Cancer survivor and Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that he's 'beyond frustrated' with the club's disappointing vaccination rate, only to be criticized by former NFL safety TJ Ward, who thinks the 59-year-old should just mind his own business.
Rivera, who was successfully treated for skin cancer last year, said he believed Washington has more than half its players vaccinated.
Last week, the NFL announced that 80 percent of players have started the vaccination process and that 27 of 32 teams had at least 70 percent of players either receive one vaccination shot or both.
The Washington Football Team (WFT) is not one of them - actually closer to 60 percent - and that has caused Rivera to take extra precautions.
'I'm truly frustrated,' Rivera said at his camp-opening news conference on Tuesday. 'I'm beyond frustrated. One of the reasons I walked in with a mask on is I'm immune-deficient, so with this new variant, who knows? So when I'm in a group and the group's not vaccinated or there's a mixture, I put the mask on, and I do that for health reasons.'
Washington was one of two teams under 50 percent vaccinated in mid-July and offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas was placed on the NFL's COVID-19 reserve list Tuesday.
Cancer survivor and Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that he's 'beyond frustrated' with the club's disappointing vaccination rate
In response to a report on Rivera's statement, the 34-year-old Ward criticized the remarks in a series of since-deleted tweets.
'Just park the Riverboat,' Ward tweeted, referencing Rivera's nickname, 'Riverboat Ron.'
'His health is beyond that of COVID,' Ward continued. 'Maybe it's time to let it go. Don't blame the players for your life long (sic) health decisions.'
There is no proof that Rivera's personal choices resulted in his cancer diagnosis.
In a following tweet that was also ultimately deleted, Ward acknowledged that cancer can be genetic, while continuing to point the finger at cancer victims.
'At some point you gotta pay for them vices,' he said. 'Cancer runs in my family like many American families. But also bad diets and cigarettes do as well. Except (sic) responsibility. Don't blame and be disappointed in your 23 year olds cus they
