After a year full of following the NFL and NFLPA's COVID-19 protocols, daily testing, quarantining and so much more, we all hoped we could put the protocols in the past for the 2021 season. Unfortunately, that won't be the case this season. With the virus still impacting many lives, COVID-19 protocols will be in place for the second-straight season to make sure player safety remains a top priority.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane announced that just over 80 percent of the team has had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccination. The team needs to meet the NFL's 85% vaccination threshold in order to relax certain protocols.
Wide receiver Cole Beasley has not been shy on social media regarding his stance on the vaccination and protocols. Beasley spoke to media after the team's first training camp practice on Wednesday to share a statement he had prepared.
"I'm not anti- or pro-vax. I'm pro choice," Beasley said reading off his phone. "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. When dealing with a player's health and safety, there should be complete transparency regarding information that is vital in the decision-making process."
Beasley finished the statement by sharing his thoughts on safety.
"In regard to player safety, I'll conclude by saying we all want to be safe," Beasley shared. "For so many players around the NFL, safety does not solely mean avoiding the COVID virus. Our health is the now and years beyond which we are trying to protect with our personal choice while doing all the things we did in our protocol during a very successful 2020 NFL season."
You can watch the rest of his statement by clicking here.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen isn't going to let the conversation interfere with their goals in mind for this season.
"Guys have different opinions, they have different thoughts, ideas," Josh Allen said on the differing views of the vaccine. "Everyone's entitled to that. If guys want to get it, great. If guys don't' want to get it, great. Nobody looks at the guys who aren't getting it as a distraction, or not wanting to help this team win.
"Everybody's in the same boat here. We're all going with one heartbeat and that's helping the Buffalo Bills win football games and ultimately try to win a championship."
Beasley and defensive lineman Jerry Hughes had an exchange on Twitter about the choice to get vaccinated, which ended in Hughes tweeting, "U my boy no matter what. I'm not telling u what's right/wrong. And I'm not the one making the rules, I'm just following them so I can play ball & finish what we started last year with the mafia cheering us on. Fun debate bro."
Beasley was asked about the conversation and said the two are brothers who can respect each other's opinions.
"We had a conversation on the phone immediately after, we talked it through, and we weren't mad at each other, we're just talking to each other," Beasley said. "A lot of things can be taken out of context and in the wrong way on social media because people are going to do what they do with it. Jerry's one of the guys that I'll run through a wall for. Brothers have debates, not everybody agrees on everything."
Different protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated players can be an easy way to divide a team, but Bills head coach Sean McDermott wants to use it as a way to come together and build better relationships as a team.
Allen, like McDermott, doesn't see the new protocols as an obstacle but as a way to get closer.
"I think last year helped bring us together as a team," Allen shared. "I don't think this year is going to be any different. We all have to face adversity somewhere during the season, whether it be in a game or off the field. The team that handles this the best is obviously going to have the upper hand. We're just trying to navigate it the best we can and stick together."
Scroll through to see photos from the first practice at Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Jordan Devey (64), Syrus Tuitele (67), Jack Anderson (66). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Antonio Williams (28) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tremaine Edmunds (49) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17), Stefon Diggs (14), and Tommy Sweeney (89) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1) and Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) and Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jake Fromm (4) and Antonio Williams (28). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mike Love (56). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Duke Williams (82) and Brandon Powell (18). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Vernon Butler (94) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Cole Beasley (11). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Davis Webb (7) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Gabriel Davis (13) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) and Gabriel Davis (13) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) and Brandon Beane Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Ryan Bates (71), Eli Ankou (51), and Jack Anderson (66) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Nick McCloud (38) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tyrel Dodson (53) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Dane Jackson (30) and Josh Thomas (36) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Rachad Wildgoose (32) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
A.J. Klein (54) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tariq Thompson (40) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tanner Gentry (87) and Nate Becker (84). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyler Matakevich (44) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tyrel Dodson (53) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jacob Hollister (80) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Siran Neal (33) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) and Isaiah McKenzie (19) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Levi Wallace (39), Micah Hyde (23), Tre'Davious White (27), and Cam Lewis (47) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Ryan Bates (71) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Stefon Diggs (14) and Jon Feliciano (76) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Mitchell Trubisky (10) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Greg Rousseau (50) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Levi Wallace (39) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Cody Ford (74) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jerry Hughes (55) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Davis Webb (7) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Boogie Basham (96) and A.J. Epenesa (57) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tre'Davious White (27) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) and Cole Beasley (11) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Levi Wallace (39) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) and Emmanuel Sanders (1) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Zack Moss (20) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Stefon Diggs (14) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Gabriel Davis (13) and Reggie Gilliam (41) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Taron Johnson (24) and Siran Neal (33) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Thomas (36) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tyrel Dodson (53) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Quintin Morris (85). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tariq Thompson (40) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Olaijah Griffin (37) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Brandin Bryant (90) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Brandin Bryant (90) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21), Levi Wallace (39), and Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jerry Hughes (55), Mario Addison (97). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tremaine Edmunds (49) Buffalo Bills Training Camp, One Bills Drive. July 28, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Lance Lenoir (9). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley (11). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) celebrates with Gabriel Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Breida (22). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Taron Johnson (24). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyler Bass (2) and Matt Haack (3). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jake Fromm (4), Brandin Bryant (90). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Milano (58), Tremaine Edmunds (49). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyler Bass (2) and Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley (11), Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brian Daboll with Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Forrest Lamp (70). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jacob Hollister (80), Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Breida (22). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandon Beane and Joe Schoene. Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21), Micah Hyde (23), Levi Wallace (39). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14), Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley (11). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott, Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21), Micah Hyde (23). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Boogie Basham (96). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandon Powell (18). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tommy Sweeney (89), Nate Becker (84), Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley (11), h17\, Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Training Camp. July 28, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Even though Beasley has been one of the most vocal players on social media regarding the vaccine and protocols, he's not going to let it get in the way of what he's built in the last two seasons and the brotherhood he has with his teammates.
"I love all my teammates no matter what they want to do," Beasley shared. "I'm pro choice. Whatever they choose to do, that's cool with me. As long as you come out here and do what you have to do to help us be great, then I'm cool. And as long as you shoot me straight and tell me what you're thinking, I'm good. And that's what he (Jerry Hughes) does.
"And it's pretty much like that with everybody in the locker room, so a lot of that stuff is just kind of noise, you know what I mean. In there is a brotherhood and we'll fight each day for each other."
