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'Survival of the fittest': Outrage over NFL player's savage virus stance

NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins looks up during a match.

NFL star Kirk Cousins has enraged fans after a blunt answer to a coronavirus question, while the US battles with the global pandemic.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was on the ‘Ringer’ podcast and was asked about his approach to masks during the pandemic.

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Asked to rank his view, with one being ‘Masks are stupid,’ and 10 representing ‘I’m not leaving my master bathroom,’ Cousins went to the extreme.

“I’m not going to call anybody stupid, for the trouble it could get me in. But I’m about a .000001,” Cousins said.

But when he elaborated, Cousins said he would wear a mask to respect others concerned, but for him he has a ‘if I die, I die,’ approach.

“If I get it, I’m going to ride it out. I’m going to let nature do its course,” Cousins added.

“Survival-of-the-fittest kind of approach. And just say, if it knocks me out, it knocks me out. I’m going to be OK. You know, even if I die. If I die, I die. I kind of have peace about that."

“That’s really where I fall on it, so my opinion of wearing a mask is really being respectful to other people. It really has nothing to do with my own personal thoughts.”

Fans divided over Cousins virus comments

Cousins was praised for his brutal honesty on social media and some had no issue with his personal view, as long as he wore a mask.

But many took offence to his brazen words while the pandemic has wreaked havoc across the US for months.

The NFL is set to kick-off its season next month with a clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.

Players have opted out of the NFL season due to health concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

Data from John Hopkin’s University claims there has been more than six million coronavirus cases in the US since the beginning of the pandemic.

More than 180,000 people have died in the US from the virus.