In a series of posts on his Twitter account on Thursday, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley laid into the NFL Players Association for the COVID protocols it agreed to with the league, which enacts strict protocols that must be adhered to by players who are unvaccinated.
Beasley is not a fan of the vaccine, and made that clear again on Friday.
The Buffalo Bills WR released a statement on social media that said in part that he is unvaccinated, and would rather die living his life.
“Look, I’m going to live my one life like I want to regardless….Everyone – Hi, I’m Cole Beasley and I’m not vaccinated! I will be outside doing what I do. I’ll be out in the public.
If your scared of me then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Point. Blank. Period. I may die of covid, but I’d rather die actually living. I have family members whose days are numbered.
If they want to come see me and stay at my house then they are coming regardless of protocol. I don’t play for the money anymore. My family has been taken care of. Fine me if you want. My way of living and my values are more important to me than a dollar.
I love my teammates and enjoy playing ball because all the outside bs goes out the window in these moments. I just want to win the Super Bowl and enjoy these relationships that will be created along the way. I’m not going to take meds for a leg that isn’t broken. I’d rather take my chances with Covid and build up my immunity that isn’t broken.”
He continued:
I’d rather take my chances with Covid and build up my immunity that way. Eat better. Drink water. Exercise and do what I think is necessary to be a healthy individual.
That is MY CHOICE based on MY experiences and what I think is best. I’ll play for free this year to live life how I’ve lived it from day one. If I’m forced into retirement, so be it.
I’ve enjoyed the times I’ve had. I’ll get to live freely with my wife, kids, and extended family forever. We’d get to enjoy the times that we missed from the sacrifices we’ve had to make just so I could play this wonderful game.
So either way. It’s a win/win. That’s where I stand. Thank you for everyone who has been supportive throughout this process. A lot of other NFL players hold my position as well but aren’t in the right place in their careers to be so outspoken.”
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Per the NFLPA, unvaccinated players not only must wear masks and be subject to daily COVID testing, but also may not eat with their teammates, be subject to travel restrictions and not leave their team hotels, and are even forbidden from engaging in social media, marketing, and sponsorship activities.
“This is crazy. Did we vote on this? 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,” wrote Beasley. “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. So what are we really talking about? 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?”
Beasley is entering his third season with the Bills after recording career-highs in catches (82) and yards (967) in 2020, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
