The Official Patriots Opt Out Thread

I'm opting out too. The Pats can use my cap space for some rolls of ankle tape.

Chevrolet said:

Season is becoming a farce. No preseason games to evaluate rookies and UFA.

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Turns out we don't need them, we'll have the regular season to evaluate rookies and UDFA

KDPPatsfan85 said:

And now...
Brandon Bolden RB

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I think losing vet ST players will go under the radar because they are not given enough credit but it will be extremely hurtful this year. Without preseason games there isn't really a good way to evaluate some younger players and what they bring to the table.

A lot of players like Jonathan Jones initially only made the roster because of their contributions on ST.

The NFL really fell on its face here. They had the luxury of being able to sit back and gauge the situation and see what worked and didn't for the other leagues. Instead they sat on their hands and pretending like everything would work itself out and had no plan days before camp. In turn the players became uncomfortable with the NFL's bumbling attempt to navigate through a minefield with no plan or protection and now there is a major trust issue and players are opting out.

203Pat said:

The NFL really fell on its face here. They had the luxury of being able to sit back and gauge the situation and see what worked and didn't for the other leagues. Instead they sat on their hands and pretending like everything would work itself out and had no plan days before camp. In turn the players became uncomfortable with the NFL's bumbling attempt to navigate through a minefield with no plan or protection and now there is a major trust issue and players are opting out.

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Bingo. They approached this thing like they do every kind of negotiation and waited essentially until the deadline to lift a finger. Except this is not some labor dispute about money or power but a friggin pandemic.

The league screwed this up so badly that one can only hope that a lot of star players opt out as a response.

TommyBrady12 said:

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

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this opt out hurts... Roberts, Van Noy, Collins, and now Hightower, all gone... thats a big vacuum to fill...

on the bright side, we get 8 million to play with to find a replacement this season or next... most likely next... looks like some fngs are going to have to step it up this year

luuked said:

Bingo. They approached this thing like they do every kind of negotiation and waited essentially until the deadline to lift a finger. Except this is not some labor dispute about money or power but a friggin pandemic.

The league screwed this up so badly that one can only hope that a lot of star players opt out as a response.

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Every stupid thing Goodell has done has always been disregarded by the owners because essentially it his his job to fall on the sword and absorb the media/public scrutiny and take the focus off the individual team (owner) and be the lightning rod. In the end of the day he keeps his job because he makes the owners money and insulates them from criticism. Due to his hamfisted attempt to just blindly forge forward into the season he may end of costing the owners millions and millions of dollars if it does get cancelled. I know he just signed a new contract recently but I wonder if this would be enough for the 2/3 of the owners needed to call for a change.

TommyBrady12 said:

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...

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All valid points that could be thrown out the window if a franchise QB opted out and the league hoped to get him back. Just wishful thinking.

luuked said:

Bingo. They approached this thing like they do every kind of negotiation and waited essentially until the deadline to lift a finger. Except this is not some labor dispute about money or power but a friggin pandemic.

The league screwed this up so badly that one can only hope that a lot of star players opt out as a response.

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I hadn't thought about it, but that sounds very plausible. They have had a single mental model about how to engage with the players and couldn't get out of their own way to discover flexibility in that regard. I'm sure part of that is that the pandemic isn't changing their lifestyle much.

Have to respect the tough call. Hopefully the Bills and other teams lose important players to opt-outs to even it out. This thing is looking harder and harder to control. A few other sports are having success in bubbles, you would think that without fans the NFL would of went that route.

I think the Marlins contracting covid this past weekend is going to be a turning point for the sports leagues...

notex said:

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...

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Is there anyone to sign?

betterthanthealternative said:

I hadn't thought about it, but that sounds very plausible. They have had a single mental model about how to engage with the players and couldn't get out of their own way to discover flexibility in that regard. I'm sure part of that is that the pandemic isn't changing their lifestyle much.

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A map is not the territory. And the bozos at the league office didn't realize that their usual approach and parameters might not be as valid in this specific scenario.

It’s tough most of our players opting out
are 30 and older. They may not play for the team again.

Tottie said:

Have to respect the tough call. Hopefully the Bills and other teams lose important players to opt-outs to even it out. This thing is looking harder and harder to control. A few other sports are having success in bubbles, you would think that without fans the NFL would of went that route.

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As of a couple days ago Chiefs lost their starting RG. Ravens just announced one moments ago but I don’t think it’s anyone of significance.

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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Yes and no.

Cannon will likely be considered a medical reason. So this year's contract will be accrued. That means the Pats will get about $4.4 million back in cap money that they can push to next season. Hightower won't be considered that. So his contract year will not be accrued and will be pushed to next year and since his contract was due to expire after this year, his $8 million salary gets pushed to next year and he is under contract for 2021 when he was set to be a free agent.

Rob0729 said:

So his contract year will not be accrued and will be pushed to next year and since his contract was due to expire after this year, his $8 million salary gets pushed to next year and he is under contract for 2021 when he was set to be a free agent.

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So if I understand it correctly his signing bonus hit stays with this year, correct ?

Meaning he will go into next year with an 8M price tag without any guarantees whatsoever. Seems like a prime candidate for either an extension or cut in salary in exchange for some guarantees.

luuked said:

So if I understand it correctly his signing bonus hit stays with this year, correct ?

Meaning he will go into next year with an 8M price tag without any guarantees whatsoever. Seems like a prime candidate for either an extension or cut in salary in exchange for some guarantees.

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We need to get Clowney and OBJ would be huge if there is a season that is

203Pat said:

The NFL really fell on its face here. They had the luxury of being able to sit back and gauge the situation and see what worked and didn't for the other leagues. Instead they sat on their hands and pretending like everything would work itself out and had no plan days before camp. In turn the players became uncomfortable with the NFL's bumbling attempt to navigate through a minefield with no plan or protection and now there is a major trust issue and players are opting out.

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How do you set a plan in April/May when you have no idea what the national situation will be in August/September?

Even now, it would be nice if some soothsayer came down from on high and told us what things are going to look like in December/January, because then the NFL (and NCAA) can make a decision on how to proceed and whether or not to delay the season. But when you have absolutely no idea what the situation will be like in a couple months, it is kinda tough to make plans.

JarOfMayo51 said:

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

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His wife just had a kid. Perfectly reasonable.