Payments extensive receiver Cole Beasley doesn’t agree with the NFL‘s new COVID-19 protocols. The league’s up to date tips, introduced not too long ago after an settlement with the NFL Gamers Affiliation, considerably loosen restrictions on gamers and workers who’ve been absolutely vaccinated for COVID, whereas upholding a lot of 2020’s necessities — masking, social distancing, and so forth. — for individuals who’ve not been vaccinated. Now, a day after tweeting critiques of the protocols, Beasley says he is ready to stroll away from the sport over the problem, noting in a press release Friday that he is OK being “compelled into retirement” due to his stances on COVID.

“Hello, I am Cole Beasley, and I am not vaccinated!” wrote the veteran wideout, who earned second-team All-Professional honors in 2020. “I shall be outdoors doing what I do. I will be out within the public. If (you are) terrified of me, then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Level. Clean. Interval. I’ll die of COVID, however I might moderately die truly residing … I do not play for the cash anymore. Advantageous me if you’d like. My way of life and my values are extra necessary to me than a greenback.

“I really like my teammates and luxuriate in taking part in ball as a result of all the surface BS goes out the window in these moments,” he continued. “I simply need to win the Tremendous Bowl and luxuriate in these relationships that shall be created alongside the way in which. I am not going to take meds for a leg that is not damaged. I might moderately take my probabilities with COVID and construct up my immunity that means … That’s my selection primarily based on my experiences and what I feel is greatest. I am going to play without cost this yr to dwell life the way in which I’ve lived it from Day 1. If I am compelled into retirement, so be it. I’ve loved the occasions I’ve had … So both means, it is a win-win.”

Numerous different NFL gamers, Beasley added, really feel the identical means however “aren’t in the proper place of their careers to be so outspoken.” Fellow Payments receiver Isaiah McKenzie tweeted later Friday in recognition of Beasley, saying he “loves” to see his teammate “out right here preventing.”

On Thursday, Beasley was particularly important of the NFL’s new protocols, which require gamers, coaches and workers with out vaccines to comply with solely completely different guidelines than these vaccinated throughout coaching camp and preseason. These necessities embrace carrying masks, working towards social distancing, present process day by day COVID testing, refraining from any exercise outdoors workforce inns and abstaining from any social/media/advertising and marketing alternatives.

“I haven’t got an issue with anyone getting the vaccine,” Beasley wrote beforehand, in Might. “That’s your selection. My drawback is everyone seems to be ridiculing and bullying folks … into getting one or considering the identical means about it. It is turning into that means with any problem. This isn’t OK.”