Members of the Buffalo Bills found themselves in hot water with the NFL on Thursday for repeated violations of the league’s health and safety protocols. More details have now emerged on exactly why two of the team’s wide receivers were slapped with fines from the commissioner’s office.
Isaiah McKenzie and Cole Beasley both revealed that they had been fined $14,650 for violating the NFL’s policy regarding masks for unvaccinated players on Thursday. The two Bills wide receivers lamented the punishment and expressed their confusion at the league’s ruling.
However, a new report reveals exactly what McKenzie and Beasley did wrong in the eyes of the NFL.
Insider Tom Pelissero shared that both players were caught without masks in instances inside the Bills’ facility this week. Beasley was seen on video without a mask on Tuesday, while McKenzie was seen in person by league officials who were present to give a presentation about the NFL’s rules on health and safety.
“The NFL generally issues written warnings first, then fines thereafter,” Pelissero explained on Twitter. “Cole Beasley was fined for a violation caught on video Tuesday. Isaiah McKenzie’s violations Wednesday were seen in person by NFL officials, who happened to be there to give a presentation on … COVID rules.”
The NFL generally issues written warnings first, then fines thereafter. Cole Beasley was fined for a violation caught on video Tuesday. Isaiah McKenzie’s violations Wednesday were seen in person by NFL officials, who happened to be there to give a presentation on … COVID rules.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2021
Pelissero shared that the league has sent approximately 120 warnings and issued fines to 25 players league-wide for their refusal to wear a mask and/or their Kinexon tracking device since the start of training camp.
Based on Pelissero’s latest reports, it sounds like McKenzie and Beasley should have been warned by the NFL to comply with health and safety protocols. Even if they weren’t cautioned, the rules have been clearly stated throughout the offseason and league officials were obviously just in Buffalo to talk about those guidelines.
The Bills leadership and coaching staff surely won’t enjoy having two key offensive players beefing with the NFL on Twitter. Head coach Sean McDermott didn’t hold much back when expressing his opinion in Thursday’s press conference.
“It doesn’t mean that I’m not passionate about my position and passionate about what I feel is the right thing to do for the greater good of this country,” McDermott said of being diplomatic with his players, per Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic. “That in my opinion means getting vaccinated.”
Sean McDermott: “It’s unfortunate when players get fined. That being said these rules have been agreed upon and in place for quite some time. It’s important we focus on being safe and healthy and doing our best to stay focused on the goal of winning games.”
— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) August 26, 2021
Sean McDermott on being diplomatic with players.
“It doesn’t mean that I’m not passionate about my position and passionate about what I feel is the right thing to do for the greater good of this country. That in my opinion means getting vaccinated.”
— Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) August 26, 2021
The situation in Buffalo seems far from resolved and the Bills may have to continue having discussions about this topic as the regular season rapidly approaches.
The post More Details Emerge From The Situation With The Bills appeared first on The Spun.
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