LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Bears veteran tight end Jimmy Graham on Thursday expressed his frustration with the NFL Players Association after it released a memo recommending daily COVID-19 testing for vaccinated and unvaccinated players.
The 34-year-old Graham, who's vaccinated, explained that he's concerned the NFL is moving toward playing the 2021 season under similar protocols of 2020.
"It's pretty frustrating," Graham said Thursday after practice. "I've done everything asked of me. I'm not telling people to or don't to or any of that s---. When it comes to that, it's kind of frustrating. What you're proposing is show up here every day, on my bye which I did last year. If I don't, then I'm going to be max fined -- because I have to miss days -- $150,000? That's absolutely insane. It's ridiculous. Especially when I've done everything asked of me. So, I don't know.
"It's kind of frustrating because it's the National Football League. I got a lot of guys in the NBA that I know. I got a lot of guys in MLB. And they don't have these situations with their PA. They're pretty strong.
"There's a lot of things being done, and we have no say in it. It's crazy. I mean, it's like crazy. This is frustration on many levels of many things they've done in the past. I've been in the league going on 12 years now and it's been pretty frustrating at times with them. I'm not going to hold back. I'm a grown man.
"It's just absolutely ridiculous."
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Graham has been forced to tweet at the NFLPA in order to seek answers on previous issues, he said in illustrating how difficult it has been to discuss important matters. He anticipates hearing from the union on this matter.
Before practice Thursday morning, Graham expressed his frustration on Twitter, writing he "was basically forced into getting the vaccine." He later clarified those comments, referring to how the league as a whole was persuaded on the advantages of collective vaccinations.
The memo from the NFLPA was just a proposal to the league. The NFL plans to continue with its current plan, which includes tests every 14 days for vaccinated players and daily testing for unvaccinated players.
Graham, who led the Bears with eight touchdowns last season, added he has no plans to retire even if the union's proposal was ratified by the league. He previously acknowledged he considered retiring after the 2020 season.
"I'm going to go out here and score touchdowns, regardless," Graham said. "I'm just trying to win games. We had a very successful year as far as health goes for a lot of guys with a lot of things that were going on.
"I thought we had a game plan this year, and now we're going back on all those things that we talked about. It's frustrating. I'm just confused at the whole thing. But no, I'm going to go out here and play football. That's what I do."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.