By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, NY (AP) – Buffalo Bills recipient Isaiah McKenzie announced he is facing NFL discipline for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players by working at the team’s facility does not wear a mask.
McKenzie wrote: “You got me! @NFL you win! ”In a social media post on Thursday in which he enclosed a copy of the first page of a letter he received from the league informing him of the violation. It was McKenzie’s second violation; the league issued a warning on July 27, the day before the Bills’ training camp opened.
Under the rules of the league, the first violation of the protocols will result in a fine of $ 14,650. Repeated violations can result in a player being suspended or fined for a week.
The NFL wrote that McKenzie did not wear a mask twice on Wednesday. The first violation happened while walking through the team’s field house to the coaching room and the second was later in the day when he was in a meeting area of the weight room near other players.
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The league also noted that his violation soon after NFL staff gave a presentation reminding players of the mask requirement and that penalties could be imposed on players who fail to do so.
“For players who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, like you, your conduct is expressly prohibited by the protocols,” the NFL wrote. “Again, your conduct may have endangered not only your safety but the safety of others as well as the league’s ability to ensure that your club’s training camp is conducted in a safe manner.”
McKenzie was sidelined Wednesday, wearing his left arm in a sling after being injured in training the day before.
His violation comes days after four Bills players were self-quarantined for at least five days after they were believed to have been in close contact with a coach who tested positive for COVID-19.
The four players are receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis as well as Defensive Tackles Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler. All four tested negative on Tuesday while General Manager Brandon Beane said the vaccinated trainer had mild symptoms.
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