Buffalo Bill’s wide receiver Cole Beasley recently threw another Twitter tantrum regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. To sum it up, he would rather retire from the NFL than get vaccinated.
Public Service Announcement pic.twitter.com/XjQicdvnKm
— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) June 18, 2021
Per the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on an updated version of their COVID protocols.
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to updated COVID-19 protocols for 2021 training camp and preseason, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 16, 2021
How different will life by for vaccinated and unvaccinated players? From the memo that just went to clubs: pic.twitter.com/8yMPW0JBWZ
In short, NFL players who aren’t vaccinated will be subjected to the similar treatment they experienced last season. Meanwhile, NFL players who are vaccinated will essentially resume their normal lives. This news caused players like Joe Mixon to speak out against the NFLPA.
The @NFLPA is not for the players they act like they represent us and they clearly show us different time & time again. https://t.co/fIiTZMlkwY
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) June 16, 2021
Judging by Joe Mixon’s comments, it’s fair to assume that he’s against being vaccinated. However, according to Mixon himself, he’s not for or against players getting vaccinated. So his reaction to the NFLPA’s statement leaves some unanswered questions.
Nonetheless, whether it’s Cole Beasley, Joe Mixon, or Montez Sweat, these athletes need to stop complaining about things that are within their control.
The Choice is OBVIOUSLY Theirs
The NFL and NFLPA put the quality of NFL player’s lives in their own hands. If they get vaccinated, they can go about their business like it was in 2019. But if they don’t get vaccinated, rightfully so, their 2021 season experience will be a lot like 2020.
As I stated in a previous COVID-19 related article, COVID-19 has killed nearly 3.8 million people. There’s a great chance that the virus has caused even more deaths that just haven’t been recorded. While many of those who have recovered show no side effects, others are not so lucky. Among the possible side effects are…
- Breathing Issues
- Heart Problems
- Kidney Damage
- Neurological Problems
- Lost/Distorted Smell and Taste
- Mental Health Issues
- Autonomic Nervous System Symptoms
Those who are experiencing these types of issues are deemed ‘long haulers.’
Isn’t it obvious why the NFL would put these measures in place? After multiple COVID-19 scares last season, most notably involving the Tennesee Titans, the last thing the NFL needs is for a player to die or wind up a long hauler. The agreement the NFL and NFLPA came to isn’t some tyrannical contract. Player’s aren’t being forced to do anything but make a choice. Would they prefer to have things the way they were in 2019 or 2020?
Get With Reality
If you keep up with Cole Beasley’s Twitter timeline, you’d think the NFL has become a dictatorship. Or that everyone is focusing on the wrong things like science and facts instead of ‘God’s Will.’ But unlike the multitude of anti-vaxxers out there, science and facts don’t care about Cole Beasley’s, Joe Mixon’s, or Montez Sweat’s opinion. COVID-19 and its variants are highly contagious and dangerous enough to be lethal. Heaven forbid the NFL tries to protect its players, staff, and their families.
Don’t get me wrong, NFL players and athletes alike have every right to voice their opinion no matter the subject. But that doesn’t mean fans and the media can’t call them out when they say something ignorant. The NFL has given the players a clear, concise, and fair decision to make. If the players want to ditch the mask, they have to get the vax. But if they’d rather risk COVID-19, they need to mask up and shut up.
Check out more NFL related articles by the Belly Up Sports team.
