[jwplayer RaBE4TPi-ThvAeFxT]
The last two weeks have been tense as teams waited with anticipation to see which of their players would choose to opt out of the 2020 NFL season. The deadline came and went on Thursday afternoon and the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of only three teams not to have a single player opt out.
But make no mistake, this does not mean the Steelers couldn’t still lose some players. The deadline was largely ceremonial as players still have the option to opt out at any point in the season if their circumstances change.
Players who chose a voluntary opt out without any high-risk circumstances are granted a $150,000 advance on their 2021 salary. But if a player is considered high risk, whether it is from them or someone close to them, they had the choice to opt out and receive a $350,000 salary, not an advance.
There are several members of the Steelers, primarily those with small children who I wondered out loud if they would opt out. But the fact this team is unified, even if it is just for now, it a real statement to how unified this team is on righting the wrongs of the last two seasons.
[vertical-gallery id=473367]
[lawrence-related id=473394]