It now can be confirmed. Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess did not report to the Raiders' voluntary organized team activities because he does not have the contract he wants.
Over the past two seasons, no NFL player has had more sacks than Burgess, who has rung up 27 -- 1½ more than Miami's Jason Taylor, 3½ more than Carolina's Julius Peppers, 4½ more than St. Louis' Leonard Little.
Yet Burgess is still playing under the five-year, $15 million contract he signed with Oakland, which is less in total value than the $19.5 million in guaranteed money the Seattle Seahawks gave defensive end Patrick Kerney on a six-year, $39.5 million deal. When Kerney's guaranteed money exceeds Burgess' total money, there is a discrepancy the Oakland defensive end feels needs to be addressed.
Derrick Burgess has been playing like an all-star. Now he wants to get paid like one. Derrick Burgess has been playing like an all-star. Now he wants to get paid like one. While Kerney's contract numbers dwarf Burgess' off the field, Burgess' dwarf Kerney's on the field.
During the past two seasons, Burgess has had 16 more sacks than Kerney and now he is hoping to be rewarded for it. Until he is, he might not report back to the Raiders, though it doesn't sound as though Burgess has made any long-term decisions yet about how to handle the situation and potential holdout.
But this is just another slice of fallout from the big money showered on some of the NFL's players this offseason.
While players such as Kerney and cornerback Nate Clements cashed in, other players such as Burgess and cornerback Asante Samuel got ticked off.
A proven defensive lineman who may become available.
I'm leery of holdouts from any camp. I understand it and everything, but it can also be a real "red flag" pointing to a me-first attitude...which is anathema.
"Sit back and watch the Redskins.
SOMETHING MAGICAL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"
JPFair- A fan's fan. RIP, brother
UK Skins Fan wrote:He's a little light? He can certainly get after the QB, but I'm not sure that we have room for him AND Carter.
But it would be nice if we could sign a free agent defensive end who goes on to pick up 27 sacks in the next two seasons.
Agreed. This guy has certainly produced on a team that was horrible he has been consistently solid. He lead the league the year before this season in sacks and was amongst the leaders last year. Carter was not even in the top thirty in Sack production.
I would trade away Carter for Burgess in a heartbeat.
tcwest10 wrote:I'm leery of holdouts from any camp. I understand it and everything, but it can also be a real "red flag" pointing to a me-first attitude...which is anathema.
Good point. But thing is there are less talented players out there who are getting paid more than this guy.
If we are paying a guy like Carter who is virtually doing nothing for us. I would much rather have a guy like Burgess who actually produces sacks.
Carter was better the second half of the season, but overall I agree that he isn't the answer. The thing is we don't know if Burgess would fair any better in GW system than Carter.
