FLOWERY BRANCH -- Rodrik David, who was the Falcons’ Midwest scout, was terminated by the team after for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination, according to a tweet from Jordan Schultz of ESPN.
The Falcons were the first NFL team to announce that the team was fully vaccinated, and all employees of the Blank Family of Businesses were required to get vaccinated.
The pandemic “has been something we haven’t experience in ... a lifetime,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently. “... We have vaccines available. All of the science, all of the medical tells us what to do. Hopefully, more and more people are making that decision.”
Blank’s family has been touched by COVID-19.
“It doesn’t mean you won’t get sick,” Blank said. “My son Max, he got the vaccine twice. He’s up at the University Tennessee. He got COVID-19. The Delta-variant, but he was sick. He had a cold for a couple of days.
“He didn’t feel well. He had a cough. ... There’s no permanent damage to his body. His lungs are fine. He’s not in the hospital.
“So, I just continue to encourage people, not because I’m a doctor or a medical expert, but I listen to people who are. I followed the research, and I read it. I just encourage people to try to protect themselves and their families, people in their circle of life.”
Here’s the statement from the Blank Family of Businesses. Statement regarding all associates:
“In August, 2021, the Blank Family of Businesses implemented a new policy mandating that all regular full and part-time associates for the Blank Family of Businesses must be vaccinated in order to maintain a safe working environment for all associates. Through the months of August and September, the company worked through the process with associates. The vaccination policy will be put in effect during the month of October.”
David had entered his seventh season with the Falcons.
He joined the club as a scouting intern during training camp before the 2015 season and was hired as a scouting assistant in February 2016. He was promoted to pro scout prior to the 2017 season.
Before joining the Falcons, he was the linebackers coach (2014) and defensive backs coach (2015) at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.
David played football at Nebraska Wesleyan (2006-10) and went to graduate school at Ohio State (2011-13).
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Falcons’ 2021 schedule features trip to London, January trip to Buffalo
Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Washington FT at Falcons, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.
New York Jets vs. Falcons in London, Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Bye Week
Falcons at Miami Dolphins, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
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