McD's Presser

[Doc Brown]

7 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

Entirely different.
 

Brown was posting a private team meeting on social media. Beasley is expressing his personal views on social media. 
 

Only consistencies are that they’re using social media and play WR in the NFL. 

My point is both created unnecessary distractions.  At what point is the hassle not worth the possible return?

[3rdand12]

44 minutes ago, Mango said:

You don’t miss nearly a week of practice for wearing a MAGA hat. Or a quarter of the season. 
 

We all draw the line between work and personal life. You really like a guy at work even if he holds some unfortunate opinions. But things change when they start impacting you at work and you’re personal beliefs. There’s only so much you can compartmentalize. 
 

At least that’s my take on being in that locker room. 

has anyone considered that the locker room is fine? and that Coach was just sick of the questions that are not about football so much and can turn political ?

 I mean that never happens  lol
Interesting stuff to chew n though, for both media and Us here as well

 

[Patrick Duffy]

2 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

It's really that simple. Follow the protocol and stf up Cole. 

It's weird...Didn't he wear a mask last season and followed rules for the most part? I don't recall him having much of an issue last season.

[machine gun kelly]

8 minutes ago, Success said:

 

I know what you're saying, but this topic shouldn't be off limits right now. It is THE biggest issue as we go into a season filled w/ promise.  I don't see why we should be all "Ssssshhhhhh" about it.  I get that discussions need to stay centered on football, but I think they are in the context of this thread.

 

Hey Success bud,

 

no argument at all.  My point to keep balanced and I hope that makes sense.  Shouldn’t be ignored bud.  I’m sorry if I mis represented myself.

[DCOrange]

2 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

It's weird...Didn't he wear a mask last season and followed rules for the most part? I don't recall him having much of an issue last season.

It seems that he has a bigger issue with it this year because vaccinated players don't have to follow the same rules as the unvaccinated. If we're to assume he has a consistent criticism, that seems to be it; he's saying he isn't anti-vax, but he's being vocal about this because he thinks the unvaccinated players are being treated unfairly.

[The Dean]

22 minutes ago, Billever76 said:

Sure punish the 80% of players who did the right thing for not only their teams but society as a whole..

 

I didn't realize asking people to wear masks, get tested, etc., vaccinated or not,  was "punishment". Excuse me if I thought it was simply asking people to do what's best for the team and society in general. 

 

I understand the relaxing of the protocols for vaccinated was seen as a reward of sorts. But when it became clear the variants were causing more issues than expected, those "rewards" may need to be pulled back. They aren't punishments though, IMO. 

 

4 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Mods I feel you’re pain trying to contain this one.  God bless and maybe we can learn from Sal and ask a football question.  Think about how Sal just went to #1 on McD’slist moving forward as he was looking for a lifeline.

 

after you ask th he same question 15 different ways, he just wanted a football question.

 

It has to be a nightmare. Especially when you have posters who don't seem to care they have no "right" to be here. Our participation is at the discretion of the owners of the site. Obey the rules or go play elsewhere. 

 

As to the questions asked of McDermott. After the second or third Covid question was asked/turfed, it was beating a dead horse and wasting the opportunity for a reporter to get some real information to her/his. Good reporters when to move on, get real info, and keep the conversation moving forward. There might be an opportunity later to use something the interviewee said, to comeback to something said earlier.

[Patrick Duffy]

3 minutes ago, TEC said:

 

People get canned every day for expressing their opinion on a variety of topics. Beasley could be no different. 

 

Exactly right...and many times I've seen it's over a really minor thing. For example, I have seen numerous articles of teachers getting fired for the simplest *****. Has happened here in my area also with a teacher. 

 

Beasley might have a bit of a longer leash, but agree it happens all the time

[Hapless Bills Fan]

27 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

Players talk about controversial subjects on social media all of the time… there’s a little thing called Freedom of Speech? 
 

Cole Beasley expressing his opinion on Twitter is no different than you or I doing the same thing. I didn’t realize that Freedom of Speech dissolved when you became a professional football player.

 

I would say it would be pretty anti-McDermott to not allow his players to express their opinions… so yeah in a sense it’s exactly what’s been built here.

 

I partly disagree on several points. 

 

Overarching point, Freedom of Speech does not apply as an employee to matters regarding your employment.  Your employer has a right to limit your speech with regard to any matter relevant to the employer, as a condition of your employment.  I worked for a company where it was part of my contract that we were NOT to be interviewed or give statements to the press for any matter regarding that company.  I could open my yap and express any opinion I like about politics or the environment or even drug research in general, but if it was about my company's research programs or products or facilities, one "slip of the lip" and I'd get the ax.  Happened to a co-worker who gave a statement to the press about an on-site active shooter incident at one of our facilities - she never walked back into that building.

 

Next point, on the one hand, McDermott wants players to express their opinions, he's not Belichick-ian there, and that's a good thing.

 

On the other hand, I'm fairly sure from various things McDermott has said, that they don't want the players to conduct themselves in a way that becomes a distraction to the team or brings controversy on the team.  He expects judgement and respect in what they say.

 

So (for example) we typically don't see Bills players taunting other team players calling them "Trash" or saying "I Dunked on Them"- I think McDermott would counsel them "do your talking on the field".  About the most controversial thing I've heard a Bills player say under McDermott is Milano saying "we're fairly confident we can contain him" about Lamar Jackson, and that's pretty mild.  It came across as "Whoao" and generated a bit of buzz, in part because it was so unusual for any McDermott player to say anything about an opponent other than praise for them.

 

Last point, With the NFL covid protocols and a prominent respected veteran on the team saying publicly on social media "I'm not going to follow them" - for one thing, that's a clear-cut way to bring extra enforcement attention on the team; it creates controversy in the press; and both are a distraction.

 

 

[John from Riverside]

Its a sensitive subject.....

 

I look forward to football soon

[JGMcD2]

4 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

My point is both created unnecessary distractions.  At what point is the hassle not worth the possible return?

Who said it’s an unnecessary distraction? The fans, the media?
 

How do you know that Beasley isn’t speaking for a large portion of players who don’t want the vaccine or got the vaccine before they wanted to because they were fearful of losing their job?

 

I’m around pro athletes… more feel like Beasley than I think people understand… but only very few will speak up for fear of losing their job. That’s an issue. 

 

[Success]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

Hey Success bud,

 

no argument at all.  My point to keep balanced and I hope that makes sense.  Shouldn’t be ignored bud.  I’m sorry if I mis represented myself.

 

Np, and you didn't really misrepresent. I think it's been frustrating in general because this really does intersect politics and sports, and it's a fine line - but it's such a big issue right now.  It's what I want to talk about when I come here the past few days, since it's my top concern and #2 isn't even close.

 

I respect what the mods do though, and agree that this isn't an easy one for them to navigate.

 

[Bob in STL]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

This wouldn't be cutting someone for his personal belief. This would be planning for the season and the future. If Beasley isn't going to be available to the team consistently, one plan for the current season and the future would be to cut him, give the starting job in the slot to Mackenzie.  That would create the room on the roster necessary to keep Stevenson and protect him from being signed away by another team. At some point Stevenson might take the slot job from Mackenzie.

If a cut is based on vaccination (or “planning”), then McKenzie is at risk too.  

 

McKenzie is the guy with the violation letter from the league?   He is the one who broadcasted the letter, uncensored with email address, on Twitter.  That showed bad form. 
 

While Beasley has been a Covid lightning rod no doubt, in this case he was wearing a mask and following protocol, he tested negative, and siimply complained (on Twitter) about the logic.  
 

 

Edited August 26, 2021 by Bob in STL

[ColoradoBills]

It seems no one wanted to comment on my point regarding the players to have a "players only" meeting about all of this and how they would like

to see thing going forward.

 

If this team is a family and the majority have done their part either by being vaxed or following the protocols (which by themselves may not

be enough) they now know what can happen.  Any given week a critical part of this team could be sitting at home.

 

They ARE part of a union and as such they should get together in private and come up with a general consensus and report back to Beane 

and McDermott.  Putting all the responsibility on the Bills management is a bit of a cop out.  IMO.

 

 

[RiotAct]

6 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

has anyone considered that the locker room is fine? and that Coach was just sick of the questions that are not about football so much and can turn political ?

 I mean that never happens  lol
Interesting stuff to chew n though, for both media and Us here as well

 

agree. I think people are projecting a lot on this situation of what they consume from the MSM, memes on social media, etc.

 

The players probably don’t care as much as a lot of us think, and just want to play ball.

[DrDawkinstein]

3 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Lol sorry… not directed at you… bringing over frustration from an idiotic comment on another thread. 
 

Yes, it was sarcastic. 

 

So triggered, and still so wrong. Now you've moved from Ad Hominem to strawman fallacies. Must be a real great leader yourself 🤣

 

Never said he should let his emotions spill over in press conferences. He can keep everything in-house, and STILL take a much harder stance than he has.

 

 

[3rdand12]

31 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

In the case of Cole Beasley, he made a very public issue on twitter that he would get tested every day, but otherwise "my day is the same as everyone else", no masks, no restrictions, in or out of the facility.

 

McKenzie is "Dad's" loyal apprentice, has been public in his support of Beasley and is possibly taking his cues from him.

 

So no, I don't think it's just laziness or lackadaisical attitude.

 

 

Again, Cole made a very public issue on twitter that he would not follow the rules and that he didn't care about money, he would play for free if he had to.  I don't know if he was considering being suspended for 4 games as a possible occurrence.  My guess is "no".

 

Now I think McDermott may have sat down and had a heart-to-heart with him about vaccination being his choice but was he In (follow the rules, don't be a distraction) or Out (do his own thing, distract away)? and I believe Cole chose "In".  I expect there is going to be another convo.

 

 

I agree with the first.  As far as the second, I think it's more likely the NFL's medical officers are taking guidance from the CDC and looking for data from the US (which has been very slow to emerge) on which to base any changes, and also they don't want to be "trigger happy" and make changes that later data don't support.  They established their pre-season protocols and decided they would run with them, see how they worked, then adapt.

 

I agree with your second retort here for sure
 and YES about McD having a One on One with Cole

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, RiotAct said:

agree. I think people are projecting a lot on this situation of what they consume from the MSM, memes on social media, etc.

 

The players probably don’t care as much as a lot of us think, and just want to play ball.

 

It definitely isnt as bad as it reads on social media.

 

But guys who are towards the end of their career, and wanting to make a real Super Bowl run, could certainly lose patience soon. Jerry Hughes for example.

[JGMcD2]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Overarching point, Freedom of Speech does not apply as an employee to matters regarding your employment.  Your employer has a right to limit your speech with regard to any matter relevant to the employer, as a condition of your employment.  I worked for a company where it was part of my contract that we were NOT to be interviewed or give statements to the press for any matter regarding that company.  I could open my yap and express any opinion I like about politics or the environment or even drug research in general, but if it was about my company's research programs or products or facilities, one "slip of the lip" and I'd get the ax.  Happened to a co-worker who gave a statement to the press about an on-site active shooter incident at one of our facilities - she never walked back into that building.

It’s not written this way in baseball contracts and I’d venture to guess it’s not written this way in football contracts.
 

He’s not discussing X’s and O’s… I’m not allowed to discuss baseball related specifics per my contract… otherwise I can discuss anything else I want as long as I make a point that it’s my own view. 

[ColoradoBills]

2 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

agree. I think people are projecting a lot on this situation of what they consume from the MSM, memes on social media, etc.

 

The players probably don’t care as much as a lot of us think, and just want to play ball.

 

Then the players should come out as a group and say that they are fine with players sitting out with Covid and the rules in place are OK.

[machine gun kelly]

10 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

has anyone considered that the locker room is fine? and that Coach was just sick of the questions that are not about football so much and can turn political ?

 I mean that never happens  lol
Interesting stuff to chew n though, for both media and Us here as well

 

I’m not on the habit of disagreeing with my 3-12 buddy.  Thanks for sharing bud as I know your enudicious in you’re reponses.  A habit I probably should learn.