New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore will miss the entire season due to a health issue, but the team is committed to supporting him financially.
Barmore was hospitalized over the summer with blood clots, leading to his placement on the non-football injury (NFI) list, which is designated for players unable to participate due to conditions unrelated to football.
While teams are not obligated to pay players on the NFI list, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Patriots will still pay Barmore his full salary for the 2024 season. Barmore, one of the top defenders for New England, signed a four-year, $83 million extension this offseason, though the new contract doesn’t take effect until 2025. His base salary for this season is $1.8 million, but the Patriots’ decision to pay him is a commendable gesture. Other teams have made similar decisions for players in comparable situations in the past.
Barmore, 25, is coming off the best season of his career. In his third year in the NFL, he recorded 16 quarterback hits and 8.5 sacks, both personal bests. The Patriots clearly value him, which explains why they are choosing to compensate him even when they are not required to do so.
