The list of New England Patriots players sitting the 2020 NFL season has grown to 6, per ESPN’s Mike Riess. The annual Super Bowl contenders have already lost their quarterback of two decades, Tom Brady, this offseason and now face overcoming one of their most depleted rosters in head coach Bill Belichick’s tenure.
The six players that are sitting out currently are:
- LB Dont’a Hightower
- S Patrick Chung
- OT Marcus Cannon
- RB Brandon Bolden
- FB Danny Vitale
- OL Najee Toran
AngryNFLScoutVet, an anonymous NFL voice on Twitter, predicts that there will be more players to drop out due to COVID concerns.
Playing for Bill takes a toll on players. The only reason you don’t hear them speaking out against Bill is because they win. Many of them would gladly take half their salary to sit out and not have to deal with their coaching style. I bet they have more sit than any other team. https://t.co/HXQCTwjZis
— AngryNFLScoutVet (@AngryScoutVet) July 28, 2020
If one wants to question AngryNFLScoutVet and his integrity, you do so at your own risk. AngryScout has been dead on with all of the information he has published on his social media page concerning inside NFL matters. Because of his outspokenness toward certain media “heroes,” many Twitter analysts have worked hard to discredit him, calling him a “coward” for “hiding his identity.” Those tweets attacking him have since been deleted.
The fact of the matter is that Bill is hard on his players and it’s common fact. AngryScout is right, the only reason that players don’t say anything is that they win, and they win a lot. Bill’s method, as much as some people don’t like it, has been proven time and time again to work.
It’s not just Patriots players dropping out due to COVID concerns. So far today, Bills defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, Bears defensive lineman Eddie Goldman, and Houston Texans defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes have dropped out today so far as well. The Patriots so far have by far the most players that have dropped out.
However, now the rest of the NFL is on high alert:
Actual text exchange with an NFL executive today after a sixth Patriot opted out:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2020
Him: “You know Bill is masterminding all of this somehow.”
Me: “For what reason?”
Him: “I don’t know! That’s why he is who he is!”
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 https://t.co/JrcZGIEvS6 pic.twitter.com/xXuoH2UsNL
— Are You Serious #AYS (@AYSSPORTS) July 28, 2020
You gotta love sports.