MONTREAL– Kansas City Chiefs offending lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s decision to sit out the 2020 NFL season and focus on medicine wasn’t a simple one, however his experience on the front lines of Quebec’s COVID-19 fight at a long-lasting care home shap
MONTREAL– Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s decision to sit out the 2020 NFL season and focus on medication wasn’t a simple one, but his experience on the front lines of Quebec’s COVID-19 fight at a long-term care house shaped that choice, his representative said Saturday.
The Canadian offensive lineman announced late Friday through social media he wouldn’t take part in the upcoming NFL season, becoming the first player to opt out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” This is among the most hard decisions I have needed to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I think is best for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif stated in a message on Twitter. “This is why I have decided to take the Opt Out Choice worked out by the League and the NFLPA and formally opt out of the 2020 NFL season.”
The 29- year-old from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., the Chiefs’ beginning best guard, earned a medical degree from McGill University and has been working to fulfil his requirements to end up being a medical professional in the off-season.
” It was a really hard decision, like Laurent mentioned in the statement it was one of the most difficult choices he needed to make in his life,” stated Sasha Ghavami, Duvernay-Tardif’s representative and longtime buddy, who saw him battle with the choice over the past few days.
Eventually, Duvernay-Tardif decided if he was going to take a COVID-19 related risk in a pandemic, it would be with patients, not on the football field.
” He chose not to put himself because position this season,” Ghavami said. “If he was to be put in a position to take threats, it would be dealing with clients.”
His experience responding to the Quebec federal government’s require orderlies to work in long-term care houses struck hard with COVID-19 led him to his choice.
Duvernay-Tardif recorded a few of his time at Centre Gertrude-Lafrance, a facility in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal, on his social networks accounts.
” Laurent is a person with a great deal of convictions and has always been real to his beliefs and what he believes is the right thing to do for him,” Ghavami said.
The NFL and its players association agreed earlier Friday to an opt-out stipulation for the upcoming season. Those who select to voluntarily will supposedly get a US$150,000 stipend instead of their legal salary while those with medical opt-outs will get $350,000
The due date to pull out is Aug. 3.
Duvernay-Tardif signed a four-year offer in February 2017.
It’s been a whirlwind 2020 for Duvernay-Tardif, his agent stated: winning the Super Bowl in February, restrucuring his contract to stick with Chiefs and after that heading into long-term care.
Ghavami stated Duvernay-Tardif comprehended that could imply missing out on a possible Super Bowl repeat as Kansas City, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, remains a strong competitor. His representative said he’s confident he’ll bounce back.
” It’s a big decision, it’s very tough for an expert athlete, you do whatever in your power to be in a position to win,” Ghavami said. “It’s absolutely a decision that makes it harder.”
Kansas City drafted Duvernay-Tardif in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He’s been a starter at ideal guard since 2015.
Ghavami said Duvernay-Tardif’s decision drew largely favorable reaction on social networks.
Amongst those weighing in was Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube.
” A heartbreaking decision for @LaurentDTardif, however which shows his values as a healthcare expert,” he wrote Saturday.
For his part, Ghavami said he could not be prouder.
” I’m proud because to be able to believe in something so strongly that you’re willing to sacrifice your income, possibly your task, and even take that position publicly and stay real to it is something I appreciate a lot,” Ghavami stated.
” When you recall at an athlete’s career, their legacy, you can constantly look at wins, you can always take a look at losses, you can constantly take a look at champions, however what sticks out are these types of moments.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first released July 25, 2020.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
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