NFL player says he'd rather retire than get vaccinated, blasts league's COVID-19 protocols

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley stated on Twitter that he would rather retire than get vaccinated, blasting the NFL's new COVID-19 protocols.

Beasley is pushing back against the National Football League (NFL) and the National Football League Player Association's (NFLPA) new deal that would allow vaccinated players to return to near normalcy while unvaccinated players face significant restrictions. The 10-year league veteran tweeted Friday that he'd rather retire from playing than get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Under the new agreement, vaccinated players will also no longer be required to wear masks at the team's facility or during team travel and will have no travel restrictions, can use the sauna, steam room and weight room without capacity limits, and can interact with vaccinated friends and family during team travel.

Beasley wrote on Twitter that he will be "outside doing what I do. I'll be out in public. If you're scared of me steer clear or go get vaccinated." Beasley continues on to say that he doesn't "play for the money anymore" and simply does it for the love of the game. "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."

Beasley says "if I'm forced into retirement, so be it." Beasley states: "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." Beasley is entering his third season with the Bills. He had career best of 82 catches for 967 yards in 2020. He has two years and about $11.9 million remaining on his contract, NFL.com reports.