At least 20 NFL players have opted out of the 2020 season.
And that number seems to be growing by the day up until the opt out deadline, which has been extended to Thursday August 6th, according to USA Today.
The good news for the NFL is no major stars have chosen to opt out.
Some of the most notable players to opt out include Chiefs running back Damien Williams, Giants left tackle Nate Solder, Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess, Eagles wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, Patriots safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Dont’a Hightower.
Expect that list to grow in the coming days — coaches and staff included.
As of Thursday July 30, six members of the Patriots alone have decided to sit out.
Reasons for opting out vary from players preserving their individual health to protecting their loved ones’ health — pregnant wives, newborn children, etc.
In the case of Goodwin, he has a five-month-old baby he says he needs to tend to after he and his wife have endured multiple miscarriages.
Funchess said on Instagram he has had family members who had life-threatening experiences with COVID-19.
On the other hand, cases like Solder and Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon are different. Solder, along with his son, has been diagnosed with cancer. Cannon, 32, had non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma his rookie season back in 2011.
The good news is the NFL will still take care of the players who choose to opt out — distinguished between those who are considered high risk and those who are not.
Players like Solder and Cannon, who have underlying conditions, are considered high risk. They are still eligible to earn $350,000.
Non-high risk players, such as Funchess and Goodwin, can receive $150,000.
While losing out on millions from the fine print on these players’ contracts had they decided to play is not ideal, the NFL giving the option to preserve health and financial security shows it cares about its players.
On the flipside, will that hurt the NFL product in 2020 if more players opt out because of the salary they get even if they don’t play?
For now, the answer is no because stars are what drive the NFL’s ratings and revenue.
No notable star has yet to opt out, but many of them have expressed concerns about the NFL’s safety protocols (or lack thereof) — especially given the fact the league will not play in a bubble, which has proven to be effective in preventing COVID-19 outbreaks.
Leagues like the NBA who have chosen to continue their season in a bubble have enjoyed success of keeping their players healthy. In the weeks leading up to its regular season resumption this week, the NBA has seen zero positive tests for coronavirus.
Attribute this to the bubble where players, coaches and staff are monitored 24/7 at such a level that folks would have to blatantly break protocol in order to catch the virus.
Russell Wilson and J.J. Watt have called out the NFL out on Twitter to devise a safety plan. Wilson recently saw the birth of his baby boy in July. He wants to make sure he is not putting his family at risk of contracting the virus.
MLB, who elected not to play its season in a bubble, has already seen an outbreak within the first week of its season with the Marlins.
Maybe that concerns a guy like Wilson who sees this type of outbreak inevitable in the NFL.
With football being a full contact sport and more people involved, an outbreak seems more likely as 32 NFL teams will travel from stadium to stadium across the country.
The clock is ticking on the NFL for a clear and concrete plan to safely that will instill confidence in its players to safely execute a season.
Even though a star like Wilson can earn a living should he choose to opt out, it will take a lot for Wilson to give up $35 million and a chance to win a Super Bowl this season.
However, millions of dollars can always be made up, but the health of you and your loved ones?
Maybe not so much.
