If Cam Newton wants to look at his possible future as an unvaccinated NFL player, he should take a gander at what’s happening in Buffalo.
Two Bills receivers, Cole Beasley and Isaiah McKenzie, were each fined $14,650 for not wearing masks at Buffalo’s practice facility. But fines don’t impact games. Players missing time, however, does.
Four Bills players — Beasley, wideout Gabriel Davis and defense linemen Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler — were all sent home from practice Tuesday after being deemed “close contacts” to a fully vaccinated trainer who tested positive for Covid-19. Under NFL rules, unvaccinated players must stay away from their teams for five days if they come into close contact with someone who has Covid-19. Meanwhile, vaccinated players do not have to quarantine.
Newton, of course, just spent five days away from the Patriots after failing to comply with Covid protocols. The Patriots say he left New England for a team-approved medical appointment, and there was a “misunderstanding” about the testing procedure. All Covid tests not administered by the NFL’s approved lab are not accepted by the league.
Unvaccinated players are tested daily.
There’s no doubt the NFL is trying to make life difficult for players who aren’t vaccinated. McKenzie shared his disciplinary letter from the league, showing just how closely they’re being watched. The letter states he was caught not wearing a mask at 2:15 p.m. while “walking through the indoor field house and into the training room.” He was also flagged for failing to wear a mask at 4:35 p.m. for “several minutes” in the meeting area of the weight room.
Beasley didn’t share his disciplinary letter, but says he didn’t have his mask on for “literally five steps.” His infraction was caught on video, and NFL officials noticed McKenzie’s violations. They were at Buffalo’s facility giving a presentation on … Covid guidelines.
Given the NFL’s stringent policies, unvaccinated players are seemingly one brain fart away from breaking the rules and being slapped with heavy fines or five-day quarantines. But the real danger to teams comes with what happens after repeated violations.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the power to suspend repeat offenders for conduct detrimental to the league. The maximum suspension is four games.
So just imagine if Beasley forgoes his mask for five minutes again, or commits another violation, ranging from meeting with teammates outside of the facility or going to a bar. Then, the Bills’ best slot receiver could be on the shelf for one game — or more.
Talk about conduct detrimental.
The Patriots survived Newton missing three preseason practices. According to reports, he was back out with the first team Thursday.
But a five-day absence, or worse, could come at any time. Let what’s happening with the Bills be a warning.
