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]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
If there was a bubble more guys would opt out, you think any dudes with young children or families would be cool leaving for 6 months?
There should be an opportunity to allow people to come into the bubble as long as they quarantine correctly. It would be sacrifice for sure though. There is no reason wife and children couldn't come into the bubble once quarantined although that would be a much bigger obstacle for children.
That is why the answer may be a shorter season. 8 games with playoffs more manageable. [Reply]
Sources: #Bears standout DT Eddie Goldman has informed the team he plans to opt out due to health concerns related to COVID-19. Goldman has been a standout in the middle of Chicago’s D since 2015.
That's a tough one, there are some good players opting out, we're literally 1 or 2 big time QB's opting out away from the conversation of "should there be a season?" [Reply]
Sources: #Bears standout DT Eddie Goldman has informed the team he plans to opt out due to health concerns related to COVID-19. Goldman has been a standout in the middle of Chicago’s D since 2015.
That's a tough one, there are some good players opting out, we're literally 1 or 2 big time QB's opting out away from the conversation of "should there be a season?"
Mark Anderson has diabetes. Cameron Heyward has asthma. Von Miller has asthma and already got it..what if he gets a different strain and goes through this again?
Just ****ing cancel the season. It’s going to watered down shit by the time all these guys opt out. That’s not even counting a single player getting the virus heya be missing time [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Wake me up when a top 100 player opts out.
The biggest thing here is a lot of them are lineman because overweight guys have a higher chance of having complications, seems they know that. [Reply]
