HEADLINES

COVID-19 News & Rumors

Patriots FB Danny Vitale To Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fourth player has decided to opt out this afternoon. Patriots fullback Danny Vitale informed the team of his intentions to bypass the 2020 season, Jarrett Bell of USA Today reports.

Thus far, Vitale is the fifth overall player to opt out. He follows Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ravens wideout De’Anthony Thomas, Seahawks guard Chance Warmack and Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady.

Vitale has played four NFL seasons — two with the Browns, two with the Packers — and signed with the Pats this offseason. The Patriots lost longtime fullback James Develin to retirement earlier this offseason.

Vitale played 170 snaps last season with Green Bay, catching 12 passes for 97 yards. His one-year Patriots contract will toll to 2021. Since he is not believed to be at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, Vitale is set to receive a $150K stipend — rather than his $1MM base salary — and see his contract toll to 2021.

Cowboys CB Maurice Canady Will Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fourth player has decided not to play in 2020. Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady will opt out, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

The Cowboys signed Canady earlier this year. He will fall into the voluntary opt-out category, not residing as a high-risk player. Canady, who played with the Jets and Ravens last season, will receive a $150K stipend and have his contract toll to 2021.

Dallas signed Canady to a one-year deal on free agency’s first day, doing so shortly after seeing Byron Jones defect to Miami. The Cowboys added Daryl Worley later in free agency and drafted multiple corners — second-rounder Trevon Diggs and fourth-rounder Reggie Robinson.

The Ravens drafted Canady in the 2016 sixth round. He worked primarily as a backup during his Baltimore stay, starting two games in four seasons. With the Jets last year, he started twice after arriving midseason. Canady, however, fared well in New York. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 25-ranked corner last year.

Vikings Place WR Justin Jefferson, Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List

July 27th, 2020 at 4:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Vikings first-round pick Justin Jefferson has landed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Rookies Brian Cole, Blake Brandel and Tyler Higby are also now on this newly created list.

Minnesota’s rookie contingent reported to camp recently. Players must test negative for the coronavirus three times before entering teams’ facilities. During an offseason that has already featured major developmental hurdles placed in rookies’ paths, Jefferson and Co. will now see their timetables pushed back.

The reserve/COVID-19 designation is for players who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are in quarantine for potential exposure. In turn, these players are removed from the roster and allowed to return after three weeks.

It is not certain if Jefferson and the three other rookies have contracted the virus. Players must be placed on the COVID-19/reserve list if they test positive or have come in contact with an infected person. The Vikings announced earlier Monday their infection control officer, Eric Sugarman, tested positive for the coronavirus. Members of Sugarman’s family did as well.

The Vikings used one of their two first-round picks on Jefferson, who will be expected to fill the role Stefon Diggs occupied for years opposite Adam Thielen. Jefferson is coming off a dominant senior season at LSU, when he caught 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Minnesota used a sixth-round pick on Brandel, a tackle out of Oregon State, and a seventh-round choice on Cole — a safety out of Mississippi State. Higby, a guard from Michigan State, arrived as part of the Vikes’ most recent UDFA class.

Seahawks OL Chance Warmack To Opt Out

July 27th, 2020 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

A third player will opt out of the 2020 season. Seahawks offensive lineman Chance Warmack, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), will join Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and De’Anthony Thomas in doing so.

Although not a high-risk player, Warmack has seen people close to him contract the coronavirus, according to the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (on Twitter). He stands to receive a $150K stipend. His contract will toll to 2021.

This represents more change for the Seahawks’ offensive line, but Warmack was set to compete for a spot on Seattle’s roster after signing with the team this offseason. The Seahawks signed the former top-10 pick in March. He did not play last season. This would have been Warmack’s seventh NFL campaign. The former Titans draft choice played four seasons with the Titans and two with the Eagles.

The 28-year-old guard has been a starter for much of his career, opening with the Tennessee or Philadelphia first-string lines in 51 games. He was likely set to be a depth piece for the Seahawks, who have made several changes to their offensive front over the past several months. Warmack was part of this equation, but he will miss the season — one that promises to be overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like Thomas, Warmack runs the risk of seeing his career end as a result of this decision. Backup-level players will obviously have narrower paths back to teams next year. It stands to be easier for Duvernay-Tardif, a longtime Chiefs guard starter, to reclaim his job than it will be for marginal players to return. But Warmack will be under Seahawks contract for 2021, thanks to this decision.

15 NFL Players Land On NFL’s Reserve/COVID-19 List

July 27th, 2020 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins, Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Jaguars, Chiefs, Cowboys and Buccaneers have placed players on the newly created reserve/COVID-19 list. Here’s the full rundown, per the league’s transactions wire:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The reserve/COVID-19 designation is for players who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are in quarantine for potential exposure. In turn, these players are removed from the roster and allowed to return after three weeks.

Ravens’ De’Anthony Thomas Opts Out Of 2020 Season

July 27th, 2020 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

A second player plans to opt out of the 2020 season. Following former Chiefs teammate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ravens wide receiver/return man De’Anthony Thomas has expressed his intention to opt out, the team announced.

This will be a voluntary opt-out for Thomas, who re-signed with the Ravens in March. This would have been the wideout’s seventh NFL season.

Because this is a voluntary opt-out, and not a high-risk player choosing to bypass the COVID-19-clouded season, Thomas is set to receive a $150K stipend. He will not receive an accrued season toward free agency. His new deal was a one-year pact for the league minimum.

Players have only a handful of days to determine whether they will play in 2020, with August 3 serving as the deadline. Thomas operated as Baltimore’s primary punt returner last season, averaging 7.2 yards per return for his second NFL team. The Ravens, however, believe sixth-round rookie James Proche can fill Thomas’ shoes, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes (via Twitter).

Thomas, 27, spent five full seasons with the Chiefs. He worked as Kansas City’s primary kick returner for much of his stay, while also playing an auxiliary role as a wide receiver in K.C.’s Alex Smith-piloted offenses. Though, Thomas has never posted a 200-yard season and last caught double-digit passes in 2017. The eventual Super Bowl champions cut him last year, leading him to Baltimore. The former Oregon standout’s contract will toll to 2021.

Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Opts Out Of 2020 NFL Season

July 25th, 2020 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif announced (via Twitter) that he will opt out of the upcoming season. Per the terms of the league’s agreement with the NFLPA, his decision is irrevocable. 

[RELATED: Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Considering Opt Out]

Duvernay-Tardif, a medical school graduate, is the first player to exercise his right to opt out. He’s been volunteering at a long-term care facility in Quebec, Canada during the pandemic – after witnessing the impact of COVID-19 first-hand, LDT decided to play it safe and not play.

“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life, but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “That is why I have decided to take the opt-out option negotiated by the league and the NFLPA and officially opt out of the 2020 NFL season. Being at the front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients.

“I want to thank everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their support and understanding.”

Duvernay-Tardif was set to play on the five-year, $42.36MM extension he inked with the Chiefs following the 2016 season. Instead, his contract will toll, meaning that his deal will resume in 2021 and now extend through the 2022 season. This year, the Chiefs will undoubtedly miss having him up front. He’s been the club’s starter at right guard for the past five seasons, save for an injury-marred 2018.

NFL, NFLPA Agree On Training Camp Setup, Opt-Out System

July 24th, 2020 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

A two-tiered opt-out system will be in place this year. It will classify players in two categories: those who opt out of the season because they are at high risk of developing coronavirus complications and those who simply choose not to play, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. Players who opt out would receive stipends, Volin tweets, but must decide within 10 days if they plan to play in 2020. Players who are in the high-risk category will receive a $350K stipend and an accrued season toward free agency, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Players without such risk will receive $150K and no such accrued season, per Fowler. Although high-risk NFL players did not receive a deal on the level of what Major League Baseball players secured — where high-risk opt-out players receive their full salary and get credit for the season — but the accrued-season component is a significant win for players in the high-risk category.

There will be an opt-out exception for certain players. Players will be able to opt out beyond the early-August deadline, and apparently into the regular season, if a family member develops complications from the virus (Twitter link via NFL reporter Josina Anderson).

Days before full teams are scheduled to report to training camp, the NFL and NFLPA have reached agreements on other fronts as well. Here is the latest on the solutions the sides reached after months of negotiations:

  • Training camps will still begin July 28, but the acclimation period players sought will take place. No full-padded practices will occur until August 17, Lindsay Jones of The Athletic tweets. Eight days of strength and conditioning will first take place before four days of helmets-and-shells work commences, Jones adds. Days 1-6 of camp will consist of COVID-19 testing and virtual meetings, per SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter). This year’s camps will feature a maximum of 14 padded practices. That is down by just two from the 2020 CBA’s limitation but down considerably from last year’s setup.
  • Teams do not have to cut rosters down from 90 to 80 players — a long-rumored scenario in this COVID-19 reality — until they begin practicing in pads August 16, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will remind of the recent past, when teams needed to trim their rosters from 90 to 75 players before ultimately cutting down to 53.
  • As expected, practice squads will expand from 12 to 16 players. However, a key caveat exists to protect teams from losing higher-end P-squad talent. Teams can protect four players from being poached by other teams on a weekly basis, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Normally, teams can sign other franchises’ practice squad players if they promote them to the 53-man roster. In this historically unusual year, teams can block certain players from such advancement and have up to six players with unlimited experience on their taxi squads.

NFL, NFLPA Reach Agreement On 2021 Cap

July 24th, 2020 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

News about the potential solutions in place for a revamped NFL structure continues to trickle out. Part of that: a resolution to the months-long debate about the salary cap.

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to some financial compromises. Next year’s salary cap will be no lower than $175MM, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report (Twitter link). Rather than borrowing money from projected future revenues through 2030 — as the players initially sought — this agreement will take from projected funds through 2024 to help guard against a salary cap freefall this COVID-19-altered season could cause, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Ownership previously hoped to only borrow against projected gains through 2021.

The NFLPA has voted unanimously to recommend this change to the CBA. Barring a down vote from the 32 union player reps later today, the parties have prevented a future in which the cap plummets considerably from its current $198.2MM perch.

Still, the cap coming in at $175MM, or even anywhere below $195MM, would represent the biggest drop in its 28-year history. The cap has steadily risen by approximately $10MM annually since 2014. Twelve of this year’s 14 franchise-tagged players did not sign long-term extensions. This could flood the 2021 free agency pool, with more cap-casualty cuts likely coming as well. Coupled with a cap reduction, this would create a buyer’s market next year. And the agreed-upon smoothing process will limit cap growth through 2024.

But the cap will not drop this year, as some owners sought. Owners dropped their request for an $8MM cap reduction this year, Pelissero tweets. However, the players gave in on another point that could affect 2020 earnings. Games must be played in order for players to receive money, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The NFLPA, though, was able to secure a fund that will pay back players who lost guaranteed money, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This will cover COVID-induced losses up to 2023. While particulars are unclear, Rapoport adds players who lose base salary money in 2020 will have it paid back next year (Twitter link).

Salary Cap Issue May Delay Training Camps?

July 23rd, 2020 at 1:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Most NFL teams are set to report to training camp July 28. Some teams’ rookies already have. Though no practice work can be done until players twice test negative for the coronavirus — in two separate tests over a four-day span — players are returning to cities in which their respective teams are located.

The NFL and NFLPA have largely agreed to safety protocols, but the financial issue the they have grappled over continues to be a sticking point. And if the sides cannot come to an agreement by Sunday night, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports training camps could continue the offseason’s virtual format. One source suggested to the Washington Post’s Mark Maske the league could go further by sending players home again (Twitter link).

While the NFLPA wants to spread the pandemic-induced salary cap hit through 2030, when the current CBA is set to expire, some owners are seeking to not only lower next year’s cap but to reduce the 2020 cap, Pelissero notes. This would be a staggering adjustment for teams and players, and it will be difficult for the NFL to convince the NFLPA to agree to it. Even a $10MM reduction would be too much “at this stage,” one GM said, via Pelissero.

The union balked at the league’s escrow proposal, pointing to a scenario that would feature players losing jobs and money as an unlikely one to come to pass. The NFL already proposed a $40MM slash off the 2020 cap, which sits at $198MM. As expected, that did not gain traction with the union. Players’ 2020 salaries are locked in as soon as one game is played this season.

No deadline is in place regarding these talks, but Pelissero adds that owners want this resolved by the time the Chiefs and Texans rookies begin strength and conditioning work — scheduled for Sunday. Should the NFL and NFLPA fail to agree on a financial solution — one they have been discussing for months — the league could table training camps and return to virtual work. In a year featuring no preseason games, this would deal another blow to teams’ development and player safety while potentially putting Week 1 in peril.

Load More Posts