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First NFL player opts out of 2020 season

A few weeks ago, Donovan Smith brought up the idea of potentially sitting out the 2020 season due to unknowns surrounding the Coronavirus. Fortunately for him and the rest of the players, the NFLPA was able to negotiate an opt-out option for the players on Friday.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, starting right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, was the first player to opt out of the 2020 season on Saturday. Duvernay-Tardif’s reasoning differs from Smith’s, however, as Duvernay-Tardif is a doctor and has been using his medical expertise to help others during the pandemic.