Opt-Out Watch Is On For Donovan Smith
July 24th, 2020
[UPDATE: 10:12 p.m.]
In 10 days (or sooner) Donovan Smith must come up with an answer.
Joe’s having flashback to 2010 and LeBron James’ “The Decision.”
No, Joe doesn’t expect the Bucs’ left tackle to ask for a trade to Miami, but Smith has said he doesn’t want to be “a lab rat.”
The reference was to playing during the COVID-19 pandemic while he has a baby on the way. And it seems Smith is smart enough to realize an offensive lineman’s odds of avoiding The Sickness completely is similar to those of Joe ordering sushi and passing on spicy tuna. Very possible, but certainly not likely.
Per ProFootballTalk.com, the NFL and the players union have ironed out a deal for the 2020 season. And, as expected, players can opt out. Mike Florio is reporting that judgment day is Aug. 3.
The opt out is irrevocable, and players in either plan will receive a stipend. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that those NFL players considered high risk to COVID-19 can earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if choose to opt out of the 2020 season. Players without risk can earn $150,000 for opt-out.
Joe has been told that Smith is very seriously contemplating sitting out for family reasons and he has the support of teammates and officials.
Of course, if Smith bails, then the Bucs will have a pile of salary cap room to play with at the 11th hour of the 2020 season.
Joe won’t sleep well tonight.
[UPDATE: 10:12 p.m.]
The ink wasn’t even dry on the contracts between the NFL and the NFLPA when a player already bailed on the 2020 season.
Chiefs starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif threw in the towel on the season. He became the first NFL player to jump ship and take advantage of the opt-out.
And unlike Smith who has played for a losing franchise for four of his five seasons in the NFL, Tardif, a five-year starter, plays for the defending Super Bowl champs.
.
July 24th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
If they don’t play they should get NOTHING
July 24th, 2020 at 5:40 pm
sooooooo,
Is there any particular reason why he would wait this long to let his team know?
I am just wondering why he would wait so long to let his team know.
July 24th, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Even if he does stay what kind of half A$$ed effort are you going to get? He doesn’t want to be here and he’s never really loved the game of football. He’s one of those employees you work with that calls in sick because they’d rather not get out of bed that day. Seriously how hard do you think he is going to work?
July 24th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
If he’s still thinking about it, stay home. You’re not all in. Find his permanent replacement.
July 24th, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Looked up his cap hit online. He will cost (or save) $14.5 million in 2020. Two interesting footnotes to his contract numbers. Says there is $5 million of 2019 cash deferred to 2020 and $3 million of 2020 cash deferred to 2021. So, does that mean if he sits out 2020 he gets $5 million plus the stipend and, there would be nothing from 2020 to defer?
If correct, may make his opt-out decision easier.
July 24th, 2020 at 5:56 pm
I wonder if we should get Wirfs to play left tackle or not. He took snaps at left tackle but he is still raw and athletic enough to do anything on that line.
July 24th, 2020 at 5:59 pm
Sick of the lies Says:
July 24th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
If they don’t play they should get NOTHING
………………………
NO POSSIBLE way that I could concur more. I understand that he should still be guaranteed for 2021 under the CBA but if you don’t want to work due to health concerns then YOU DON”T GET PAID!.
Simple as That! If you are in the top half of one percent of the world and still think you should kneel during the anthem for a Country that afforded you the opportunity to make $16Mil a year to play a GAME Then SIT OUT!!
Just don’t expect any $.
I still have to work HARD for my paltry $100 g a yr.
July 24th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
It’s a bluff, no chance he sits. Frankly I could care less if he plays. No lost sleep here. His lack of consistent effort is painful to watch. Players who loaf are chemistry killers. See VHIII. Addition by subtraction.
July 24th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
Where is Big Racist when you need him?
July 24th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
@SB
Players should be allowed to kneel for the anthem. It’s America, land of the free after all.
Also, Smith has a kid on the way so he is concerned for his kids life.
July 24th, 2020 at 6:18 pm
Im really not sweating it. The oline only looked bad at times because the only oassing routes the bucs ran were 7 step drops throwing it twenty yards down field.
Brady will override weak link leftwiches playcalling and take some of the load off of the olines shoulders.Not worried
July 24th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
A lot of fans here took a lot of heat for suggesting it wasn’t in the TEAMS best interest to resign Smith for that kind of money. Sometimes it’s better to take a chance on a long shot than dumping tons of money on a favorite who shouldn’t even be the favorite.
July 24th, 2020 at 6:32 pm
“Players without risk can earn $150,000 for opt-out.” This has got to be the vast majority of the players.
So figuring out who to cut, who to keep is not as tough for the teams as I originally thought. That is, with no pre-season, and no chance for many players to prove themselves and earn a spot, this should do well to take care of bubble players, or those who KNOW they have a very small chance to make a team or practice squad. 2020 minimum salary is $610K for the whole season. It was $490K last year (20% raise?), and a lot of those guys live fairly modestly because they know “NFL” means “not for long.” So I expect many, many, many will opt for $150K of free money to lay low. Yeah, it’s not an accrued year for benefits if opting out, but many of these guys may never get far enough to worry about that.
Next, practice squad pay is $8K per week. Assuming you are a guy not sure of whether you’ll make practice squad, much less the team, you may do much better to take the $150K and run like he11 and get ready for 2021. That is, 18 weeks on the practice squad will get you $144K. Of course, with COVID19, you probably have a better chance of getting put on the active roster.
Few to none of these guys will be truly hurting financially over this, unlike so many in our country. I am playing a very small violin for the players on this one.
As for Donovan Smith, he will come around.
July 24th, 2020 at 6:37 pm
take the money you were going to give chuckle head, get a couple more in camp for depth, give wirfs a shot at left tackle or put haeg at left and give him a couple back ups, you could even bring in donald pen if he’s got anything left in the tank, sure he would love to retire a buc blocking for the goat, then cut smith next season or trade him away, problem solved, and we draft a left tackle or lure one in FA
July 24th, 2020 at 6:40 pm
@SB…I thoroughly appreciate and share views basically regarding no play, no pay given the privilege these guys have to play a kids game for filthy money. Only in our great land, and I love it.
I only disagree in that a huge percentage of players make leagee minimum (yeah, still a LOT of money) or close, but it’s also not their fault they are out of work. Once they’re done with football the vast majority of them will fade into the background and be beaten up men in the early to mid 30s with few to no other skills. So, hopefully they are investing wisely. Look at the bright side: they aren’t eligible for Unemployment or low income benefits…so their employer is definitely taking care of them!
July 24th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
$350,000 vs $14.5 million – that’s some expensive fear
July 24th, 2020 at 6:57 pm
I wonder how they define a “high risk” player and a “low risk” player?
And yes…now that the big government handouts to business and 30g annualized unemployment sweetness for out of work folks is ending, we can get down to business. Frankly, if the government can give out all that sugar, I don’t see why the NLF can’t do a little something for their employees…of course the career life of an NFL player is so short.
July 24th, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Hopefully he does and we can get more salary cap this season and maybe sign a vet. Jason Peters?
July 24th, 2020 at 7:07 pm
Seems Smith is not the warrior we thought he was.
One wonders of Brady wants him in his fox hole now.
If you aren’t all-in, you’re all-out.
July 24th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
@ Roy T. ………
“I ain’t mad at that”!
July 24th, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Cobraboy,
I’m looking for the Donovan Smith fan club that was so admit we had to resign him or else we’re doomed at left tackle. Look at the situation we are in now! He didn’t want to play then and he doesn’t want to play now. You have to be able to separate the lottery winners from the players who have passion and respect for the game.
July 24th, 2020 at 7:33 pm
Yeah, but he’s so darn durable……..
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
July 24th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
1st off, the guy just became a father and as far as that goes, I wish him the best.
As far as his value to the LT position…..very meh. Although that guy last season named Webster made Smith look like a hall of famer.
I think he will play since money is a big deal to him obviously.
July 24th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Does it say if it’s all or nothing for the opt out? My guess is Smith would lean towards opting out the early part of the season to see the birth of his kid while reducing his risk. I’m surprised how quickly players have to commit, but understand front offices need time to act.
July 24th, 2020 at 8:03 pm
I’d bail too. I mean there’s a 4% chance he could get sick, and if he does, there’s only a 99.998% chance of him recovering. What terrible odds! He’s pretty much doomed.
Yeah, I’d pass on the 16 million too. Or not. I go to work every day in a healthcare setting so I can earn my 40k each year. It’s too bad we have become a nation of fearful wimps.
And yeah, I know he has a newborn. So what?! Take the appropriate precautions just like I do when I see my 87 year old dad (who has COPD) each week.
July 24th, 2020 at 8:08 pm
What a big wuss
July 24th, 2020 at 8:10 pm
You better shut your mouth Chip, before I go all spider-monkey on your ass
July 24th, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Opinions are great
1.you are not him and Don’t know what his odds are of anything .
2. Great. This means for all people offered work that refuse it because of what they feel would be a bad risk? That’s right they get nothing. No government money at all. After all that’s the way the ball should bounce right?
July 24th, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Mark2001 asked – I wonder how they define a “high risk” player and a “low risk” player?
I wondered the same, then tried to find it online. What I did find is…All of the CDC’s defined “increased risk” categories — e.g. moderate-to-severe asthma, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, etc. — are covered as “high risk” under the deal, with the exception of high-BMI. High body mass index (BMI) would have covered many oline and dline players. The NFLPA had initially asked for all African-American players as high risk but that was apparently not in the final deal.
July 24th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
If he wants to opt out he should do so, but he should not be surprised if he doesn’t have a job to return to if and when this mess ever ends.
July 24th, 2020 at 8:58 pm
I respect his choice but if he opts out we need to cut him so we can pay someone else.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:02 pm
Wait these guys are getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to sit out? Wtf is that!? How is that fair?
July 24th, 2020 at 9:05 pm
Honestly?
Howard thinks this is more about the fact that the Bucs drafted Wirfs than it is about covid2020
July 24th, 2020 at 9:07 pm
“They feel”…….a bad risk….
Howard feels his job is a risk too, so tomorrow he’s going to call his boss and demand to be paid for the next year while he sits at home!
That’s Howards right!!!
Right?
LOL….buffoons
July 24th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
The same as it’s fair for me to pay taxes for people to sit on their ass at home and not look for work because they make more not looking for it along with the handouts.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:14 pm
2009 Swine Flu infected 14 billion people.
No masks.
No social distancing.
No freakout.
Hell, Howard doesn’t even remember it because nothing in Howard’s life changed because of it.
Don’t get Howard wrong: Howard still wears a mask in stores and he understands the hyper-contagious nature of this virus…but the freakout?
Things that make you go hmmmmm????
July 24th, 2020 at 9:16 pm
“He doesn’t want to be here and he’s never really loved the game of football.”
———-
Wow, I didn’t realize you knew him and know exactly how he feels about football. When exactly did he tell you these things?
July 24th, 2020 at 9:16 pm
Must have a hard time with reading comprehension Howard or are you just slow?
July 24th, 2020 at 9:19 pm
I’m slow. Please explain your brilliant points in detail
July 24th, 2020 at 9:24 pm
If people feel these players should not be paid because they are offered work Then the regular person collects nothing either for refusing to work if it is offered. Nothing from the government. AT all.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:27 pm
Smith baby was born today.. i can’t knock him for considering not playing because of a new born baby.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
Lol why am I not surprised this fat lazy slob is looking for reasons not to play lmao.
What a loser. Pathetic fat POS. If I were Arians I’d make the decision easy for him and cut his fat as$.
Hey Fatty welcome to the rest of us that work everyday with kids and families.
Oh and we don’t get a choice on if we want to work or not.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Nothing from the government?…..for refusing to work??…
I think unemployment now is about $200 a week for 2 months,
…..and the $1200 check is a drop in the bucket……
So really people who collect unemployment aren’t getting much of anything at all anymore…..the government has cut their losses
July 24th, 2020 at 9:31 pm
Howard is starting to like Wirfs more and more!
Not as much as hard worker he-man Chris Godwin, but close
July 24th, 2020 at 9:32 pm
@DBS
Ok they can claim unemployment and try living off that lol.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:34 pm
I think it’s crap that these players get paid to sit out. If any of us decided to sit out of our jobs because the risk was to high we would be without a job. These damn players are divas and over paid to begin with.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:34 pm
the snowflakes of the world should take a long, hard look at how Chris Godwin approaches life.
(Howard has Godwin on his phone wallpaper. The epic shot where he’s skying for the ball over a Saints defender )
July 24th, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Not everyone has Godwin’s God-given talent,
but everyone can have Godwins mindset…
July 24th, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Tompa…LOL I have done IT!! But got off my ass and did something about it.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Begging people to come work.. people are making more now sitting on their asses… that is what is wrong wing this F in country… jobs our there BUT if you can make us much SITTING on your ASS WHY work??? Thank you Democrats!!
July 24th, 2020 at 9:45 pm
How, specifically, are these people making money sitting on their butts?
We’ve established that it’s not by unemployment.
Has Howard missed something?
Howard agrees that people should not sit on their butts, but the idea that they make money doing it is a fallacy
July 24th, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Now hiring signs everywhere in Tallahassee. Exactly!!
July 24th, 2020 at 9:46 pm
….well…unless you’re in the NFL
July 24th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
They were getting 600 per week + state unemployment +EBT.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:49 pm
That is WHY they are trying to cut it back to 400.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:51 pm
Howard collected unemployment years ago.
It was a little more that $200/week for 3 months I think.
Howard is calling BS
July 24th, 2020 at 9:52 pm
From State of FLorida website:
The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300.
July 24th, 2020 at 9:55 pm
Howard can call BS all he wants to. Unless you know me my job history.
July 24th, 2020 at 10:27 pm
Wow. Some of you are real assssholes
July 24th, 2020 at 10:44 pm
Howard, I know three people (and thats just my very small circle) on unemployment getting 700 a week (more than they made working a full week) and are not going back to work until they have to.
Leeches on society
July 24th, 2020 at 10:46 pm
Its impossible to hire right now nobdoy wants to work when they dont have to.
GOTTA LOVE OUR GOVERNMENT
July 24th, 2020 at 11:21 pm
Dom>Licht says “Thanks to the Democrats”
So it’s all the faults of Democrats?
What a hoot! Trump and his Republican croanies have damaged this country far more than any Democrat ever has.
But I digress….my King said that “a kingdom divided, cannot stand.” This country is so divided……hmmm.
July 24th, 2020 at 11:23 pm
All these people crying about the extra unemployment as if the people who need it / are getting it are barely even middle class, let alone rich.
Meanwhile y’all are silent as the Rs continue to pass massive bailouts with zero oversight to the tune of trillions funneled directly into the hands of the already super wealthy.
You’re fooled into hating your fellow common man while the top 1% continue to funnel more and more money into their pockets while you squabble over the crumbs they leave behind.
July 24th, 2020 at 11:25 pm
David is exactly correct!
July 25th, 2020 at 12:00 am
Where are all the doomsayers saying there will unequivocally be no NFL this year?
Your negativity did not make it so.
In BA I Trust!
July 25th, 2020 at 12:04 am
Sad, but I think Bucs fans hate each other more than any other fan base. SMH
July 25th, 2020 at 4:46 am
Look, it’s a personal decision. I can’t fault him if he ops out. We shouldn’t be surprised though. The knock on him has always been taking plays off, so why not a season? He’s got enough money to do that, and will have an NFL job down the road even if it’s not with the Bucs. This season gives him the perfect excuse to take a season off.
July 25th, 2020 at 6:45 am
You already opted out you bigwuss. And where can i opt in for 350,000?
July 25th, 2020 at 7:36 am
This is a child’s game. If anyone has a mad at Smith for not playing a child’s game you are an idiot! There are a lot more legit things to be mad about.
July 25th, 2020 at 7:43 am
Sport…I didn’t say there wouldn’t be a season, of some sort, though some did. But we haven’t even gotten training camp in full swing…and cases are going through the roof in our society with no slowdown in sight…so I wouldn’t be so sure. Only someone with their head in the sand would fail to see the potential disaster still building out in our society. During the last few months, we have already lost a third of the lives lost in WWII, related to this disease,
July 25th, 2020 at 7:52 am
unbelievable- It borders on willful ignorance it’s so flagrant.
July 25th, 2020 at 8:16 am
DB… hardly worth talking with people that don’t even watch news that informs them of how the government is spending the money they will need if they ever plan to supplement a sinking Social Security system. To not even know the Feds. supplemented unemployment by $600 a week for unemployment? Wow. Sounds like some news media is trying to treat people like mushrooms.
July 25th, 2020 at 8:44 am
Smith is in a unique situation. He may want to play the season, but he also is high risk until the baby is born.
I say the Bucs should excuse him until a week after the birth. Keeps his family safe and gives him time with the baby.
July 25th, 2020 at 8:47 am
CPN Says:
“Players should be allowed to kneel for the anthem. It’s America, land of the free after all.”
In his own time? Sure. But not when he is working…you know, like the rest of us would not be allowed to.
July 25th, 2020 at 8:55 am
In regard to running Smith off, this is NOT the year to risk it. Sometimes when you jump the fence, the grass is not greener on the other side, and we need every advantage we can garner this year.
Taking extra risks makes zero sense.
I think some people are being short-sighted. If Smith plays this year, his guarantees are done and we can move on next year. If he does not play, his contract is deferred an extra year, and we won’t be rid of him until 2022.
Also, with Brady here and us actually being in the running for a title, now is not the time to break in someone extra. People talking about trying our rookie in his spot are forgetting that will cause a spot at RT to open, because we have NO ONE capable of starting there if we move the rookie.
The best thing, at least for this season, is to have Smith play.
July 25th, 2020 at 8:58 am
Dom > Licht Says
“Thank you Democrats!!”
You are aware the President has veto powers, right? Nothing happens without his approval, so I think you need to redistribute some of your blame.
July 25th, 2020 at 9:02 am
No comparison between Smith and Duvernay-Tardif. DT is a medical school graduate working in hospitals during the off-season. He is answering his higher call to help people directly effected by COVID.
July 25th, 2020 at 9:03 am
Howard Cosell Says
“How, specifically, are these people making money sitting on their butts?”
I’m not getting it, but I do know that the rules established for unemployment in the past are not being applied to the current situation.
The President lifted the limits and requirements because of the shutdowns.
He’s sinking the country deeper and deeper in the hole when you think about it…and by his own words, he’s getting as many loans as possible because the interest rates are so low.
July 25th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“In his own time? Sure. But not when he is working…you know, like the rest of us would not be allowed to.”
.
.
Marxist changing all the rules of civil society. It is just nasty to intentionally shove a big F-U in everyone’s face when you know you are offending people. The same people who claim to be so sensitive and all in their feelz, only care about feelz when it’s their own. What they accuse everyone else of, they actually do themselves. Bully, intimidate, and cancel. It’s sick.
July 25th, 2020 at 9:54 am
How in the hell can they give them a dime for not working? That is absolutely ridiculous… These primadonna’s are really ungrateful for the money they make for the most part!!!!!
July 25th, 2020 at 10:51 am
Bonzai, you do know that the legislation passed providing financial aid to everyone under the Sun, whether you and I or the next guy agree with it or not, is not the President per se, but is the U.S. Government, including both houses of Congress and the President….right? You do realize how this works, right? Poltics gets dirty.
I agree with your take on kneeling. Like the rest of us, do it on your own time. That said, they know no one will care what they do on their own time. They need a brand that doesn’t belong to them…to help with their personal agendas.
July 25th, 2020 at 10:51 am
Even if he decides to play now, I would never trust him to give 100 percent effort.
July 25th, 2020 at 11:03 am
Mark – I get it, it’s scary. We all process things differently. I have a healthy skepticism for politicians, the media, bloggers, scientists and even numbers. It’s called critical thinking.
I don’t keep score on who posts what on here like others do. However, If you make predictions and spew negativity, you deserve the results of what you sow.
“Beware of Zealots”
The information society we live in has given rise to a whole new breed of zealots. They are now contaminating the mainstream. The weak are consuming and conforming.
I believe in character and personal accountability. In God We Trust! Live Free or Die!
Rant Over – back to the 2020 Bucs Season!!!
In BA I Trust!
July 25th, 2020 at 11:08 am
@ howard
The reson there was no freakout is because according to the cdc from april of 2009- april of 2010, 270,000 was hospitalized due to being sick and only about 12,500 died. Contrast that to roughly 5 months, ( march -july) we already have 146000 deaths. If you dont understand the difference between a epidemic and a pandemic, then maybe you should not be commenting on said subject.
July 25th, 2020 at 11:18 am
And i know swine flu was considered a pandemic by some but it was not on the same stratosphere. But also, the key is how both were handled. April 15th 2009. By april 26th, the US declared it a public health emergency. They did not call it a hoax when it became public knowledge and they didnt sit on this knowledge for 2 months before it became public knowledge. The US also listened to fauci and the WHO and CDC to come up with the best way to minimize the dealth total and thats also why you had no mask and no shutdown.
July 25th, 2020 at 11:31 am
Sport, I’m one who claimed there would not be a way to have a normal NFL season.
1. No normal seating at stadiums if any allowed……Done
2. Training camp……..yet to happen
July 25th, 2020 at 11:35 am
3. Pre-season games……Any at all?
4. Actual games played……none yet
5. Normal season concludes without significant problems…..we’ll see
Let’s wait until these things happening before crowing about how wrong I and others are. OK?
July 25th, 2020 at 11:39 am
So much trash in this world. And it’s not DSmith. It’s most of the cry baby football fans commenting on this thread.
July 25th, 2020 at 11:49 am
I choose to work and this pays for those that choose not too and those that use every angle imaginable to further increase entitlements .
None of this is about Walls ,Human Rights,Race or anything other than creating more entitlements for subsections of America that are already disproportionately receiving 3,4 ,500% disproportionate amounts of support . On top of numbers that have doubled or tripled since the 90 s .
Clearly displaying that giving and giving and bending and bending and giving more and requiring less is terrible for our country !! Look around !! BTW I am all for making sure the NFL has 20 percent ish Hispanic players and front office personnel in 2021 and That MLB is 13 percent ish African American on the field and in the front office …….. Let’s start there !!
July 25th, 2020 at 11:58 am
Sport Says:
“I believe in character and personal accountability. In God We Trust! Live Free or Die!”
.
.
Amen, Brother.
July 25th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
@Issac haggins
It’s all a part of the plan, Brother. Intentionally bankrupting the nation. Leftists have been openly talking about socialism for decades. The hidden hand has destroyed country after country this same way. Now it’s our turn if we don’t resist.
Paying people more to stay home than work? Even companies who weren’t shut down for being inessential are going bankrupt because employees won’t come back to work once they get the unemployment started.
Once the dollar crashes, the banksters will buy everything up for pennies on the dollar. Feudalism will reign once this fascist system is through destroying our freedoms.
July 25th, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Sport…no HC zealot… A MBA in finance…and numbers are significant to me. Always have been. Look at the number of cases and deaths growing daily in Florida. It is disconcerting…and as some doctors are now calling for a lock down again, I’m concerned about the unfolding of this season.
I’m not afraid…I no longer have to be concerned about living elbow to elbow. But for the ordinary guy who lives 10 to 20 ft. from his neighbor and has to go to work and accept risk on a daily basis to put food on the table? Yes…I did that for a while.. and for them, I am very concerned. Anyone with their eyes open, that can think critically, should be,.
July 25th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Paying players not to play?? Jesus Christ. Why would anyone play? Healthcare workers (and many other workers) are putting themselves at risk every day with no other choice, because we have bills to pay and mouths to feed. We look to football for escapism, fun, some sunshine in cloudy days… but they can sit on their asses in their mansions and make as much as 10x what most Americans are making in a year. Players opting out should have their salaries donated into their communities. That’s the only fairness I see in this ridiculous situation.
July 25th, 2020 at 7:10 pm
If he chooses such, it will be the end of him as a Buc. Most don’t love him or think that highly of him anyways. The consensus is serviceable and average, but not great. He chooses this route as a non-beloved player and puts him before the team, most are going to turn on him.
I won’t give my opinion, but this is exactly what will happen. I will say if ALL your other teammates are doing the opposite (w/ approved guidelines and safety protocols in place) and he chooses to be the odd man out, everyone will turn and look down on him. Whether the players or fans voice that publicly or not is another topic, but the result will be the same due to the majority of people and their thoughts.
He will be disliked severely and most won’t even care. Dumb move on his part.
July 25th, 2020 at 7:19 pm
He’s got an infant coming next week. And you don’t know the health of his family- there is privacy there. If a man weighs family over money or a game, be disappointed for your team but dial back the trash. Family is most important over all
July 25th, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Spot on @Pok. Really disappointed but not surprised with the comments. People really don’t the medical history of these athletes. Imagine if he or someone in his family has Sickle Cell Anemia. Catching the virus would be an instant death sentence.
July 26th, 2020 at 10:05 am
Bush…LOL…it isn’t leftists bankrupting America with over three trillion in assistance and tax cuts. And more to come. And of recent, much of that is a result of a level of denial of this disease in America that still leaves us woefully unable to deal with it, and makes us number one on the Covid hit list. Just look at the numbers…shameful. Too many confuse freedoim with good sense.
July 26th, 2020 at 10:10 am
So ask yourself..why are we handling this so poorly in America? Higher percentage of testing? False. Weaker constitution or some degree of inferiority in Americans? No. A poor Medical system and doctors? wrong.. Try again. People in denial that don’t have good sense and spread the disease because of a belief in false facts and fairy tales? Bingo.
July 26th, 2020 at 10:39 am
@pok ……… yeah ,,,, spot on !!! We All but YOU see clearly these decisions are about the money and unborn children and family and this and that are being used as a …….. im a VICTIM front …….. If that wasn’t the case he would hv just quietly said I’m not playing …….. perhaps the nfl and nflpa would like China to pay every american 350k to not watch nor buy anything nfl for this year or perhaps the doctors union could pay all hospital workers 350 k to stay home ………. See pok it isn’t about compassion and family it’s all about the money and we all but you know it !!!! That’s Why !!!!! No wonder people try and brain wash our god given senses by saying Don’t Judge !!!! Nope!!! Wrong !!! We were given senses and a brain to judge !!! It’s all about the money !!!!
July 26th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
@webster
You’re absolutely lying
Wikipedia refers to Swine flu as a “Pandemic”. I’ll take their word over yours (some NFL chat sock puppet). Swine flu was spreads over multiple countries therefore it is the dictionary definition of a pandemic.
And the CDC is quoted as estimating 150,000 to 550,000 deaths total
So again….why no global freakout in 2009??
July 26th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
I say cancel the season and don’t give these people a dime.
July 26th, 2020 at 11:54 pm
Mark – Good for you man. Degree in Finance myself. Then you know how easy it is to manipulate numbers. Check out Proofiness by Charles Seife if you have the time.
Masks and shutdowns can only hope to slow it down. Come on Science and vaccines!!!
Oregon – congrats on being right. I’ll celebrate with you. I fhink there were a few real trolls who were saying we wouldnt have any season whatsoever.
My worst case scenario Has always been no fans and playing in a bubble.
2 tried and true reasons- TV revenue and keeping the insane asylum in check. Which already looks a bit rambunctious. Hah.
In BA I Trust!