Football Dont'a Hightower and 4 other Patriots opt out of 2020 season - Page 12

**Shaid** · 07-28-2020, 08:14 AM

https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/27/nfl-p...ytZNH04RUDIiaM

Dont'a Hightower -- a 3-time Super Bowl champion and one of the leaders of the Patriots' defense -- has also chosen to sit out this season.
Hightower, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi, just had a baby this month ... and his mom also has type 2 diabetes.
"Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football," Hightower said in a statement to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "especially the new addition to our family."
The opt-out is a big blow for the Pats, Hightower recorded 71 tackles and 5.5 sacks for New England last season ... but he's also now one of FIVE Patriots choosing to forego the season.
Pats running back Brandon Bolden and offensive linemen Najee Toran and Marcus Cannon have also joined Hightower and fullback Danny Vitale in sitting out 2020.
There could be more on the way as well ... players still have until the end of this week to make opt-out decisions.

htismaqe · 08-05-2020, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

51 out 2,550+ active players opting out (not even 2% of the league).

Minimal impact.

Many of those 51 are starters. Many of the 2550 are no-names nobody has ever heard of.

Let's not pretend it's pure numbers. If a few bonafide stars opt out, that changes things significantly.

O.city · 08-05-2020, 10:36 AM

I still think as a player I'd feel safer actually playing, with how much they're gonna get tested etc.

Mecca · 08-05-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm not interested in watching if many more opt out. It's not going to be fun watching the imbalance that comes from some teams only having half of their starters.

Patriots: 8

Browns: 4

Colts, Cowboys: 3

Bears, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Dolphins, Giants, Jaguars, Jets, Lions, Panthers, Raiders, Ravens, Saints, Washington Football Team: 2

49ers, Cardinals, Eagles, Free Agents,* Jaguars, Packers, Seahawks, Texans, Titans, Rams, Vikings: 1

Buccaneers, Chargers, Falcons, Steelers: 0

I'm interested to see if any big names or a big influx happens on deadline day. It's not a huge deal as of now I don't think but it's getting there.

O.city · 08-05-2020, 10:41 AM

Is that really any different than a normal year with injuries though? Atleast at this point it doesn't seem to be so.

Mecca · 08-05-2020, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Is that really any different than a normal year with injuries though? Atleast at this point it doesn't seem to be so.

If you add that with injuries, which there could be more with the lack of preseason etc, you may end up with a very watered down product.

O.city · 08-05-2020, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If you add that with injuries, which there could be more with the lack of preseason etc, you may end up with a very watered down product.

Hence my "at this point it doesn't" comment.

RunKC · 08-05-2020, 10:45 AM

Donta Hightower, CJ Mosley, Patrick Chung, Nate Solder, Devin Funchess, Eddie Goldman.

Those are important players for their teams.

It pretty much is like injuries every year, but the problem is that along with these opt outs, there’s no preseason games, OTA’s and a different training camp.

That’s going to lead to more injuries IMO. Changes like that can have some consequences, especially if the training camp is watered down (fortunately Andy won’t let that happen with us).

**The Franchise** · 08-05-2020, 10:50 AM

This season is going to be ****ed if they run into a bunch of false positives.

FloridaMan88 · 08-05-2020, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

Donta Hightower, CJ Mosley, Patrick Chung, Nate Solder, Devin Funchess, Eddie Goldman.

Those are important players for their teams.

It pretty much is like injuries every year, but the problem is that along with these opt outs, there’s no preseason games, OTA’s and a different training camp.

That’s going to lead to more injuries IMO. Changes like that can have some consequences, especially if the training camp is watered down (fortunately Andy won’t let that happen with us).

There are no preseason games in college football... NFL players will adapt accordingly.

staylor26 · 08-05-2020, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Are you being sarcastic or do you think they should shut it down now?

Sarcasm.

FloridaMan88 · 08-05-2020, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Many of those 51 are starters. Many of the 2550 are no-names nobody has ever heard of.

Let's not pretend it's pure numbers. If a few bonafide stars opt out, that changes things significantly.

Teams lose starters all of the time due to injuries, some teams get hit hard with injuries like the Faketriots have with the opt-outs.

But feel free to opt-out as a fan.

htismaqe · 08-05-2020, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Teams lose starters all of the time due to injuries, some teams get hit hard with injuries like the Faketriots have with the opt-outs.

But feel free to opt-out as a fan.

There isn't a team in the league that loses half of their starters for an entire season, which is the scenario I'm talking about.

If the numbers hold as they are, that's fine but do you honestly think there won't be more (actually A LOT more) players opt out?

Do you really want to watch the Chiefs if Mahomes, Honey Badger, and Hill opt out? While that's not likely with the Chiefs, it's entirely likely that other teams could have that exact thing happen.

The reason the NFL is intriguing because of the parity. If COVID destroys that parity, there's really no more reason to watch it than watch Ohio State play Ohio.

staylor26 · 08-05-2020, 12:37 PM

The deadline is tomorrow at 4 pm. It’s highly unlikely that “a lot more“ do.

Also, all of those guys you mentioned are at camp already, so I don’t see why that’s even a concern.

Just about every teams stars will not opt out either. White would be by far the biggest name.

Marcellus · 08-05-2020, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Many of those 51 are starters. Many of the 2550 are no-names nobody has ever heard of.

Let's not pretend it's pure numbers. If a few bonafide stars opt out, that changes things significantly.

Meh, some teams have had injury plagued seasons that had a bigger impact.

Didn't like 5 starting premier QB's go down for very significant time in one season a few years back?

ModSocks · 08-05-2020, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

There are no preseason games in college football... NFL players will adapt accordingly.

Instead they book games against powerhouses like Mercer or WCU.

College doesn't have preseason games per se, instead they book games against irrelevant non-competitive teams as warm ups.

07-28-2020, 08:14 AM
Shaid Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $2925783	Dont'a Hightower and 4 other Patriots opt out of 2020 season https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/27/nfl-p...ytZNH04RUDIiaM Dont'a Hightower -- a 3-time Super Bowl champion and one of the leaders of the Patriots' defense -- has also chosen to sit out this season. Hightower, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi, just had a baby this month ... and his mom also has type 2 diabetes. "Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football," Hightower said in a statement to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "especially the new addition to our family." The opt-out is a big blow for the Pats, Hightower recorded 71 tackles and 5.5 sacks for New England last season ... but he's also now one of FIVE Patriots choosing to forego the season. Pats running back Brandon Bolden and offensive linemen Najee Toran and Marcus Cannon have also joined Hightower and fullback Danny Vitale in sitting out 2020. There could be more on the way as well ... players still have until the end of this week to make opt-out decisions.
Posts: 5,690

08-05-2020, 10:36 AM	#167
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2524064	I still think as a player I'd feel safer actually playing, with how much they're gonna get tested etc.
Posts: 81,418

08-05-2020, 10:41 AM	#169
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2524064	Is that really any different than a normal year with injuries though? Atleast at this point it doesn't seem to be so.
Posts: 81,418

08-05-2020, 10:45 AM	#172
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $2019611	Donta Hightower, CJ Mosley, Patrick Chung, Nate Solder, Devin Funchess, Eddie Goldman. Those are important players for their teams. It pretty much is like injuries every year, but the problem is that along with these opt outs, there’s no preseason games, OTA’s and a different training camp. That’s going to lead to more injuries IMO. Changes like that can have some consequences, especially if the training camp is watered down (fortunately Andy won’t let that happen with us). __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Noah Gray
Posts: 46,282

08-05-2020, 10:50 AM	#173
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2865047	This season is going to be ****ed if they run into a bunch of false positives.
Posts: 92,293

08-05-2020, 12:37 PM	#178
staylor26 In Search of a Life Join Date: Oct 2007 Casino cash: $1549040	The deadline is tomorrow at 4 pm. It’s highly unlikely that “a lot more“ do. Also, all of those guys you mentioned are at camp already, so I don’t see why that’s even a concern. Just about every teams stars will not opt out either. White would be by far the biggest name.
Posts: 49,069