With more New England Patriots opting out of the 2020 NFL season, it seems like football fans have never been more convinced that the team is tanking for Clemson’s junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
As of Tuesday morning, five Patriots are reportedly opting out of the season — linebacker Dont’a Hightower, running back Brandon Bolden, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale and guard Najee Toran — presumably because of concerns about health risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (For The Win is keeping a running list of NFL players who have decided to skip this season.)
Opting out of the season because of the coronavirus outbreak is, obviously, a perfectly acceptable excuse, particularly when there’s a chance players’ health could be jeopardized by a virus that’s already killed almost 150,000 people in the U.S.
And football players were likely reminded of the risks Monday when MLB news broke that 14 Miami Marlins players or staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
But some NFL fans seem convinced that with so many Patriots opting out, the team is officially focused on the 2021 NFL Draft and trying to tank for Lawrence, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound star quarterback who, in 2019, had a 65.8 completion percentage and threw for 3,665 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Now, as Patriots fans drool over the idea of getting the No. 1 overall draft pick and taking Lawrence, everyone else doesn’t seem too pleased. Plus, it’s a bit of an insult to Cam Newton, who New England signed to a one-year contract back in June.
But all around, plenty of NFL fans had jokes and Bill Belichick-led conspiracy theories.
Preserving their players’ and families’ safety and tanking for Trevor Lawrence… the Pats remain the smartest team in football https://t.co/zEi9GIe3w8
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) July 28, 2020
They are tanking for Trevor Lawrence lol https://t.co/wYx0z7eOcu
— Tomstrodamas (@Tommando33) July 28, 2020
Operation tank for Trevor Lawrence is in full effect in New England! pic.twitter.com/yUlOTWby8a
— Jay Official (@jayofficial2k) July 28, 2020
Bill Belichick watching all of his players opt out so he can tank and get Trevor Lawrence in the draft. pic.twitter.com/liuYBLY61W
— Dom Ingram (@DommieIngram) July 28, 2020
Bill Belichick walking to the podium to draft Trevor Lawrence next year after his entire team opts out of the season. Just brilliant pic.twitter.com/oDDZETjv4q
— RJ Choppy (@rjchoppy) July 28, 2020
Bill Belichick like “ Sign Cam Newton but still have half of the roster opt out of the season to Tank for Trevor Lawrence”
😆 😆 pic.twitter.com/wgq8t7RASq— Jon T. (@time2shine7_) July 28, 2020
Aint singing no body Evan. I told you Patriots are going to Trevor LAwrence and its perfect situation to tank. ITSS OVVVVAAAAAAAA pic.twitter.com/0HVjRTYaPp
— Joelrocks The Forecaster. (@Joelrocks23) July 28, 2020
Bill told all his players to sit out lol. Trevor Lawrence gonna look good in Foxborough https://t.co/QXVyuxWeFT
— Mr. Chicken —NYG— (@5on_it) July 28, 2020
Bellichick calling players asking them to sit out so when the Pats suck, he’s got an excuse. He definitely wants Trevor Lawrence in the draft next year https://t.co/ikxbfyZL0b
— Toon Sarnt (@GI_Jawn) July 28, 2020
Now they are going to get Trevor Lawrence and win like 7 more super bowls over the next 20 years
— Ian (@SomeGuy407) July 28, 2020
And with the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select….. Trevor Lawrence. https://t.co/QASIuizJ77
— AJ Liberacki (@AJL1913) July 28, 2020
At this point I’m sure Bill is calling his players telling them to opt out, all part of the plan to tank for Trevor Lawrence https://t.co/giVwYZRP4B
— Andrew🥵 (@Piurowski28) July 28, 2020
Bill Belichick making a bunch of players “opt out” so they can tank and get Trevor Lawrence pic.twitter.com/BTVP5jRtcf
— Conor Lynch (@Lynch3Conor) July 28, 2020
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