By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor in chief. Coleman trained for 17 years as a reporter with the Call and Post Newspaper and is an investigative and political reporter with a background in legal and scientific reporting. She is also a former 15-year public school biology teacher.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Five Cleveland Browns players have opted-out of the 2020-2021 season, taking advantage of an agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association that gives players such an option behind the coronavirus pandemic, the agreement designed to protect the safety of the players and to obviously protect football franchises form potential liability.

Today, Aug 6, by 4 pm EST, is the deadline for opting out, some 62 players taking the option that for voluntary opt-outs tolls the contract for a season, eliminates an accrued season, and  provides for eligibility for a $150,000 stipend and salary advance.

Those opting out for high risk reasons, such as an illness, must have an underlying health condition, and would receive an accrued season, and be illegible for a $350,000 stipend.

High-risk players who choose not to play this season, however, would not get a salary advance.

A player or perspective player is not permitted to opt-in or opt-out beyond today's deadline.

Opting out on the Browns team are Drew Forbes, Drake Dorbeck, Andrew Billings, Kobe Gossett, and Malcolm Pridgeon, at least two of them free agents who signed with the Browns, and none of them star players.

Some 56 NFL players have tested positive for the virus, some two percent of the roster.

The Patriots, the six-time Super Bowl champs, have posted the largest number of opt-out players at eight, losing their running back and starting guard for the season, at least.

The Lions, Jets, Cowboys, Coats, Chiefs,  and Dolphins had some three players opt-out on each team.