The Official Patriots Opt Out Thread

So far...

Donte Hightower ILB
Marcus Cannon RT
Danny Vitale FB
Najee Toran G

And now...
Brandon Bolden RB

lol Danny Vitale signs a contract and then Ops out... aint that a B

Just posted on the Hightower thread... these are pretty significant players to lose. (presumably) Starting FB, Our 2nd best defensive player and play caller/captain, Starting RT and a Core ST player.

On the plus side the Pats now have a TON of capspace... Vitale and Bolden werent huge #s but I think hightower was at $8m per ? and Cannon wasn't cheap either? Plus the money we picked up from AB/Hernandez we could actually sign a player or two...

Just waiting for Andrews to opt out

I hope every team deals with really good players opting out, because it's gonna suck if we're the only ones with top players sitting out...

With Hightower sitting out, you can kiss his patriots career goodbye...the dude will be a FA in 2021

Steve85 said:

Just waiting for Andrews to opt out

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With a clotting disorder, I wouldn't blame him at all. My enthusiasm for this season, on non-season, is falling fast.

This will start happening around the league.

Cancellation is almost a certainty I think. Unless the NFL goes the bubble route and it’s a bit late for that.

Is there an opt back in? Let's say half the season passes and something drastically improves things.

signbabybrady said:

Is there an opt back in? Let's say half the season passes and something drastically improves things.

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No, once you're out, you're out

Does this mean that the favorable cap situation won’t be quite as favorable next year since these opted out contracts are basically being pushed ahead a season?

I just cant see a way the NFL can piece together a season. I was optimistic but as days goes on and other leagues shoot themselves in the foot (mlb) its starting to feel more unlikely. As a youth coach we already called off the season despite other local sports still taking place(lax, soccer, baseball).

sb1 said:

Does this mean that the favorable cap situation won’t be quite as favorable next year since these opted out contracts are basically being pushed ahead a season?

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In a sense, yes - but if one of these players would've counted against the cap at a higher value next year, they now count at this year's value next year instead, so it could be a benefit too. Depends on the player.

On the upside, we have plenty of cap space now

TommyBrady12 said:

No, once your out, your out

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Hopefully that changes if the list grows and big names.

signbabybrady said:

Hopefully that changes if the list grows and big names.

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I cant see thst happening because of salary cap constraints and teams committing their resources elsewhere once a player opts out. Hightower and Cannon give us tremendous financial flexibility now...

They won’t be the last. In fact it will encourage other players to opt out if they are on the fence. The failure of the MLB doesn’t help because the NFL is arguably even less prepared.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

With a clotting disorder, I wouldn't blame him at all. My enthusiasm for this season, on non-season, is falling fast.

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This is incorrect speculation. Given that he has been medically cleared, he is off of blood thinners. If he is off of blood thinners, he does not have a clotting disorder. I tried to clear up this misunderstanding with the long post in another thread. Patients who are found to have blood clots due to a genetic predisposition to clotting need to be on lifelong anticoagulation (blood thinners). Any poster on this site can develop blood clots under the right circumstances, such as a long plane flight.

Respect to all these guys for making what is undoubtedly a very difficult decision, good for them that they've done well enough in their careers to take the financial hit. If there is a season at all now, the plus of this is that it will give some other guys a chance to fulfill their dreams of playing in the league. We are all in this together so wish them all the best.

Steve85 said:

Just waiting for Andrews to opt out

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Season is becoming a farce. No preseason games to evaluate rookies and UFA.
Young teams put at a huge competitive disadvantage. Starters opting out. Whoever wins the SB, prepare for a huge asterix if there even is a Super Bowl.

Also if Salary Cap is truly going down in 2021, teams may have to get rid of some high priced veterans in next few months.