Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opposes the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl 54 in Miami Gardens, Florida Duvernay-Tardif, the first player to retire from the upcoming NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Friday, July 24, 2020 (AP) Photo/Gregory Payan, file)
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (76) speaks at a press convention in Aventura, Florida, before Super Bowl 54. Duvernay-Tardif, Champion of the Super Bowl Kansas City Chiefs, the first player to retire from the upcoming NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic, On Friday, July 24, 2020 (AP Photo / Brynn Anderson file, file)
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the first player to retire from the upcoming NFL season on Friday, opting to use his medical title on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic instead of helping the Kansas City Chiefs protect their first Super Bowl Name in 50 years.
Duvernay-Tardif worked to meet his needs to become an off-season doctor, and spent this summer running in a clinic in his local Canada. He said the delight helped him make the decision that if he was in danger to his health, it would be to help patients with the virus.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life, but I have to stick to my ideals and do what I think is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif said in his Twitter announcement. “That’s why I have to decide on the exclusion option.”
The NFL and its players’ agreement agreed on the previous Friday a withdrawal clause for the upcoming season. Those who voluntarily decide to get a $150,000 stipend and those with a medical option will get $350,000 than their contract salary, two other people familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press. People spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the amount of the allowance has not been made public.
The deadline for retirement is August 3, Duvernay-Tardif took the resolution before Chiefs’ veterans were in the camp.
“Being on the front line this low season has given me a different attitude about this pandemic and the strain it puts on Americans and our health care system,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “I can’t potentially transmit the virus in our communities just by playing the game I love.”
Chiefs welcomed recruits to the education camp before this week, most of their time devoted to COVID-19 testing and regimen physical exams. Veterans like Duvernay-Tardif were due to arrive in the coming days.
Duvernay-Tardif, the 29-year-old was an unknown when the bosses decided for him in the sixth circular of the 2014 draft at McGill University, which plays at a point in Canada roughly equivalent to Division III of the United States, but his intelligence allowed him to temporarily take over the playbook of coach Andy Reid , and a year dedicated to learning the concepts, and increasing his strength and enjoying more, led him to train. departure the following season.
He played each and every one of the offensive shots in the playoffs, helping the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers for the title.
The Chiefs signed most of their loose team agents, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the defensive version of Chris Jones signed monstrous contracts over the summer while trying to bring the team back intact. They had 20 of the 22 incumbents in attack and defense before Duvernay-Tardif announced their resolve to retire.
“Given the global fitness crisis we’ve been experiencing lately, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed on vital fitness and protection protocols to protect players. I have no doubt that the Chiefs’ medical staff has developed a forged plan to minimize the dangers of COVID-19-related fitness, however, some dangers will remain,” he said. “I need to thank all members of the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their understanding.”
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