Jess Haynie
The Dallas Cowboys took a blow to their potential cornerback depth as Maurice Canady, who signed as a free agent in March, has voluntarily opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He was expected to make the roster this year and perhaps contend for a large role in the CB rotation.
Canady signed a one-year deal to come to Dallas and compete with Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and Anthony Brown for playing time. But the Cowboys would also go on to draft Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson and sign veteran Daryl Worley.
#Cowboys veteran CB Maurice Canady is taking a voluntary opt-out for this season, source says. He appeared in 13 games with three starts last year with the #Jets and #Ravens.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 27, 2020
The 5th-year veteran used his on Twitter account to confirm the report and provide a brief, but clear, explanation for his decision.
https://twitter.com/MauriceCanady26/status/1287872172438900736
Per the recent agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, Canady’s contract will now toll (or freeze, in layman terms) and he will be under contract again in 2021 for similar terms. Dallas does have the right to trade him between now and then, but Canady will be unable to play until next season.
This now gives veterans like Daryl Worley and C.J. Goodwin easier shots at making the 2020 roster. They were going to be up against younger talent with more developmental potential, including Canady.
It’s especially big for Goodwin, who is an outstanding special teams player but doesn’t offer much as a cornerback. It was looking like he might get edged out, but now Dallas will have an easier time giving him a roster spot.
Players have until this Saturday, August 1st, to take the opt-out provision. Will Maurice Canady be the only Cowboy to do so, or is he just the first?
With Canady opting out, our depth at CB becomes a little more clearer. I think it’ll end up being Awuzie, Diggs, Brown, Robinson and Worsley. I think Lewis gets traded during camp. Much respect to Canady for doing this, family is always #1.
Who cares…. He wasn’t gonna be nothing more than a special teams player, if even that!! There’s way more corners on this team that are better than him!! He would’ve been lucky to even make the final 53!!
Good riddance to this p***Y. Get lost and don’t ever come back.
I agree,he would’ve been given a fair shot to show other teams hey,you messed up,the Boys got me now .. I was a diamond in the rough,the Jets screwed up! But no,he just verified and justified why the Jets let him walk,he just don’t have any sand in them PANTS! When I was 25 wild horses wouldn’t keep me from the opportunity to play in the NFL…puts the Boys into an already contentious backup plan at CB
Under NFL covid money per report , Goodwin will get either 150,000 or 350,000 and keep an accrued year toward future retirement. Opting out is the clever thing for any player who is marginal and especially one who needs a year
of benefits accrual. I understand if they opt out their contract rolls over to next year.
Hopefully, most players are not smart enough to figure the scam of claiming a covid opt out year.
Sorry, it is Canady that opted out.