NFL stars on the verge of a preseason holdout
NFL training camps are just days away from starting for many teams, and as always player holdouts are certain to dominate headlines until deals are signed.
It’s getting to be around that time. NFL franchises are getting final preparations ready for training camps which are set to start in the next week. Coaches will worry about the Xs and Os and who makes the roster cuts, while many front offices will be trying to figure out how to get their stars on the field and avoid a lengthy holdout.
Who will blink first?
Players holdout in hopes of getting a new contract before the season starts. In almost all cases, that player has a year or two remaining on his contract and thinks he should be finically rewarded for his performances over the last few seasons.
Usually the holdouts take place during training camps, and sometimes can stretch into start of the preseason games. On very rare occasions a team and a player won’t agree to terms until deep into the season, or for the entire season like Le’Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh who failed to reach a deal and the running back sat out the entire 2018 season .
There are NFL teams that look to be on a crash course heading straight into a holdout situation. Many times, holdouts come down to who blinks first. Sometimes it’s the front offices, and sometimes it’s the player. These are the holdouts that will likely be making headlines at least for the first few days of training camp.
RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Other than Brian Daboll, there has been no one that has been more responsible for the Giants turn around then their running back and face of the franchise. Saquon Barkley is coming off of his best season since his sensational rookie campaign. Since then injuries have hindered Barkley for reaching the stardom he was destined for. New York put a franchise tag on their running back, which Barkley refused to sign in hopes of a long term contract which is where we stand heading into training camp.
RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs was the reason the Raiders nearly made the playoffs last year. After three years of steady play at the running back position for the Raiders, the from Alabama Crimson Tide star exploded for a league leading 1,653 yards and 12 TDs. Like Barkley, Jacobs declined to sign the franchise tag the Raiders tried to put on him in hopes for a long term contract. Derek Carr is gone, and Jimmy Garroppolo looks like he’ll be the QB1 in Sin City. Jimmy G isn’t a guy that’s going to light up a defense, he needs a running back like Jacobs in the backfield and Jacobs most certainly knows that.
WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
If things seem a bit tense in Buffalo, that’s because they are. Stefon Diggs is on the verge of holding out, and both his quarterback and coach know how important of an absence that could be. The WR got his contract extension, but the four year deal won’t take effect until next season. The Super Bowl window is closing in Buffalo, and perhaps that’s why both Josh Allen and Sean McDermott have both chimed in on the situation. Diggs either walked out or was asked to leave mandatory minicamp in June to which McDermott told reporters he was very concerned before later cleaning up those statements, but by that time the cat was out of the bag. The Bills need Diggs if they want to win a Super Bowl and those in the Diggs camp might try to exploit that fact in working out a deal.
DT Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
What Chris Jones did last year in KC was nothing short of remarkable. He turned a defensive unit that was getting toasted on a weekly basis into a formidable squad that was essential in the Super Bowl run from the Chiefs. He was a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year after registering 15.5 sacks, and is now looking for a new deal. Chiefs GM Brett Veach told reporters “I’m sure we’ll have great dialogue from now to the start of training camp and look forward to Chris being here not just for next year, but for a long time.” That should calm the nerves of some of the Chiefs fans looking to make a repeat run to Super Bowl Sunday.
C Connor Williams, Miami Dolphins
Williams made the change from Dallas to South Beach while switching from left guard to center for the Dolphins. Williams was a big part of the Dolphins success, especially in the early parts of the year, and after seeing their quarterback miss long stretches due to multiple injuries, securing the offensive line and their Tua Tagovailoa’s saftey will be of the upmost importance moving on. Williams is set to make $2 million guaranteed on the last year of his contact, and it hoping the Dolphins offer him a deal that will keep him at Hard Rock Stadium for the foreseeable future.