With the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to allow any player in the league the option not to play in 2020, several are choosing to sit the year out for health reasons or otherwise, with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic still very much an ongoing issue around the globe.
Players will be paid a stipend if they opt out, as opposed to their regular salary.
Seems a bit euphemistic to say NFL players who opt out are getting a $150,000 “stipend.” It’s a salary advance, to be paid back with next year’s salary, which – with the contract tolling – will be this year’s salary.
Stipends are not paid back; this is. #optout— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) July 28, 2020
Below is a list of players who have opted out of the 2020 season, and will be updated as needed:
— De’Anthony Thomas, kick returner, Baltimore Ravens
— Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Buffalo Bills
— Eddie Goldman, defensive tackle, Chicago Bears
— Maurice Canady, cornerback, Dallas Cowboys
— Stephen Guidry, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
— Kyle Peko, defensive tackle, Denver Broncos
— Eddie Vanderdoes, defensive end, Houston Texans
— Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, offensive lineman, Kansas City Chiefs
— Michael Pierce, defensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings
— Patrick Chung, safety, New England Patriots
— Dont’a Hightower, linebacker, New England Patriots
— Dan Vitale, fullback, New England Patriots
— Brandon Bolden, running back, New England Patriots
— Marcus Cannon, offensive lineman, New England Patriots
— Najee Toran, offensive lineman, New England Patriots
— Cole Wick, tight end, New Orleans Saints
— Chance Warmack, offensive lineman, Seattle Seahawks
— Anthony McKinney, offensive lineman, Tennessee Titans
— Caleb Brantley, defensive end, Washington Football Team
— Leo Koloamatangi, offensive lineman, New York Jets
— Larry Warford, offensive lineman, Free Agent
— Devin Funchess, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
— Nate Solder, offensive lineman, New York Giants
— Damien Williams, running back, Kansas City Chiefs
— C. J. Mosley, linebacker, New York Jets
— Geronimo Allison, wide receiver, Detroit Lions
— Da’Mari Scott, wide receiver, New York Giants
— Ja’Wuan James, offensive lineman, Denver Broncos
— Jordan Lucas, safety, Chicago Bears
— Allen Hurns, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
— Marcus Gilbert, offensive lineman, Arizona Cardinals
— Skai Moore, linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
— Andrew Billings, defensive tackle, Cleveland Browns
— Sam Beal, cornerback, New York Giants
— Russell Bodine, offensive lineman, Detroit Lions
— Marvell Tell, safety, Indianapolis Colts
— Rolan Milligan, safety, Indianapolis Colts
— Albert Wilson, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
— Lucas Niang, offensive lineman, Kansas City Chiefs
As of Tuesday, the New England Patriots appear to be the team hit the worst with opt-outs, with seven players choosing not to play the 2020 season. Hightower and Chung, specifically, are tough losses for the Patriots’ defense.
Duvernay-Tardif of the Chiefs is a noteworthy case here, the offensive lineman holds a medical degree and has chosen to sit out the season in order to join the medical community in the fight against the virus.
