As part of the agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached late last week to start playing during the coronavirus pandemic, players have been given the option to opt out of the 2020 season. The NFL and the NFLPA are working to finalize a deadline for players to notify their decision in writing; The deadline is expected to be within the next six days.
Players who choose not to participate will be divided into two categories, according to a memo sent to the teams:
- Higher risk: Players who are considered at higher risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19 may choose not to receive and receive a stipend of $ 350,000. To qualify for this higher-risk group, players must have had a previously confirmed diagnosis of one (or more) of the 15 risk factors listed by the Centers for Disease Control, including cancer, sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and serious heart conditions, among others.
- Voluntary / Not high risk: Players who played in 2019 or are rookies recruited in 2020 and choose to opt-in will receive a $ 150,000 stipend that will be considered a salary advance and will count against the team’s 2020 salary limit. Non-recruited newbies may choose not to participate, but are not eligible for the $ 150,000 stipend.
All opt out options are final. If a player has a family member hospitalized for (or passed away) COVID-19 during training camp or the season, they may opt for a later date for the remainder of the season and will be eligible for the $ 150,000 stipend, which You will be compensated for any wages you have already earned. Players have not yet revealed whether they are a medical (high risk) or voluntary opt-out option.
The athletic maintains an up-to-date list of players who have made the decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Those players known to be low risk are denoted with an asterisk. This publication will be updated.
The Baltimore Ravens: OT Andre Smith, KR De’Anthony Thomas
Buffalo Bills: DT Star Lotulelei
Carolina Panthers: LB Jordan Mack
Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman
Dallas Cowboys: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry
Denver Broncos: DL Kyle Peko *
Detroit Lions: DT John Atkins
Green Bay Packers: WR Devin Funchess
Houston Texans: DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Kansas City Chiefs: OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has been working on the front line in a long-term care facility in Quebec.
My decision regarding the 2020 NFL season pic.twitter.com/jrY3nZfNWO
– Laurent D. Tardif (@LaurentDTardif) July 25, 2020
Minnesota Vikings: DT Michael Pierce
New England Patriots: RB Brandon Bolden, S Patrick Chung, OT Marcus Cannon *, LB Dont’a Hightower, C / G Najee Toran, FB Danny Vitale
New York Giants: OT Nate Solder, who is a cancer survivor and whose son is currently battling cancer.
pic.twitter.com/MnSrWmu73c
– Nate Solder (@soldernate) July 29, 2020
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marquise Goodwin
Seattle Seahawks: OL Chance Warmack
Tennessee Titans: OT Anthony McKinney
Washington soccer team: DL Caleb Brantley* *
(Top photo from Dont’a Hightower: Matthew J. Lee / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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