LA Rams HC McVay confident today’s opt-out deadline will pass

LA Rams head coach Sean McVay is confident that today’s deadline for players to elect to opt-out will not result in more Rams players doing so

The LA Rams are not the only team facing uncertainty this season. NFL players opting-out of playing the 2020 NFL season are making one of the most difficult decisions they will ever face in their NFL careers.  Each player, after weighing the risks and the NFL-NFLPA processes to navigate around those risks, must make the decision to play football in the 2020 NFL season, or opt-out.

The decision is not cut-and-dry. It’s about loyalty, faith, hope, and protection.  Some players are single, and this decision involves one person. Some players must weigh the decision based on vulnerable family members, elderly parents, infant children, and spouses. Some players are in the High-Risk category due to unique medical circumstances.

Who’s out?

So far, the LA Rams have one player who has elected to opt-out and for good reason. OL Chandler Brewer falls into the High-Risk category, and his decision to opt-out makes perfect sense as he is at risk of serious complications if he tests positive for COVID-19.

Unless circumstances change, Brewer is expected to be the sole Rams player to do so.

Of course, circumstances can change, even mid-season. The NFL-NFLPA addresses the need for players who experience certain criteria to have an option to opt-out even as the season is underway.

Which teams are most impacted?

Opting-out has impacted some teams much more than others. Teams who have had more than five players opt-out as of August 6, 2020, 8:00 am PT are:  New England Patriots (8)
Teams that have had three-four players opt-out are: Dallas Cowboys (3), Kansas City Chiefs (3), Cleveland Browns (4), Detroit Lions (3), Indianapolis Colts (3), Las Vegas Raiders (3), New York Giants (3)

This certainly creates a new headache for teams who have impactful players lost for the season. Of course, each player must have the right to protect himself and his loved ones, and we fully support that right.  But from the team perspective, it is one more variable to address in a year with so many more variables.  The Rams may one of the least impacted teams on this issue, but the team is still on the hook for fixing many issues that sprang up in 2019. The LA Rams enter Day 4 of training camp today. So far, so good.