This time of year is when NFL training camps start to get underway. Along with training camp comes training camp holdouts. If a player feels he deserves a better contract than the one he currently has, he won’t report to training camp in hopes that the organization will give him more money. Of course, some players threaten to hold out but don’t actually go through with it. Others threaten and they get a new deal because of it.
Vernon Davis, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers
When Davis decided to skip the voluntary OTA’s and the mandatory minicamp last month it seemed fairly clear that Davis was on his way to a holdout despite still have two years left on his current deal. When 49ers players had to report for training camp on July 23rd, Davis was there. Apparently Davis wasn’t too fond of losing $30,000 for every missed day of training camp.
Evan Mathis, Guard, Philadelphia Eagles
Mathis wanted a new deal from the Eagles and threatened to hold out if he didn’t get one. When players had to report to camp this past Friday he was there. When it came down to it, he said he didn’t want to strong-arm the organization into giving him a new contract, especially when they would be without starting right tackle Lane Johnson due to a PED suspension.
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Between Johnson skipping OTA’s, skipping the Texans’ mandatory minicamp, and his comments about not wanting to be involved in another rebuilding project at this point in his career, I don’t think anyone thought Johnson was going to show up for training camp. When it was time for Texans players to report, Johnson was there. His threat of a holdout wasn’t for a new contract, however. If he held out it was going to be until the Texans decided to trade him (which wasn’t going to happen because of insane contract).
Jamaal Charles, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs
Charles wanted a new contract like most of the other players I’ve listed, but he went about his holdout threats a little bit differently. He expressed that he wanted an extension but instead of skipping OTA’s and minicamp, he showed as a sign of good faith to the team. When it was time for players to report to training camp, however, he was a few hours late. Until, of course, he got the extension he was looking for. Perhaps once quarterback Alex Smith realized Charles might actually hold out he called GM John Dorsey and let him know just how important Charles is to this offense.
While all of these players threatened with a holdout, the following players have followed through with theirs in hopes they get a new deal:
Marshawn Lynch, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks
Lynch’s holdout with the Seahawks could get ugly in a hurry. It already has wide receiver Doug Baldwin and head coach Pete Carroll publicly taking sides on the matter. In this case Lynch doesn’t seem to have much leverage. His current deal still puts him into the top ten highest paid at his position and he still has two years left on it. What also hurts him is the Seahawks’ backup running back, Christine Michael, who the team loves. Every day Lynch misses training camp he will be fined $30,000. The Seahawks have all the power in this holdout.
Alex Boone, Guard, San Francisco 49ers
Boone is considered one of the top guards in the NFL and he wants to be paid as such. However, after having an extremely subpar 2013 campaign (according to PFF Boone ranked 39th out of all guards), Boone doesn’t have much to go with. On top of that, the 49ers are fairly deep with interior lineman with Marcus Martin, Daniel Kilgore, Jonathan Martin (Boone made the switch from tackle to guard, why can’t Martin), Joe Looney, and Adam Snyder all on the roster and able to fill in at that spot if they need to. Boone’s camp claims he’s ready to not show up until he gets a new deal but if I were Boone I wouldn’t hold my breath.