Patriots’ players continue to opt out of season
Before the COVID-19 pandemic even hit, most anticipated that the New England Patriots would look quite different in 2020 than they have over the last 20 years. That is because it was already pretty well known that six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady would be on his way out of Foxborough for the first time in his career. But nobody thought the Patriots would look this different.
Prior to the start of training camps both the National Football League Players’ Association and the league reached an agreement that would allow for players to opt out of the upcoming season. Players that are deemed to be high risk for COVID-19 would earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season, while players considered not to be at high risk for the virus would be paid $150,000 if they opted out.
More players on the Patriots have taken up the option to opt out than any other team in the league. Starting offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale and reserve offensive lineman Najee Toran were amongst the first to opt out for the Patriots, with ESPN reporting that running back Brandon Bolden is also planning to sit out the upcoming campaign.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that New England lost another two players for the 2020 season with linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung also electing not to play. Both Hightower and Chung are significant losses for the Patriots, as both were expected to be starters.
Hightower became a father for the first time a couple of weeks ago and is understandably concerned about the risks associated with playing football and traveling to the various different markets across the United States – especially as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge across the country.
The linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion represents a significant loss for the organization who relied on him to help lead the defense over his first eight seasons in the NFL. The 2020 campaign would have been the veteran’s ninth season with the Patriots who drafted him in the first round of the 2012 draft. He started in 15 games for New England last season, putting up 5.5 sacks.
Chung also represents a significant loss for Bill Belichick’s squad, as the safety had just signed a two-year extension with the organization that had included a $2 million signing bonus. Chung is another veteran presence that will be sorely missed, having played 12 season in the NFL – including the last 11 as a Patriot. Not only was he familiar with Belichick’s system, but also provided his head coach with many more options and more flexibility.
It remains to be seen how the losses will affect the Patriots’ 2020 season, with many considering the Buffalo Bills as the favourite to win the AFC East. New England has dominated the division over the last two decades, winning 17 division titles since 2001 including 11 consecutive titles. The last time they did not win the division was back in 2008 when the Miami Dolphins claimed the division.
