8/16 PM UPDATE: Florida State football: Receiver Warren Thompson retracts COVID-19 concerns

UPDATE:

Everything seems to be good with Warren Thompson and Florida State Seminoles football head coach Mike Norvell:

Unfounded rumors had circulated that Thompson was leaving the program, but with tonight’s statement, those appear refuted.

Original Story:

After Florida State Seminoles football wide receiver DJ Matthews tweeted, then deleted, that he had tested positive for COVID-19, fellow receiver Warren Thompson is claiming that FSU officials aren’t following the protocols that had been lauded by the administration when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with head coach Mike Norvell, president John Thrasher, athletic director David Coburn and players Joshua Kaindoh and Keyshawn Helton.

Thompson posted the following on Instagram and Twitter:

Being a Student Athlete is difficult during this time and the proper leadership regarding these problems does not exist.

During this entire week of camp I have been lied to multiple times about the conditions of other players health as well as mine. It has been shown to myself and the rest, that our leadership is based off an “I” mentality with them only worried about their own future rather than their own athletes.

I have been ridiculed about speaking up regarding this issue and it needs to be addressed for myself to safely continue the season. I myself am an introvert meaning my days go from being at the football facilities and back home day by day.

I have done my best to take the proper precautions for myself and my teammates, to try and ensure a healthy environment during these radical times. I want to play for Florida State University and have a great season for myself and our supporters. The lies from our leaders have backed myself into corner putting my overall well being in jeopardy.

The neglect to respond to this issue is very concerning and why I’ve drown attention to it. I’ve put 1000% into this team and my own craft. I’ve got to much to prove to the world and this problem is growing greater potentially preventing that from happening because I’ve spoken up!

-Warren J

Thompson wasn’t alone in his criticism, as several other players tweeted seemingly disapproving commentary during the roundtable and today, though some tweets have not been embedded, as they haven’t been confirmed to be related.

Florida State star receiver Tamorrion Terry weighs in:

247Sports is reporting players who have been in contact with Matthews are being quarantined.

“When they come in the morning, they’re temperature and symptom check, they have to answer a set of questions and then they’re banded,” Coburn said on Tuesday. “And they’re kept segregated from the rest of the athletic department staff. They’re socially distanced in their meetings. They’re required to wear masks throughout the building and on the way to and from practice. That we’re testing weekly now and we will probably go to biweekly testing during the season. Anyone who gets a positive test result, we do hard work on them. And we’ve been doing that. We’re going to continue to do that. So we’re very comfortable that we’ve done what the medical folks… actually, above and beyond what the medical folks have advised.”

Other players took to Twitter to voice their support for the Florida State athletic training staff and the protocols that are in place.