Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif announced (via Twitter) that he will opt out of the upcoming season. Per the terms of the league’s agreement with the NFLPA, his decision is irrevocable. 
[RELATED: Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Considering Opt Out]
Duvernay-Tardif, a medical school graduate, is the first player to exercise his right to opt out. He’s been volunteering at a long-term care facility in Quebec, Canada during the pandemic – after witnessing the impact of COVID-19 first-hand, LDT decided to play it safe and not play.
“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,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “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 front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport 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.”
Duvernay-Tardif was set to play on the five-year, $42.36MM extension he inked with the Chiefs following the 2016 season. Instead, his contract will toll, meaning that his deal will resume in 2021 and now extend through the 2022 season. This year, the Chiefs will undoubtedly miss having him up front. He’s been the club’s starter at right guard for the past five seasons, save for an injury-marred 2018.
With the lack of an offseason, I’m guessing Wylie and Allegretti are the starting guards, and Mike Remmers is the backup everywhere. Not ideal for your 500 million dollar investment.
Too scared of covid to play football.
Not too scared of covid to volunteer at a long term care facility exposing himself.
Good on him for putting his skills to use. But come up with a better reason for opting out.
Any player who gets covid isn’t going to the hospital. They’ll get treatment from team doctors or medical professionals hired.
Seems like you are misunderstanding his explanation. He’s not too scared. He does not feel it is right to put others at risk just so he can play football.
Better reason for opting out? Who are you to question his reasoning? His decision is his and his alone
You don’t seem to understand what he’s saying & you’re making assumptions that he’s “too scared to play”
He’s not saying he’s scared of COVID. He’s choosing to put himself in a more risky situation in order to help the community at large, he’s missing out on $2+ mil to do so.
If he was scared, wouldn’t he want to just isolate instead of play?
Also, what’s the relevance to this story of where a player would potentially get treated?
I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients.
literally said he’s not going to play football cause he’s scared of potentially spreading it……but volunteering and risking spreading it there…..that’s ok.
The. Patients. Already. Have. It.
He. Will. Be. Around. Others. Who. Don’t.
He. Is. Exposing. Himself. Others. And. His. Family. More.
Nice. Try.
Try. Harder.
I’d say that him working the front lines rather than the football field shows he’s not afraid of Covid. The Quebec long-term Carr homes are among the hardest hit places in Canada, with even the military being requested to go to them to help. Good on him for putting his medical training to use.
Long-term *care homes. Must have Carr on my mind lol
Wow Wyoming….if you don’t see his concern as a valid reason, then I can’t imagine what you consider valid
so he’s concerned about not spreading it while okay not playing football…..but it’s ok to spread it where you’re volunteering. Okay. that makes sense. wait no it doesn’t.
You completely misunderstood his statement. Hopefully the several explanations above my comment are enough for you to understand but I doubt it.
I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients
you all proved nothing. he’s scared of spreading covid around…..but risks spreading it while volunteering.
doesn’t make much sense.
I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients.
He’s too scared of covid to play football and risk others getting it…..who will get the best medical care possible.
But he’s not too scared of it to risk transmitting it people who are most at risk while volunteering……
Come up with a better reason why you’re not going to play. Saying I’m too scared of spreading it while risking spreading it elsewhere doesn’t make much sense.
Wow. What a moron.
If he’s going to risk himself and others, he’s going to do it while helping others and saving lives, not play a silly game.
It’s like if a soldier said I’m going to sit out this game of Russian roulette because if I’m going to get shot, I’d rather it happen in battle than messing around for fun.
It makes complete sense. How dense does someone have to be to not figure this out?
However dense Wyoming Bison is. So judging by all his comments, pretty, pretty, pretty dense.
While playing football he isn’t going to be around many people. A lot of activities and such are going to be restricted preventing players from being exposed.
On the road I guarantee players aren’t going to be allowed out of quarantine and meals are going to be provided by the team.
Now, he’s not only exposing himself at higher rates directly interacting with people who have it. But he’s going to put his family and others at risk in the communities he helps.
That’s fine. But don’t say you’re scared of spreading corona so you’re not going to play football and then go put yourself at 100x more risk of catching it and spreading it.
All he had to say was I’m going to put my skills to use and help people.
He didn’t have to come up with some lame excuse why he’s opting out of the season like- I don’t want to spread covid.
Where in his statement is the word “scared” used? Stop putting words in his mouth.
He’d rather be more useful continuing to help people on the front lines
Again, it is his decision. He doesn’t have to come up with a “better reason to opt out” for ignorant people like yourself
Look guys, I disagree completely with the post, but we all need to be better with how we disagree with people. Calling someone an idiot is not going to convince anyone. Let’s calm down a bit.
I’d say that Duvernay-Tardiff’s reasoning makes perfect sense to me, personally, as does his statement. He feels that it’d be hypocritical for him to advise patients to be safe while doing so himself after treating COVID cases.
Pffft.
He’s only a medical school graduate who has worked first hand in hospitals with Covid patients, what does he know?
I get my medical advice from truckers, people who know the Earth is flat and Jenny McCarthy.
I think I have a new hero. This is the absolute personification of “community over self.”
His personal reason’s aside, I can understand him opting out. After helping his team win a championship there’s no way he should be earning a lower average salary than Ereck Flowers.
He needs to opt out of that name
What a man. Love it.
Jamal traded
No clue why they haven’t posted about this yet. ESPN has the trade details up already.
Do the chiefs get to use his salary cap hit on other players now?
Now the chiefs need another fancy-named lineman
Will Kelechi Osemele work?
how dare he want to help sick people. so selfish