UPDATE: Tre'Davious White decided against opting out the 2020 NFL season, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Tre'Davious White's decision to opt in to the 2020 NFL season came down to Thursday's 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to decide whether he will opt out of the 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19, but fans seem to think he has abandoned his team simply for considering the option.
The fourth-year defensive back and 2019 All-Pro has yet to decide whether he'll join the 60-plus players — including two on the Bills — who will opt out of the 2020 season. But he doesn't appreciate so-called fans' criticism of his deliberation, especially considering he needs to make that choice based on what's best for himself and his family.
White made that abundantly clear via Twitter on Thursday, revealing how the coronavirus has affected his family while blasting fans' selfishness ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline:
Crazy that me choosing my family’s wellbeing over a game comes with so called fans attacking and questioning me and saying I’m selfish. No you guys are selfish for thinking that football is bigger than life. Oh by the way my girl’s grandfather passed from COVID. U understand now?
— Tre'Davious White (@TakeAwayTre_) August 6, 2020
MORE: A complete list of NFL players opting out of 2020 season
Unfortunately, it's unlikely White's message will resonate with the people at whom it's aimed: Anyone who would criticize a player for prioritizing his health and family over football likely can't be reasoned with in the first place.
Fortunately, it's not their choice to make. If White decides to return to the gridiron this season, it should be because he's comfortable with the safeguards the league and Bills have in place to ensure player safety. And if he decides playing football presents an unacceptable risk, then no one — selfish fans included — has any right to criticize him.
