Both Hopkins, who just signed a three-year extension late last season, and Bynes, a 10-year veteran with a Super Bowl ring, are undrafted free agents who made good. They know there won't be many of those because of the lack of spring practices and pre-season games and what looks to be a roster cut from 90 to 80, although reports have the practice squads expanded to 16 players.
"It's a very tough time for those guys. My heart goes out to them," Hopkins said. "I know what that time on the field means to a guy in that position. The chances it gives you to make an impression on the coaches. And a lot of those guys didn't have pro days."
Bynes is coming from a Ravens team that never lost once he came off the couch in early October before losing their divisional game against Titans, which was Bynes' seventh career post-season game. The Bengals are counting on his experience to help a defense that is trying to integrate half of its starters to a new system with so little time on the field.
"It's not without its challenges," Bynes said. "I feel bad for the young guys because I was one of them. But we need to get in and go as soon as we can. It's all about teams who finish well in a season. That's what it's all about. Everybody is going to have some (down moments), but it's the teams that rebound. It's all about getting in and going to the playoffs. You want to be ready for the season, but it's all about finishing, too."
Hopkins and Bynes are representative of the wide range of players the league must accommodate in the pandemic. Hopkins, who is single, lives most of the time in Cincinnati. Bynes, who has kids, lives in Atlanta.
"My family would love to come there, but I think they're staying here," Bynes said. "You never know who has it. I'll have to see what it looks like once I get up there."
There is Hopkins and his dog. That's it.
"I understand guys are worried about their wives and children, pregnant wives. I think we're looking at the impact on our families," Hopkins said. "They may take a harder hit and guys still have a lot of questions. But, for sure, it's an exciting time."
According to PFT, teams aren't going to be strangled by an economic crunch. There are guarantees the salary cap is at least $175 million next year, which would be a $23 million dip.
July 25, 2020 at 05:43AM
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