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As per the agreement made by the NFL and NFL Players Association last week, NFL players have been given the option to opt out of the 2020 season if they are too concerned about their health in the age of the current pandemic. The agreement says these players will see a salary advance of $150,000 this year or, if they are considered a high-risk candidate for the COVID-19 virus, a $350,000 stipend.
In addition, the player’s contract will be tolled—or put on pause for a year. In other words, if a player is due a $8 million salary in 2020, that figure, and all the subsequent amounts, will be pushed back a season.
As a result of this agreement, many players have already decided to opt out for the 2020 season. A couple of the most significant players who decided to sit the season are Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.
NFL players are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday, so we’ll likely continue to hear about more opt outs throughout the day. Although players have until August 3 to declare if they want to opt out.
UPDATE: The opt-out deadline has passed. Here is the final list of players who chose to opt out:
Detroit Lions
DT John Atkins (story here)
WR Geronimo Allison (story here)
C Russell Bodine (story here)
Arizona Cardinals
OL Marcus Gilbert (higher risk opt-out)
Baltimore Ravens
OT Andre Smith
WR De’Anthony Thomas
Buffalo Bills
DT Star Lotulelei
CB E.J. Gaines
Carolina Panthers
LB Jordan Mack
LB Christian Miller (higher risk opt-out)
Chicago Bears
DT Eddie Goldman
S Jordan Lucas
Cincinnati Bengals
DT Josh Tupou
OT Isaiah Prince
Cleveland Browns
G Drew Forbes
T Drake Dorbeck
DT Andrew Billings
OL Colby Gossett (higher risk opt-out)
G Malcolm Pridgeon
Dallas Cowboys
WR Stephen Guidry
CB Maurice Canady
FB Jamize Olawale
Denver Broncos
DT Kyle Peko
RT Ja’Wuan James
Green Bay Packers
WR Devin Funchess
Houston Texans
DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Indianapolis Colts
LB Skai Moore,
DB Rolan Milligan
DB Marvell Tell
Jacksonville Jaguars
DT Al Woods
EDGE Lerentee McCray
CB Rashaan Melvin
Kansas City Chiefs
G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
RB Damien Williams
OT Lucas Niang
Las Vegas Raiders
DE Jeremiah Valoaga
DB D.J. Killings
LB Ukeme Eligwe
Los Angeles Rams
OT Chandler Brewer (higher risk opt-out)
Miami Dolphins
WR Allen Hurns
WR Albert Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
DT Michael Pierce (Higher risk opt-out)
New England Patriots
RB Brandon Bolden
LB Dont’a Hightower
FB Danny Vitale
OT Marcus Cannon (Higher risk opt-out)
G Najee Toran
S Patrick Chung
TE Matt LaCosse
WR Marqise Lee
New Orleans Saints
TE Cole Wick
TE Jason Vander Laan
New York Giants
OT Nate Solder
WR Da’Mari Scott
CB Sam Beal
New York Jets
C Leo Koloamatangi
LB C.J. Mosley
WR Josh Doctson
Philadelphia Eagles
WR Marquise Goodwin
San Francisco 49ers
WR Travis Benjamin
OL Shon Coleman
Seattle Seahawks
G Chance Warmack
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OT Brad Seaton
Tennessee Titans
OL Anthony McKinney
Washington Football Team
DL Caleb Brantley (Higher risk opt-out)
LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
FREE AGENT:
G Larry Warford
Updates:
To be considered a higher risk opt-out candidate, according to NFL.com:
a player must have a diagnosis reflected in their medical records of at least one of the following factors, which are based upon a modified list of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) risk factors list: cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant; serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; sickle cell disease; type 2 diabetes mellitus; asthma; cerebrovascular disease; cystic fibrosis; hypertension or high blood pressure; immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines; neurologic conditions, such as dementia; liver disease; or pulmonary fibrosis.
Such higher risk opt-outs will also “receive an accrued season toward free agency and all benefits and minimum salary credit for a credited season.”
Among the unresolved issues: Can an undrafted rookie or player who didn’t earn a credited season in 2019 qualify for the “higher risk” opt-out and $350,000 stipend? The summary distributed to teams and agents suggests there is no such restriction, but it's still under discussion. https://t.co/mSWk9FCqzD
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 28, 2020