Bill Belichick Addresses Patriots Players Opting Out

Six players won’t join the New England Patriots in the upcoming 2020 season. What does coach B say about this? The Patriots head coach had an expected reaction. The great Bill Belichick supports players who are opting out of the regular season. He supports players and that’s the best motivation a football player will ever get.

The Patriots head coach talked to media members Friday. He respects the choices Dont’a Hightower, Patrick Chung, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Danny Vitale, and Najee Toran made. These players put their health and family first and Belichick understands that. Moreover, he respects these players for their sacrifice.

“I respect all of them,” Belichick said. “I respect all the players on our team. We all have to make decisions. I talked to those guys, and they explained their situation. They had to make the decision that was best for them, and I totally respect and support it, 100 percent.”

Bill Belichick supports players who are opting out of 2020

Chung, Hightower and Bolden are key players in the team. They took part in several Super Bowl-winning teams and Belichick needs them on the field. Belichick planned to use Vitale as a starter at fullback. He signed his contract in March and Belichick had a really good reason to get him.

Will other players follow Chung’s steps? Belichick can’t answer that question right now. The deadline for additional opt-outs will be no earlier than Aug. 7. Each player has the right to make a decision and Belichick respects that. They all have families to take care of.

“Again, I think everybody’s got to make their own individual decisions on that, and they have to weigh their own situation,” Belichick said. “Each one of us is unique and we all have different lives, situations, families, environments, and so forth and so on. There’s no two situations that are the same. Everybody will have to make their own decision on that. My crystal ball is kind of cloudy right now, so I have no idea of what will happen along those lines. I think everybody in the league, every team in the league, every player, every coach, everybody in the league is involved in that to some degree. So we’ll just have to see how it turns out.”

Matthew Slater had different plans

Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater planned to opt-out and then changed his mind. He will join the team in September. Other players had similar plans, but Slater’s decision to play made them change their minds. That’s what NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo suggested in his latest report.

Chung said the head coach “totally understood” his decision to opt-out of the season. He said that other players were contemplating whether or not to hit the field in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic is at its highest peak, and we can relate to each and every player who is worried about their health or the health of a family member.