Cleveland Browns placekicker Austin Seibert speaks on the need to wear a mask in public. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

As multiple states start to reopen to an extent around the United States, there’s some fear that the COVID-19 pandemic will grow.

Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have been helpful. There’s no telling how much more the virus will spread once these two conditions are eased.

It’s a widespread scientific consensus that the elderly and those with preexisting conditions are more at risk of dying from the virus.

Despite this, Cleveland Browns kicker Austin Seibert decided to provide an all-time ignorant opinion regarding the need to wear a mask in public. It’s a selfish take, one not rooted in reality.

This really is a problem. We’re seeing it a lot around the United States right now. Not taking the pandemic seriously. Sure there are others who are pulling the fire alarm at an alarming level. Both can be true.

But as the sports world looks to return to action, the last thing it needs are individuals such as Seibert downplaying the threat of continued virus growth. His take is as selfish as it is ignorant.

“So-called ‘disease’ that doesn’t really do anything.” Tell that to the nearly 3.4 million people who have been infected with COVID-19 and the 241,500-plus who have died.

It’s this type of attitude that initially led to the NBA having to suspend its season back in March after Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. He didn’t take the illness seriously, leading to a rift with teammate Donovan Mitchell.

But by all means, let’s complain about having to wear a mask outside to protect the more vulnerable aspects of society.

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