In the USA, the first voices are being raised to see Patriots coach Bill Belichick behind the “opt-out” wave of numerous Patriots players. But there are many arguments against it.

The worldwide corona pandemic is a novelty in the NFL 2020. This year, players have a choice: play, cash in and possibly risk their health, or take advantage of the “opt-out” option and suspend the entire season. As compensation, they will still receive 150,000 US dollars. That’s peanuts compared to some of the big bucks in some NFL contracts.

Of all teams, the New England Patriots’ squad, of all teams, has seen this option drawn significantly more often than any other team. The franchise had to cope with the departure of star quarterback Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the off-season. Now numerous other top performers are also breaking away.

Six Patriots players give up the season
So far the starters Dont’a Hightower (linebacker), Patrick Chung (safety) and Marcus Cannon (offensive tackle) as well as with Brandon Bolden (running back), Danny Vitale (fullback) and Najee Toran (guard) three other players have already drawn their “opt-out” option for the 2020 season. More could follow.

Coincidence? Not for an anonymous NFL executive. As NFL insider Adam Schefter of “ESPN” posted on Twitter, an unspecified senior figure believes Patriots coach Bill Belichick is behind these decisions. “You know that Bill Belichick is somehow steering this thing.” – “for what reason?” “I don’t know! That’s why he is who he is,” the dialogue between Schefter and the NFL executive is quoted as saying.

Actual text exchange with an NFL executive today after a sixth Patriot opted out:

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!”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2020

A suspension of the coming NFL season would extend the current contracts by one year. The actual salary for 2020 would then only be credited in 2021. 2021 would not count 2022 and so on. The Patriots would then save a lot of cap space in 2021, as beat writer Doug Kyed noted on Twitter. And 2021 was a little…

I'll say this: The Patriots suddenly have a lot more cap space to carry over into a 2021 cap-reduced year than they had yesterday. https://t.co/YdqpQqPxgU

— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 28, 2020

Where does Trevor Lawrence land?
If so, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has led the Tigers to both the finals and the title in his two college seasons so far, is likely to sign up for the draft. An exceptional player, who will be the focus of many NFL franchises. Even the Patriots?

are playing worse than any other team to be the first team in the 2021 draft. That could be the strategy, which would of course be much easier to achieve with the “opt-out” of many key players. A new football dynasty could then be built around Lawrence in New England.

So much for the theory. But is there really anything to it?

There are enough other reasons why these Patriots players in particular will not play in the coming season.

Hightower and Cannon with other reasons…
Dont’a Hightower has just become a father, has a mother who suffers from diabetes, already has three Super Bowl rings in his pocket and has earned over 40 million dollars in his career to date. Marcus Cannon, who has a wife and three children and has suffered from non-Hodgkin’s Lymphony in the past, is similarly affected. He, too, has already earned three Super Bowl rings and over 30 million dollars. For both of them it is about more than the money!

Also, one of the most important off-season commitments, quarterback Cam Newton, would not make sense under this light. With back-up quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Bryan Hoyer, it would be easier to lose matches.

Not to mention the moral aspect.

So far it is speculation that Bill Belichick is involved. But it should be clear to every NFL fan that the now 68-year-old is a mastermind, especially tactically.