Bills’ low vaccination rate ‘frustrating’

Frustrated as Sean McDermott has grown over the number of unvaccinated players on his team’s roster, the Bills coach acknowledged there’s little more he can do to influence them to get the shot. “It’s tough. It’s frustrating. It’s challenging, however you want to say it. But I can’t make the decision for them,” McDermott, above, said before practice Thursday. His comments came in the wake of receivers Cole Beasley and Isaiah McKenzie being hit with fines by the NFL for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players. Both failed to wear a mask inside the team’s facility. It was McKenzie’s second violation. Beasley has been a longtime opponent of vaccinations and has repeatedly complained about the league’s protocols. Receiver Gabriel Davis and defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler also are in quarantine. The Bills are considered to be at the lower end of the NFL scale in having about 80% of their players vaccinated. McDermott also noted the team faces a competitive disadvantage should this have happened in the regular season.