According to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has an ‘opt-out silver bullet’ for the 2021 season but he will have to make his decision, which cannot be changed, by July 2.
Florio notes that in a letter agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, which came out this week, players are allowed to opt-out, with no questions asked, of the 2021 season even if they did not opt-out in 2020 and even if they have not been diagnosed with a high-risk condition.
From Pro Football Talk:
The benefit to doing so comes from the fact that he would not forfeit $11.5 million in unearned signing bonus money for 2021 if he opts out. Also, he presumably would still receive the payments on the $6.8 million roster bonus that he earned in March, and that is due to be paid out in weekly installments during the season.
That’s $18.3 million that he’ll keep by opting out. If he doesn’t opt out but holds out, he loses that $18.3 million — and would be fined roughly $2 million on top of it for skipping training camp.
The problem with opting out is that it requires a fairly quick decision, and the decision cannot be changed. But if Rodgers truly is thinking about staying away for all of 2021, there are 20.3 million reasons for making a final and binding decision in the next seven days.
After further review, it looks like Aaron Rodgers does indeed have an opt-out silver bullet; if he affirmatively decides by next Friday not to play in 2021, he'd avoid $20.3 million in forfeitures and fines that would apply if he simply doesn't show up. https://t.co/4p2IVgsN2T
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 25, 2021
I’m sorry … I think he’s a dirt ball for doing what he’s doing and the way he’s doing it.
His career would be over or on life support
Just call him MR. Hollywood, got a taste of the big life and now he is too good for G.B. He is certainly no Tom Brady.