Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has accumulated about $100,000 worth of fines from the NFL for COVID protocol violations. Beasley has previously made headlines for COVID-related news when he publically announced that he would not be getting vaccinated.
Beasley previously Tweeted, “I may die of covid, but I’d rather die actually living.”
In July, Beasley was also very straightforward with his stance on the vaccine requirements the NFL was trying to impose on its players, saying, “I’m not anti- or pro-vax — I’m pro-choice. With that being said, the issue at hand is information being withheld from players in order for a player to be swayed in a direction he may not be comfortable with.”
Back in August, Beasley was initially fined $14,600 when league officials were in the facility to review COVID protocols and observed him not complying with mandatory protocols for unvaccinated players. This fine has been doubled multiple times since then after additional infractions.
ESPN journalist Chris Mortensen Tweeted about Beasley’s hefty fines on Sunday but clarified that his absence due to COVID would not cost him additional money. Mortensen did add, however, that several NFL team executives think unvaccinated players who miss a game should not receive pay while on the COVID-19 reserve list. These rules will apparently be discussed for the 2022 season.
Beasley's Covid-19 absence today won't cost him, though. Under NFL and NFLPA agreement, even unvaccinated players are entitled to their full pay if they miss a game due to Covid-19. Beasley makes $4.7 million in base salary, so he still gets his $261,111 game check.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 26, 2021
There are several team execs who believe it's one loophole that needs to be revisited for 2022, believing an unvaccinated player who lands of the Covid-19 reserve list should not be paid if he misses a game or games.
This is the first time Beasley has landed on the list.— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 26, 2021
Beasley, who tested positive for COVID early last week, posted to Instagram to explain his situation and frustration with the NFL’s COVID rules. “Just to be clear COVID is not keeping me out of this game. The rules are,” wrote Beasley. “Vaxxed players are playing with COVID every week now because they don’t test. One of my vaxxed teammates is in the hospital missing games. I’m sure he didn’t get this same energy. Thank you for those who support. Everyone else, if you don’t get what’s happening then there is nothing anybody can do for you.”
Before his team’s game on Sunday, Beasley posted a photo of himself on social media, saying, “Just checking in everybody. I’m still partying. Be back soon. Hate it or love it. Go Bills!”
