Five Patriots Are Opting Out Of 2020 NFL Season

[Mr KLC]

It has been a wild journey following the timeline of Adam Schefter this morning, as one New England Patriot after another is dropping out of the NFL season. The list now stands as follows:

Dont’a Hightower (LB)
Danny Vitale (FB)
Brandon Bolden (RB)
Najee Toran (OG)
Marcus Cannon (OT)
The most notable of these is Hightower, who was due to make $8 million this season but says he is dropping out because he and his wife just had a baby this month. Cannon is also a stalwart — he’s been a protector on the offensive line since 2011.

It remains to be seen how prevalent this will be across the NFL, but it is certainly worth monitoring. You can’t think it’s a coincidence that it came the day after it was revealed that a bunch of Miami Marlins tested positive for coronavirus.

[johnnyvegas13]

I was gonna say Hightower is or was they best lb

[unusialsusp5]

No doubt now that the Patriots will end up at the bottom of the AFC east even with that showboat Newton as QB. Unlikely there will be a season so moot point.

[johnnyvegas13]

No doubt now that the Patriots will end up at the bottom of the AFC east even with that showboat Newton as QB. Unlikely there will be a season so moot point.

NFL will play

[Hman]

They are opting out because they know its going to be a long season for the Pats

[johnnyvegas13]

They are opting out because they know its going to be a long season for the Pats

This

[Mr KLC]

The XFL might survive after all. All the rosters will be in the NFL after all of the opt outs.

[lakerboy]

If I was a rich athlete I would not play

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Big surprise. Anyone who is financially solvent would be crazy to subject themselves to this risk.

Think about the top MLB pitchers. Sherzer/Verlander earn close to $1Mill per start. Why risk going out there, w/ exposure to a potential death sentence?

[johnnyvegas13]

The XFL might survive after all. All the rosters will be in the NFL after all of the opt outs.

No way XFL survives this

that is one thing that really won’t play

[lakerboy]

More and more guys will opt out. It's not worth the risk. These people have family. One year without football is not a big deal.

[jjgold]

what risk??

Chucky

There is zero risk for athletes they can actually play with Covid easily

Media brainwashed people thinking this is terminal cancer

Sad

[Buckandadime]

More to follow suit or is this just a few wanting a vacation?

[lakerboy]

what risk??

Chucky

There is zero risk for athletes they can actually play with Covid easily

Media brainwashed people thinking this is terminal cancer

Sad

Don't forget to stay inside

[Mr KLC]

Sources: Bears standout DT Eddie Goldman has informed the team he plans to opt out due to health concerns related to COVID-19. Goldman has been a standout in the middle of Chicago’s D since 2015.

= Ian Rapoport

[pologq]

More to follow suit or is this just a few wanting a vacation?

if you are $$$ set and your team is mediocre i can see those opting out

[pavyracer]

The season will be cancelled. Just wait to see what happens with MLB. The MLB is the barometer. if MLB doesn't finish the season the NFL will not even start.

[Chi_archie]

Really dumb

The window of opportunity to make $ in the NFL is very very small compared to other sports.

And it's very much a next man up sport that makes being out for a few weeks detrimental if not catastrophic for your career prospects unless you are in the top 10-15% of players

While you sit out, you let a hungry player come in and prove you are replacable for less money.


For what?
A virus that you have like .00001% chance of dying from ?except maybe a few fat o line guys

[homie1975]

top medical experts in the field for decades are advising these players.

don't some of you know that black men have the sickle cell trait and other health issues that cause them to die off at a much earlier average age due to health reasons than the average male? (save the gunshot joke, racists)

absolutely the intelligent move to opt out and get your $350K for a season that won't even go more than 4-5 games per team anyways, if that

[homie1975]

Really dumb

The window of opportunity to make $ in the NFL is very very small compared to other sports.

And it's very much a next man up sport that makes being out for a few weeks detrimental if not catastrophic for your career prospects unless you are in the top 10-15% of players

While you sit out, you let a hungry player come in and prove you are replacable for less money.


For what?
A virus that you have like .00001% chance of dying from ?except maybe a few fat o line guys

Archie you are tone deaf on this

BTW why didn't AZ report deaths yesterday? we had 600 deaths in the USA without them. just watch the numbers today through Friday. the next 4 days will be insane, just like last week.

today FL 184 COVID deaths. the highest number reported in daily FL deaths that i have seen

[Mac4Lyfe]

For what?
A virus that you have like .00001% chance of dying from ?except maybe a few fat o line guys

Where are you getting 0.00001% from? A quick calculation of 140k deaths already and there’s 350 million people is at least 0.04% and that’s saying no one else will die in the US.

If you use the current death rate and extrapolate among 1700 players, 57 guys could die from Covid. Now it’ll probably be a lot less as many players are young and healthy but the risk is definitely there. Maybe they won’t have poor symptoms but what about family members like an elderly parent. Did they ever find out if Karl Anthony Towns mom caught Covid from him? That would suck.

[jjgold]

Well then just shut down the world and then we could be taken over by China that’s what you guys all want anyway

[Mac4Lyfe]

Well then just shut down the world and then we could be taken over by China that’s what you guys all want anyway

The US cannot shut down the world. Get off your high horse.

[lakerboy]

It's not about the players only. Hightower said he is worried if he got it he might pass it on to someone like his mom who is diabetic.

I know the NFL career is 4 years or so but life span is 72 years. I would NEVER play if I was an NFL player. They breath on each other.

[Chi_archie]

Where are you getting 0.00001% from? A quick calculation of 140k deaths already and there’s 350 million people is at least 0.04% and that’s saying no one else will die in the US.

If you use the current death rate and extrapolate among 1700 players, 57 guys could die from Covid. Now it’ll probably be a lot less as many players are young and healthy but the risk is definitely there. Maybe they won’t have poor symptoms but what about family members like an elderly parent. Did they ever find out if Karl Anthony Towns mom caught Covid from him? That would suck.

Give me the numbers for 20-35 year olds

Give me the numbers for extremely fit individuals

The avg age of death is 78

You think Brandon bolden is just as likely to die of Covid as a fat 90 year old with diabetes and heart disease?

How many NBA infected players even had symptoms?

[homie1975]

Where are you getting 0.00001% from? A quick calculation of 140k deaths already and there’s 350 million people is at least 0.04% and that’s saying no one else will die in the US.

If you use the current death rate and extrapolate among 1700 players, 57 guys could die from Covid. Now it’ll probably be a lot less as many players are young and healthy but the risk is definitely there. Maybe they won’t have poor symptoms but what about family members like an elderly parent. Did they ever find out if Karl Anthony Towns mom caught Covid from him? That would suck.

people are pulling numbers out of their rectum basing it on a guessed true IFR based on how many people they are guessing truly got COVID 19

the CDC estimates about 10 times the true case count so that means about 40M people

[homie1975]

Give me the numbers for 20-35 year olds

Give me the numbers for extremely fit individuals

The avg age of death is 78

You think Brandon bolden is just as likely to die of Covid as a fat 90 year old with diabetes and heart disease?

How many NBA infected players even had symptoms?

this part i agree with

[19th Hole]

Players listened to JJ and all are heading to Lehigh Valley to shelter-in-place.

[navyblue81]

Chung out now, too.

This could be the start of a domino effect that could cancel the NFL season. Or maybe it'll be 1987 all over again and we go with replacement players.

[pavyracer]

They are smart. No need to die for a paycheck.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Give me the numbers for 20-35 year olds
Give me the numbers for extremely fit individuals

A lot of 20-35 year olds are getting seriously sick and some are dying from Covid. Rudy Gobert still can’t smell or taste right. I’ve said before that there’s a lot of NFL players in poor shape and health. Many NFL linemen are on the obese scale, with high blood pressure and heart issues already. The risk is real not only for them but also their families.

[homie1975]

the jury is still out on long term damage to internal organs especially the LUNGS

everyone who is sitting on their couches making decisions for others: sit down and STFU. no one cares about you. no one

[homie1975]

A lot of 20-35 year olds are getting seriously sick and some are dying from Covid. Rudy Gobert still can’t smell or taste right. I’ve said before that there’s a lot of NFL players in poor shape and health. Many NFL linemen are on the obese scale, with high blood pressure and heart issues already. The risk is real not only for them but also their families.

same with college football.

[Mac4Lyfe]

same with college football.

I think the NFL and CFB have to go to a bubble but it’s too expensive. But it could end up more expensive in the long run. Imagine a player catching Covid then infecting their family where someone dies. Talk about liability?

[unusialsusp5]

They are opting out because they know its going to be a long season for the Pats

That would be idiotic to give up your salary because they think they can't contend. Most could care less if they win the super bowl.