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  3. article_body => "<p>The Patriots had a league-high eight players opt out for the 2020 season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Even though it looks as though <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TomPelissero\/status\/1351670085551845377\">this year's offseason will look very much like last year's<\/a>, there is no opt-out date for 2021 yet so for now we're left to wonder -- ahead of free agency, ahead of the draft -- what is going to happen with that octet?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>As a reminder, contracts tolled from last year to this year for those who decided not to play. For instance, Dont'a Hightower still has a year remaining on his contract with the Patriots despite the fact that when he initially signed his deal, 2020 was scheduled to be his final season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Here we're going to get into the ramifications of each player's decision to play or not to play.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/opt-out-check-donta-hightower-would-provide-patriots-lift-no-one-else-can?int\"><strong>Click here for the gallery.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n"
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Patriots

/ by Phil Perry
Patriots

Phil Perry

The Patriots had a league-high eight players opt out for the 2020 season.

Even though it looks as though this year's offseason will look very much like last year's, there is no opt-out date for 2021 yet so for now we're left to wonder -- ahead of free agency, ahead of the draft -- what is going to happen with that octet?

As a reminder, contracts tolled from last year to this year for those who decided not to play. For instance, Dont'a Hightower still has a year remaining on his contract with the Patriots despite the fact that when he initially signed his deal, 2020 was scheduled to be his final season.

Here we're going to get into the ramifications of each player's decision to play or not to play. 

Click here for the gallery.

Â