BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns aren't fully vaccinated for the coronavirus (COVID-19) just yet, but they're almost there.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Browns' third day of training camp on Friday, general manager Andrew Berry revealed that at least 90 percent of the team's players have either been fully vaccinated or have begun the process, in addition to 100 percent of its staff having been vaccinated.
Earlier this year, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam revealed that the entire franchise's senior management team had also been vaccinated.
That the Browns have had so many players vaccinated for COVID-19 already is notable considering the league's protocols. According to reports, while an official agreement has yet to be reached, the NFL's teams and players are eyeing an 85 percent vaccination rate among players as the threshold for teams to have looser COVID-19 protocols within their facility for the upcoming 2021 season.
Speaking to reporters at his annual youth camp in Gates Mills, Ohio, earlier this month, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield acknowledged that there will be a competitive advantage for teams with higher vaccination rates.
"Obviously last year was new for everybody so it was a lot of learning the protocols," Mayfield said. "It definitely poses a competitive advantage for higher vaccine rates on your team, just because of the close contact rates and what happens if somebody does unfortunately get COVID and what can happen to the rest of the building.
"It's a competitive advantage but it's also way more than that. It's about safety and just general health and well-being of human life."
