Nate Solder is putting the family on football after leaning on their faith.
When his veteran teammates reported to training camp on Tuesday, Solder informed the team that he will choose not to participate in the 2020 season, as announced on his Instagram. The NFL and its Players Association agreed to the COVID-19 safety opt-out clause last week, and Solder cast a vote as a union representative for the Giants.
Solder, 32, is a testicular cancer survivor and the father of a 5-year-old son, Hudson, who was diagnosed with a rare Wilms tumor within three months. Hudson had surgery to remove a tumor last fall and underwent his third round of chemotherapy last fall.
Like Solder, Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon is a cancer survivor who chose not to participate, while Steelers running back James Conner is a survivor who chose to participate. There is no unanimous answer on how to handle the circumstances, although a higher body mass index (expected at 300-pound linemen) is identified as a risk factor.
Solder can earn $ 350,000 and an accredited NFL season to get health insurance and benefits because he is high risk. Basically, his contract stops for a year and the team’s $ 19.5 million salary cap comes off the books in 2020 and carries over to 2021, with the last year before free agency pressed until 2022.
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There is a $ 150,000 stipend cash advance for players who choose not to participate but are not considered high risk. The Patriots have a maximum of six league players who chose not to participate.
Although coming from a certainly disappointing season, Solder was expected to start with left or right tackle, as opposed to first-round rookie Andrew Thomas. With Solder out, the Giants will turn to veteran veteran Cam Fleming, third-round rookie Matt Peart, or leftovers from free agency.
Fleming has 26 runs in six seasons with the Patriots and Cowboys and is the only player on the list familiar with head coach Joe Judge’s triumvirate, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and offensive line coach Marc Colombo.
The released salary cap space allows the Giants to chase a late splash into an area of weakness like the passer (Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen remain available) or the cornerback. DeAndre Baker is included on the Commissioner’s List of Exemptions without Practice (pending appeal) as Logan Ryan and Dre Kirkpatrick remain available.
The deeply religious soldier and his wife are unshakable in their charitable efforts, especially when it comes to improving children’s lives. He was nominated for the Giants in 2019 for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Players have seven days to unsubscribe after the pending ratification of the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement, so the earliest deadline is August 4.
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