

That would doubtless spur lawsuits and, worse yet, a lot of ranting about American freedoms as if refusing to take an FDA-approved medication makes you Patrick Henry. Buffalo Bills receiver Cole Beasley has been a pioneer in this regard if only because he spoke first and won’t shut up.

Football players are employees. Not partners, but employees. Disposable. They come and go.

Football players are cogs in a multibillion-dollar business. Many don’t earn what they should, but they earn a lot. Owners, staff, networks, ancillary employees, peripheral businesses and fans depend on them. There needs to be some accountability beyond me, me, me.

The NHL says unvaccinated players who are “unable to participate in club activities will forfeit the equivalent of a day’s play for each day sidelined.” That’s a good policy.

Until the NFL makes being vaccinated mandatory, this issue never will go away. As long as players can choose, and many choose not to, disruptions will continue. The protocol is much stricter for unvaccinated players. The potential for spread is much greater. Teams that are fully vaccinated have a distinct competitive advantage.

The Ravens are legit Super Bowl contenders. But Jackson’s refusal to be vaccinated could make that disappear in the wink of an eye.

Don’t make this about deciding whether or not to be vaccinated.

Make this about deciding whether or not to get paid.

Newton may be done quarterbacking in the NFL. Too bad. No sympathy here. He made his own bed, and he’s also made $125 million in football income.

What’s next for Newton? There’s always barber college. (That’s two columns, two “Road House” references, and the same one, too. It’s all about consistency.)