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. [Reply]
Opt out means their salary moves to the next year, basically everything moves a year, years left on contract, etc. You still have the option to carry over 10% of the cap each year so any savings from this year, you can pay out in the future. You tank one year like this and keep your great players in place then start the next year with a high first round QB and high picks in subsequent rounds. If there is anyone that would do this, it's Bill. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Shaid:
Opt out means their salary moves to the next year, basically everything moves a year, years left on contract, etc. You still have the option to carry over 10% of the cap each year so any savings from this year, you can pay out in the future. You tank one year like this and keep your great players in place then start the next year with a high first round QB and high picks in subsequent rounds. If there is anyone that would do this, it's Bill.
Not to mention that Bill gets to develop players in their vacant position. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Shaid:
Opt out means their salary moves to the next year, basically everything moves a year, years left on contract, etc. You still have the option to carry over 10% of the cap each year so any savings from this year, you can pay out in the future. You tank one year like this and keep your great players in place then start the next year with a high first round QB and high picks in subsequent rounds. If there is anyone that would do this, it's Bill.
If the pussy Pats are trying to play some 3D chess by exploiting the Covid rules- let them. One less team we will have to worry about in the playoffs. [Reply]
Bill is goin after Lawrence and that's a fact. I give zero ****s about any other opinion. This is his one and only shot at convincing the world that it was he, and not Brady, who lead the Pats to 6 trophies. There is no coincidence, this is manufactured by the evil cheating genius that is Bill. He and his young Darth Sith Trevor will ultimately be destroyed though, by the Skywalker Jedi Mahomes. This prophecy was foretold in the old Star Wars trilogy and we're seeing it become reality. [Reply]
Bills CB Tre'Davious White said he's still undecided on whether he will opt out. He wanted to come in and see how everything was operating and take his time with a decision.
That number is growing but they won't shut it down, there is way to much money there. The only way it would even be a consideration at this point would be if a bunch of big namers did it so it was basically XFL version 2 but to this point that isn't happening. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Are you being sarcastic or do you think they should shut it down now?
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. [Reply]