ESPN's top NFL Draft analyst will not be on site in Las Vegas for the event next week.
Mel Kiper Jr. announced Monday that because he's unvaccinated, he'll appear virtually during the event that he's had a large hand in turning into an industry:
Two years ago, Todd McShay -- Kiper's long-time colleague at the four-letter network -- missed the virtual NFL Draft because he was hospitalized with COVID-19. That was before any of the three vaccines for the virus were available.
Kiper is the latest sports media figure who has been barred from returning to in-person work by his employer because of his vaccination status.
Last week, Andrew Marchand of The New York Post reported that five-time World Series Champion Paul O'Neill was broadcasting New York Yankees games from home for The YES Network because he didn't comply with the company's vaccination mandate.
Meanwhile, Hall of Famer John Smoltz apparently isn't interested in signing a new contract with MLB Network, where he was forced to do appearances virtually beginning last fall because he wasn't vaccinated. From the sounds of things, the network was willing to continue to accommodate the former National League Cy Young Award winner and have him do appearances virtually, but he wasn't a fan of that set-up.
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