Anybody else surprised by the number of NFL opt outs we’ve seen this week?
It’s a high number, 25 players who have decided to sit out the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eagles receiver Marquise Goodwin is among that group.
You’ll see more opt outs as the week continues. This is based on the agreement between the league and union, which allows a seven-day window for players to decide whether they’d like to play or skip the 2020 campaign. With both parties signing the training camp agreement on July 24th, that window takes us until this Friday, so you’ll see more opt outs over the next 48 hours.
Here’s the full list so far:
There are a couple of different designations for these players.
Those considered “high risk” can earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they decide to opt out. If a player does not have any risk, but simply chooses to opt out for personal or family reasons, he can earn $150,000. Right now Michael Pierce, Marcus Cannon, and Caleb Brantley are in the “high risk” category. Pierce has a respiratory issue, Cannon is a cancer survivor, and Brantley’s qualifier is unspecified, though he’s dealt with injuries over the course of his career.
The takeaway, other than the raw number, is how many big names appear on this list. Goldman, Lotulelei, Hightower, Duvernay-Tardif, and a few others are starters, guys who play key roles for their team and earn a significant amount of money. They’ve gotta do what’s best for them and their families, and I’m sure those were difficult conversations and difficult decisions to make.