Huge loss for Pitt as they just lost their fourth straight game and now their top player. Paris is a gamechanger. Before he was ejected for targeting versus us last year, he was flying around making all the plays.
PSN has learned that increasing COVID-19 infection rates in the area contributed to Ford's decision. Ford played in all seven games with the Panthers this season, making 41 tackles, three for a loss, three interceptions and defending one pass.
Ford was seen arguing with coaches on the Panthers sideline before being removed from Pitt's loss to Notre Dame last Saturday. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said after the game that he team merely wanted to get a look at backup safety Brandon Hill with the game out of hand.
BREAKING: #Pitt safety Paris Ford has opted out of the remainder of the 2020 season, sources close to Ford have told PSN.https://t.co/M2KFrYGTW0 pic.twitter.com/F9DTcIlyZp— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) November 2, 2020
Comments
Even better that Cincy's football social team made this
Honestly it was all time great social media usage right after they beat UCF. I think UCF uses a similar graphic for their wins.
I can respect his decision.
There's more to this than just Covid.
Kind of odd that someone would do it now. Would have thought that he would have opted out before the season began or early on. If you stayed in this long, seems odd to drop out. Guessing that it was not really "increasing COVID-19 infections" and more the team not playing well or disagreements with the coaching staff or something else. Or a combination of multiple things with no single one being a dominant factor.
more like "increasing awareness that his HC is a massive douchebag"
That's a big hit to the only bright spot for Pitt, their defense.
Just a layman's opinion but I think the opt outs are going to pick up quite a bit as we get close to the end of the season and many teams end up with not much to play for.
Getting COVID in December, for example, with the NFL combine in early March is potentially a big yikes. Like our very own Rayshard Ashby said he got COVID and ended up with breathing difficulties. Fair to assume he wasn't crushing it in the weight room for a few weeks. Guys could have real problems with their draft prep.
If I were a prospect I'd be looking for a great gym in the middle of Montana and I'd hide there until the draft.
I think rates are going up in Montana too, but I guess it's a massive state with not a lot of people
I'm not sure how popular Ford was on that Pitt football team. He was constantly screaming at a teammate, coach, etc. Very reminiscent of DeAngelo Hall. Hopefully he gets it together like DeLo did because he can be an excellent player.
Fuck Pat Narduzzi
via GIPHY
I watched this guy in the cold rain vs. Pitt last year and while impressed with his playmaking I was unimpressed by his extra-curricular after-play activity and taunts/behavior through most of the game, so this is not surprising.
I thought I read that he got benched this last game. Not because he wasn't the best player, but because he just wasn't listening to the coaches.