Former Bills WR Cole Beasley retires soon after signing with Bucs

Cole Beasley has called it a career:

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has retired from the NFL.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Beasley has decided that it’s time to look at life after football despite only recently coming back to the league.

Beasley, 33, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20. Amid a rash of injuries to their receiver room, the team tapped Beasley for help, however, he only recorded four catches in two games.

Prior to joining the Bucs, Beasley played in Buffalo from 2019 to 2021. He was still under contract with the Bills through this current NFL season, however, Beasley requested the Bills trade him.

When that did not occur, the team granted his release in March 17 despite the Bills front office insisting they’d still want him to stay.

On the field, Beasley’s three years in western New York were successful. He earned All-Pro honors in 2020 and helped with the development quarterback Josh Allen saw over that time.

Beasley’s time with Buffalo will be more remembered for his off-field opinions.

The reciever became one of the more outspoken NFL players against COVID-19 protocols in the latter stages of his Bills career. Because of that, he became a lightning rod for attention.

So much so that upon his departure from the Bills, Beasley made comments such as he “won’t regret leaving.”

Beasley finished his career in Buffalo making 231 catches for 2,438 yards and 11 touchdowns for the team. Overall in his 10 years in the league, Beasley had 554 grabs for 5,726 yards and 34 touchdowns.

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