The Terry McLaurin holdout is now official. The star wide receiver skipped the Washington Commanders’ conditioning test yesterday. Subsequently, the team placed him on the reserve/did not report list.
McLaurin is in the final year of his contract – a three-year, $68 million extension inked in 2022.
McLaurin enters this holdout after posting career highs of 1,096 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He also started all 17 games.
Under NFL rules, each day missed now costs the wide receiver $50,000.
McLaurin Vocal About Frustration
Last week at a commercial shoot for Eastern Motors, McLaurin spoke with reporters. He voiced frustration over the lack of progress in contract talks. Negotiations had reportedly been silent for over a month.
“Without any progressive discussions, it’s kind of hard to see how I step on the field,” McLaurin said.
He’s made it clear he wants to stay, but McLaurin wants to be paid in line with what he feels recent wide receiver deals mandate.
“With how the market is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of,” McLaurin added.
Caliber
That market has grown since McLaurin’s last deal. This offseason alone, Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, and Tee Higgins signed deals worth $115 to $132 million. But those three guys are 25, 27 and 26 respectively, Terry is 29, soon to be 30 (September). While that may not sound like a huge difference, it is in professional sports.
So when Terry talks of guys “his caliber”, is he basing it solely on skill?
It isn’t hard to see how age matters from the organization’s standpoint. Every player has a life expectancy, and the closer you get to the end of it, the less an organization wants to have lengthy contracts at top player prices.
Brass Tacks
The team could have Terry play out his existing contract and then franchise him and not likely go over 30 million.
Commanders GM Adam Peters tried to give fans a glimmer of hope. He said that talks with McLaurin have resumed and described them as “productive.”
Terry Who?
The pink elephant in the room – the thing that nobody is talking about – is how little Terry seems to be behaving like Terry.
The thing that endears him most to people, seems to be wavering right now. His loyalty.
If he truly wants to remain in Washington for the remainder of his career, all he has to do is sign the contract. A contract that could be another 90-100 million for Terry’s bag (reportedly 3-year, $30M per).
The team DID already pay him handsomely once – when he was Wilson / Higgins / Metcalf age. They gave him a $28 Million signing bonus – the highest ever given to any wide receiver at the time.
There doesn’t seem to be anything to suggest that the team has grossly low-balled him this time around either.
Typical Holdout Posturing
This seems like a typical agent versus team contract battle, doesn’t it? Lots of posturing on both sides. The appearance of contention. The intentional disruption of Training Camp and the flow of good vibes by the agent, to try and capitalize on every drop of leverage they can find.
Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura from Exclusive Sports Group are Terry’s agents. It bears mentioning that McLaurin is their meal ticket. He is by far, their highest paid client.
Which is to infer that all of this bluster and rhetoric is very normal. In fact it’s commonplace.
But for Terry?
The consummate team player seems determined to squeeze the maximum out of Washington. While that’s absolutely his right, it just seems out of character.
So does playing it out publicly.
These just seem like very non Terry McLaurin type behaviors.
This is… unexpected.
There probably isn’t a soul in Washington that doesn’t recognize what the guy has done for the team and what he’s meant to the organization. And in some of the team’s darkest times. Despite catching passes from ELEVEN different quarterbacks, McLaurin has topped 1,000 yards in five straight seasons.
Nobody wants him to leave.
But ultimately, the NFL is a business. Money often gets in the way.
So as second-year QB Jayden Daniels enters camp and gears up for a breakout season – Washington’s top playmaker will remain on the sidelines.
For now at least.
I agree with you for the most part.
He isnt being Terry like not only because of money, but I think deep down he wants to play the rest of his career in DC.
It is a double edge, as the Skins have to keep the future in mind as well.
I say pay Terry and JD and work around everything else.