The growing concern over the health and safety of players for the upcoming NFL season has become a top priority for many involved. Several players have opted already and now, perhaps the highest-profile player yet has made a decision.
According to Adam Schefter, Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl Champion, Dont’a Hightower, has elected to forgo the 2020 season.
Patriots’ three-time Super-Bowl champion and Pro-Bowl ILB Dont’a Hightower is opting out of the 2020 season, league sources tell ESPN.
Hightower is scheduled to make $8 million in base salary. He had a baby July 16.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2020
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Hightower becomes the fourth Patriots player to opt-out and the second starter to do so joining offensive lineman Marcus Cannon. Cannon, a cancer survivor, made the decision on Monday and Hightower followed suit early on Tuesday. Perhaps not coincidently, Hightower and his wife welcomed their first child just a couple weeks ago.
As of early Tuesday morning, a total of nine NFL players have decided to opt-out of the season. Four of those nine have come from New England and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more follow across the league. Hightower, the biggest star to date to opt-out, will lose nearly $8 million in 2020 and will put off his free-agent eligibility for another season.
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