A number of football players have decided to opt-out of the upcoming season because of COVID-19
The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have been working together to come up with more thorough guidelines so players feel safer amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One of the measures that was approved between the league and the players union was the option for players to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season without any consequences, while still being able to receive salary payments.
For these cases, the salary would be only a portion of the normal one. After this decision was announced to all players, in just a matter of days, several players are choosing to skip this year’s season.
Based on the agreement between the two parts, those players who opt out due to valid medical reasons are entitled to a salary of $350,000 and they are still eligible for an accrued season. On the other hand, for the player who decides to opt-out only due to concerns of playing under the current pandemic, the salary will only be $150,000. This money doesn’t come without a cost – it will be deducted from the player’s contract salary at some point.
There are several players who have been loud about taking this deal. For instance, Kansas City Chiefs right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was among the first ones to accept this offering. Following his decision, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas, Seattle Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady took the deal, according to Forbes. Later, New England Patriots linemen Najee Toran and Marcus Cannon followed suit, with the most recent players opting out being other Pats players, running back Danny Vitale and safety Patrick Chung.
