Bills receiver Cole Beasley blasts NFLPA over COVID-19 protocols: It’s a ‘joke’

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley took to Twitter on Thursday night to express his dissatisfaction with the COVID-19 protocols agreed to by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, calling the union a "joke."

The league and the NFLPA announced Wednesday they have lifted restrictions for fully vaccinated players while continuing strict protocols for those who are unvaccinated. This includes daily testing, social distancing and wearing masks during travel and at team facilities for unvaccinated players. Vaccinated players will not have to follow the same restrictions, essentially returning to normal life as long as they are with other vaccinated individuals.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley celebrates a touchdown. (Photo: Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports)

"This is crazy. Did we vote on this?" Beasley wrote on Twitter. "I stay in the hotel. We still have meetings. We will all be together. Vaccinated players can go out the hotel and bring covid back in to where I am. So what does it matter if I stay in the hotel now? 100 percent immune with vaccination? No.

"The players association is a joke. Call it something different. It’s not for the players. Everyone gives me the 98 percent of people who are vaccinated don’t get covid again. The odds of me getting in the NFL and playing for 10 years are lower than that and I’m here."

While vaccinated players are permitted to leave the team hotel and interact with vaccinated people outside the organization while traveling, unvaccinated players will not be afforded the same luxury. Players who break the rules could be fined $50,000.

"So what are we really talking about?" Beasley wrote. "I understand completely why the NFL is doing this. It gives them back the freedom to make the most money as possible again if everyone is vaccinated. But will anyone fight for the players or nah?

"That’s all…I don’t know who I need to talk to but someone has to get it right. That’s why I’m on here. Hopefully the right people will see it and at least think about how all this NFLPA stuff works. It needs to be changed."

While the NFL and NFLPA have encouraged players to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, results have been mixed with some teams approaching 75% or better vaccination rates and others far off. Both sides continue to educate players and coachecs about the benefits of being vaccinated.  

Contributing: Mike Jones

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