NFL's Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Opts Out Of 2020 Season Over COVID-19 Concerns

BY Erika Marie 1460 Views
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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Kansas City Chiefs, COVID-19, Coronavirus
Starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif announced on social media that he wouldn't be returning for the 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19.

The 2020 NFL season was initially suspended due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic, but it's reported that the league is looking to kick-off sooner than expected. While there have been a number of reported coronavirus cases among NFL players, the league seems to been pushing forward, regardless. Days ago, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson publicly expressed concern on social media about returning to the field in the middle of a pandemic with a then-pregnant wife, and now it's being reported that the Kansas City Chiefs starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has decided to opt-out of the current season.

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The professional football player wrote a lengthy message that he shared on social media about his decision to bow out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, making him the first player to do so. Duvernay-Tardif has three more years remaining on his contract and was set to earn a base salary of $2.75 million.

He wrote:

"Given the worldwide sanitary crisis we are currently experiencing, the NFL and the NFLPA have agreed to significant health and safety protocols to protect the players. There is no doubt in my mind the Chiefs' medical staff have put together a strong plan to minimize the health risks associated with COVID-19 but some risks will remain.

This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally. That is why I have decided to take the Opt-Out Option negotiated by the League and the NFLPA and officially opt out of the 2020 NFL season.

Being at the frontline during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals in our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus in our communities simply to play the sport that I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients.

I want to thank everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their support and understanding."


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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