The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick will go into the 2020 season without two veteran defenders. The two vets are starting players (SS) Patrick Chung and (IBL) Dont’a Hightower. They are just 2 of 6 Patriots players who decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19 safety concerns, so far.
The Pro Bowl caliber linebacker was slated to make $8 million, in what was supposed to be his last year on his 4 year $35 million contract. New England also has Patrick Chung under contract for four more years and was scheduled to make $1.1 million this season.
Both players have been leaders for Coach Belichick’s defense is their last 3 Super Bowl wins (XLIX, LI, LIII). Bill also refers to Hightower as “Mr. February” due to always coming up big on football’s greatest stage. Hightower and Bill Belichick have a 3-1 record in the four Super Bowls they’ve been to together.
The Other Four Patriots Opting- Out
- RT Marcus Cannon (starter), High Risk Opt-Out ($350,000)
- RB Brandon Bolden, Voluntary Opt-Out ($150,000)
- G Najee Toran, Voluntary Opt-Out ($150,000)
- FB Danny Vitale, Voluntary Opt-Out ($150,000)
You can throw Hightower on the voluntary opt-out group as well ($150,000). Chung’s type of opt-out is TBA.
Dont’a Hightower told NFL Network reporter, Ian Rapoport, “Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football — especially the new addition to our family.”
Fans will start to see a lot of new faces around Foxborough, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Losing two key veterans is never easy, but if there’s ever been a time to see something like this it’s in 2020.
The Patriots lead the league (for now) with 6 players opting out of the season. The next closest teams are the Ravens and Cowboys with 2 players opting out each.