The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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The Buffalo Bills are staying home for training camp again.
The Bills cited the NFL’s COVID-19 health protocols in their decision to not travel to their traditional training camp site at St. John Fisher College outside of Rochester, New York. The team instead will hold camp at its headquarters in Orchard Park.
General manager Brandon Beane says time ran out on the team receiving clarity on what NFL restrictions will be in place for training camp. He says the college’s football locker room is too small, and full team meetings would have to be conducted virtually under current league guidelines.
Coach Sean McDermott has said he is a fan of the team going away for camp because it helps promote player bonding. The Bills have held camp at the college in Pittsford since 2000, with the exception of last year because of the pandemic.
Beane stresses the decision has nothing to do with the team reaching certain vaccination thresholds the NFL is considering to loosen practice and team meeting restrictions.
Vaccinations have been a focus of debate this offseason for the Bills, with quarterback Josh Allen previously saying he wasn’t certain whether he’d get vaccinated against COVID-19. Several players have since refused to discuss the issue.
The NFL and NFL Players Association are encouraging but not mandating players to get vaccinated.
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