2020 Pats: Who's Out? NE Opt-Outs

bsj

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Felt like it would be easier to find w/ a dedicated thread. We are losing some key players. As an aside I dont blame a single one of them.

Here's the list, so far.

Donta' Hightower
Marcus Cannon (hope Cam brought his wheels)
Danny Vitale
Brandon Bolden
Najee Toran (not someone I am super familiar with)
Patrick Chung
Marqise Lee
Matt LaCosse

Have a feeling the McCourty's are going to be on this list soon

It does seem the Pats have had a LOT more opt outs in the first 2 days than most teams. Hope it evens out.
 
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BigSoxFan

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Can’t blame them at all and probably the first of many. We may get to see Dugger after all. Tough for a year-to-year guy like Bolden to opt out. He could be done.
 

bluefenderstrat

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Yeah, for the veteran guys who've won 2 or 3 Super Bowls here, and made enough money to call it a career, I can see opting out in lieu of an official retirement. But that's probably effectively what it is.
 

DJnVa

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Three questions:

If a guy on a 1 year deal opts out is he gone?
If season is canceled are guys on 1 year deals gone?
Do we want a "scab" Pats team to play a shortened NFL schedule, go 1-8 and draft Trevor Lawrence and why is the answer yes?
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Do we want a "scab" Pats team to play a shortened NFL schedule, go 1-8 and draft Trevor Lawrence and why is the answer yes?
The answer is YES because that is Belichick, he'll find the loophole and exploit it. Also fitting to return the favor by obtaining a bullshit 1st overall pick, after Roger used bullshit reasoning to take away draft picks from the Pats.
 

BaseballJones

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I have to believe that this will hit every team to one degree or another. It won't be "even" across the board. Some teams will have more, or more key, players opt out. Think of it as if it's just season-ending injuries, I guess. I think we will see a lot of roster churn, and guys who were cut will find themselves on this team or other teams as they see more guys opt out or test positive and have to sit out a couple of weeks.
 

DJnVa

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I have to believe that this will hit every team to one degree or another. It won't be "even" across the board. Some teams will have more, or more key, players opt out. Think of it as if it's just season-ending injuries, I guess. I think we will see a lot of roster churn, and guys who were cut will find themselves on this team or other teams as they see more guys opt out or test positive and have to sit out a couple of weeks.
Yeah, but there's the undercurrent out there in some national press that the Pats roster ain't really that good, and the talent is mostly on defense. We start losing those guys...
 

Section30

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How about some of the older coaches start opting out. Do we really want to lose Belichick or Adams to this? Andy Reid has to be living in mortal fear of this, right?
 

Phil Plantier

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The answer is YES because that is Belichick, he'll find the loophole and exploit it. Also fitting to return the favor by obtaining a bullshit 1st overall pick, after Roger used bullshit reasoning to take away draft picks from the Pats.
Scab Pats go at least 4-5. Belichick: can't stop won't stop.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Scab Pats go at least 4-5. Belichick: can't stop won't stop.
Alas, that is correct. And if they do go 1-8 it will create "Tank-gate" when Roger says there is no way a Belichick led team can be this bad without throwing games. Therefore, the Patriots will be docked the #1 pick.
 

DJnVa

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Is opting out non-revocable? Could a player decide in mid-season that "hey, the team/league is keeping COVID under control, I now feel safe playing."?
Nope.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-s-opt-out-offer-carries-a-renegotiation-loophole/ar-BB16U8NJ
The deadline for making an all-or-nothing decision arrives on August 1, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Written notice “must be received” by the team before that moment; once notice is received as to a given player, the opt out becomes irrevocable. Thus, unlike a holdout (which can end at any time), the player who opts out cannot play at all in 2020.
 

RedOctober3829

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Three questions:

If a guy on a 1 year deal opts out is he gone?
If season is canceled are guys on 1 year deals gone?
Do we want a "scab" Pats team to play a shortened NFL schedule, go 1-8 and draft Trevor Lawrence and why is the answer yes?
The contracts all toll to next season so every guy that opts out has a contract and spot on the roster for 2021.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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What does toll mean?

Does it meant that the contract is extended and that the prior year's contract becomes the new year's contract?

So, if a guy is on a deal with two years left -- 2020 and 2021 -- does that mean the 2021 contract is the 2020 contract and then he has a 2022 year added at the 2021 terms?
 

Rusty13

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What does toll mean?

Does it meant that the contract is extended and that the prior year's contract becomes the new year's contract?

So, if a guy is on a deal with two years left -- 2020 and 2021 -- does that mean the 2021 contract is the 2020 contract and then he has a 2022 year added at the 2021 terms?
Essentially, yes. Plus, it sounds like any player who opts out would get at least a 150K stipend (taken out of next year's salary) for this season. Up to 300K for those who opt out due to medical conditions possibly related to COVID.
 

tmracht

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What does toll mean?

Does it meant that the contract is extended and that the prior year's contract becomes the new year's contract?

So, if a guy is on a deal with two years left -- 2020 and 2021 -- does that mean the 2021 contract is the 2020 contract and then he has a 2022 year added at the 2021 terms?
Yes, everything I have read is just that. 2020 moves to 2021 and 2021 would move to 2022. For example:

Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
#Bills veteran DT Star Lotulelei will be taking a voluntary opt-out for this season, source says. The former first-rounder has $4.5 million fully guaranteed this season as well as $2.5 million fully guaranteed the following year. So those will push into 2021 and ‘22.
 

DJnVa

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According to Spotrac, Jakob Johnson's deal expires this season, he opted out, but his whole salary ($675,000) is on this year's cap. Now, if that's the case, his contract can't toll until next season. Is this because he's not considered in the top 51?
 

Shelterdog

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I'm so incredibly curious about what the pats are doing here. It's hard to believe that this many people would opt out if they didn't have some kind of understanding with BB.
 

BigJimEd

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One of the NFL talking heads was theorizing on the radio this morning that the Patriots may have more guys opt out than most. Reasoning being they are an older team with guys who have already made money. They also suggested they are a smarter team. Not sure about that part but vets who have made money and also won would seemingly be less likely to risk it.
 

DJnVa

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One of the NFL talking heads was theorizing on the radio this morning that the Patriots may have more guys opt out than most. Reasoning being they are an older team with guys who have already made money. They also suggested they are a smarter team. Not sure about that part but vets who have made money and also won would seemingly be less likely to risk it.
The issue though is that this then pushes contracts out into seasons we didn't intend for them to be in. The "master plan" of all that cap space is going away...
 

Super Nomario

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According to Spotrac, Jakob Johnson's deal expires this season, he opted out, but his whole salary ($675,000) is on this year's cap. Now, if that's the case, his contract can't toll until next season. Is this because he's not considered in the top 51?
Did Johnson opt out? I haven't seen anything. He's been at the throwing sessions so it would surprise me.
 

DJnVa

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Did Johnson opt out? I haven't seen anything. He's been at the throwing sessions so it would surprise me.
You know what, I may have got my wires crossed on him. He's likely on exempt list due to being an international player.
 

Ralphwiggum

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I'm mostly glad when I see these guys opting out. It seems ridiculous to me to try to play football this fall, and I'd rather see them keep themselves and their families safe. Of course it is an easier decision for many of the guys who have already made their money, but either way it is what I would do assuming I could manage it financially.
 

RedOctober3829

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What does toll mean?

Does it meant that the contract is extended and that the prior year's contract becomes the new year's contract?

So, if a guy is on a deal with two years left -- 2020 and 2021 -- does that mean the 2021 contract is the 2020 contract and then he has a 2022 year added at the 2021 terms?
Toll means it carries over to next season. If someone is on the books for 2 more years his contract is now for 2021 and 2022.
 

Shelterdog

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I can't imagine it's an attempt to get the number one pick--I'm sure BB thinks that even if he's rolling out Brad Hoyer, a couple of chunky suffolk law grads on o-line and Concord Carlisle's defensive front seven he's not going to finish dead last. But if he's pretty sure there's not going to be a full season protecting his guys, keeping them for one more run in 2021, and getting good draft picks after a 2-5 season might make sense.
 

DJnVa

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The cap space we thought we would have in 20/21 and 21/22 is being eaten up by the opt-outs.
 

IdiotKicker

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Forgetting about the health concerns, which I know is impossible to do, but I feel like there’s a part of Belichick that relishes the idea of having a shitload of players opt out so he can tinker with a bunch of nobodies just to see what he could do with them for a year. I know that’s not front and center for him or any of the players opting out, and I know he values winning above all-else, but I think he’d love to take on that challenge. I forget where I saw it on Twitter, but there was also speculation that BB effectively said, “Look, if you’re nervous this year, stay home and we’ll figure it out,” because he’s really ready to ride with whoever is in front of him and just see what happens. He has absolutely zero pressure on him, and it would be a fantastic experiment for throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I have no idea if BB is masterminding this or not, but I certainly can understand why veterans who have made money and are used to playing for Super Bowls might look at an uncertain competitive situation, a completely unpredictable season, and a pandemic and conclude "thanks, I'll stay at home"

I also think that while Belichick wasn't likely thinking about all this in March when Brady left he certainly has thought hard the last couple months about what the season will and won't be and the way to manage the multi-year picture.
 

Harry Hooper

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One of the NFL talking heads was theorizing on the radio this morning that the Patriots may have more guys opt out than most. Reasoning being they are an older team with guys who have already made money. They also suggested they are a smarter team. Not sure about that part but vets who have made money and also won would seemingly be less likely to risk it.
The Patriots' established pattern of dramatically altering offensive and defensive gameplans week to week hasn't convinced you it's a smarter-than-average roster?
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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The cap space we thought we would have in 20/21 and 21/22 is being eaten up by the opt-outs.
I think it's a zero sum game. If a player opts out and was due to make $5 million this year, his cap should come off the books for this year and we'll carry over $5 million more than we would have to next year.
 

cornwalls@6

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One of the NFL talking heads was theorizing on the radio this morning that the Patriots may have more guys opt out than most. Reasoning being they are an older team with guys who have already made money. They also suggested they are a smarter team. Not sure about that part but vets who have made money and also won would seemingly be less likely to risk it.
I think this is bingo as far as why so many Pats are opting out so far. And not tanking for Trevor, or any other evil genius, master plan/long con. But it's nice to know he's still living rent free inside the heads of the rest of the league.
 

Phil Plantier

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I can't imagine it's an attempt to get the number one pick--I'm sure BB thinks that even if he's rolling out Brad Hoyer, a couple of chunky suffolk law grads on o-line and Concord Carlisle's defensive front seven he's not going to finish dead last. But if he's pretty sure there's not going to be a full season protecting his guys, keeping them for one more run in 2021, and getting good draft picks after a 2-5 season might make sense.
Well, he often says that the QB at Foxboro High can make a lot of the same throws that Brady does...