Alabama Players Opting Out of the NFL is the Right Call for Their Respective Situations
With NFL training camps starting on Tuesday, more players have announced their intention to sit out the upcoming season, three of whom are former University of Alabama standouts: Chance Warmack, Dont'a Hightower, and Andre Smith.
Whether you agree with their decisions or not, it's the right call for their respective situations.
Warmack was the first of the three to opt out on Monday afternoon. He missed the 2019 season, but was signed by the Seattle Seahawks this past spring. Reports say the former first-round pick had a family friend pass away due to COVID-19 complications and other people close to him contract the virus. He witnessed firsthand what it can do to someone.
I don't know about you, but if I had someone close to me get infect and pass away, or even, battle with it for a week or so, my opinion would likely be different.
Both Hightower, who has a nearly month-old baby and a mother with Type 2 diabetes, and Smith made the decision to opt out on Tuesday.
The linebacker was the sixth Patriots player to elect not to play this season and is a huge loss to the team moving forward given his veteran leadership.
"Me and my fiancée are just more concerned with the health of our family than football," Hightower told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Especially the new addition to our family.”
Smith, who re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens at the beginning of the year, provided some experience offensive tackle depth for the club. He's entering his 12th season in the league.
All three players will receive a $150,000 stipend and their 2020 salary will roll over to the 2021 season. For example, Hightower was set to make $8 million this season, so from that angle, it is certainly a huge pay cut.
With the number of NFL players who are opting out growing, is there a chance we see the same happen with college football?
BamaCentral's own Tyler Martin breaks it all down in this week's Talk of the Tide video segment.
