NFL Opt-Out Deadline for 2020 Season Reportedly Set for Thursday
By Joseph Zucker
Players have until Thursday at 4 p.m. ET to opt out of the 2020 NFL season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Now official: Deadline for NFL players to opt out is Thursday at 4 pm EST, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2020
Schefter had previously reported the deadline was shaping up to be Tuesday or Wednesday, but Dan Graziano of ESPN followed up to report the timeline had been pushed back to Thursday or Friday.
Under the terms of an agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, players considered to be voluntary opt-outs receive a $150,000 salary advance and have their contracts toll to 2021. Those deemed to be at a higher health risk can collect a $350,000 stipend.
Per source, NFL opt-out deadline is now expected to be "Thursday or Friday." Attorneys continue to finalize language of the agreement, but it appears NFLPA will agree to shorten window btwn agreement & deadline (originally 7 days) in return for some concessions on final language.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) August 3, 2020
A number of players across the league have already exercised one of the two options amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With respect to the opt-out deadline, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported the NFL was looking to have the date moved up. Some teams believed players on the roster bubble would opt out and collect the advance rather than remain on the team through training camp and potentially get cut.
“While players apparently would owe the money back to the teams if they fail to make the roster in 2021, no team wants to have to chase a former player around next year in an effort to retrieve $150,000 or $350,000,” Florio wrote.
Read the full story in the Bleacher Report.
