Back in April, Rachel Bush, wife of Bills safety Jordan Poyer, tweeted that the controversy over coronavirus vaccination “could tear the team apart.”
At the time, it seemed that Bush, an outspoken high-profile model, was just seeking another 15 minutes in the spotlight.
But now you wonder.
Suddenly, Buffalo wide receiver Cole Beasley has become the NFL’s most prominent anti-vaccine advocate.
The National Football League has mandated that for teams to return to relative “normal” they must have at least an 85 percent vaccination rate and, to date, only three of the 32 teams have reached that threshold. And, with Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mini-camps over, players have scattered and won’t reassemble until training camp begins in late July.
Clearly, the vaccination mandate has infuriated Beasley and, given his evasiveness answering the question, it’s likely quarterback Josh Allen hasn’t been vaccinated and, judging by his wife’s rant, Poyer is also in that group.
That’s three respected team leaders and with Buffalo’s 88-man roster, it means that at least 14 players — and likely more — haven’t been vaccinated, or the Bills would have reached that 85% level.
FRIDAY, Beasley told his Twitter followers, “Look, I’m going to live my one life like I want to regardless … 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 (sic) scared of me then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Point. Blank. Period.”
He added, “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.”
What triggered Beasley’s annoyance was a tweet by the NFL Network about the league’s approach to vaccinated and unvaccinated players.
No masks are required at the team facility and during travel for vaccinated players, no physical distancing from other vaccinated individuals at the team facility, no need to quarantine after high-risk exposure to a Covid-19 positive person and no capacity limits in the weight room.
Vaccinated players are also allowed to eat in the team cafeteria with others who are vaccinated while those who are not vaccinated must be physically distanced in meal rooms and may not eat with teammates.
In addition, vaccinated players may interact with vaccinated family and friends on road trips, while unvaccinated players are not permitted to leave the team hotel to eat in restaurants or interact with anyone outside of the team’s traveling party. Also, there will be daily testing of unvaccinated players (vaccinated players are tested weekly).
“THIS IS crazy,” Beasley tweeted.” Did we vote on this? I stay in the hotel. We still have meetings. We will all be together. Vaccinated players can go out (of) the hotel and bring Covid back in to where I am. So what does it matter if I stay in the hotel now – 100% immune with vaccination? No.”
He did admit to being in contact with the NFL Players Association, which is supposedly “working through” the mandate and indicated those guidelines are for the preseason and that nothing has been agreed upon for the regular campaign.
“I don’t know who I need to talk to, but someone has to get it right,” Beasley tweeted. “That’s why I’m on (social media). Hopefully the right people will see it and at least think about how all this NFLPA stuff works. It needs to be changed.”
OF COURSE, the 10-year veteran got his share of feedback from the tweet-fest, positive and negative.
And though he presented his position somewhat ineloquently and probably didn’t “read the room” considering that over 70 percent of New Yorkers are vaccinated, Beasley has every right to express his opinion.
Indeed, he likely speaks for any number of his peers who are disinclined to discuss their vaccination status.
The question is, was Rachel Bush right in her tweet just over two months ago?
BUT WHILE Beasley merely utilized his First Amendment right to express his opinion on coronavirus vaccination, he did offer one quizzical aside.
He tweeted, “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 …”
What?
This season, every NFL team will receive $321 million as its cut from an 11-year, $113 billion deal with the five TV networks.
The entire league will be playing in front of full stadiums with the ancillary benefits of parking, concessions, licensed gear and radio network rights.
None of those will be affected by how many players are vaccinated.
Actually, the only risk is the opposite of Beasley’s contention.
If there’s an outbreak among unvaccinated players, subsequent quarantines could affect the quality of play and possibly influence the league’s balance of power.
(Chuck Pollock, an Olean Times Herald senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)
