NFL training camp season is officially upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts.
Bills running back James Cook finally returned to practice on Tuesday, nine days after he stopped practicing citing "business," presumably in regard to the new contract he wants. Cook indicated on social media back in February he wants to be paid $15 million a year, which would tie him for third-highest paid back in the NFL.
He skipped voluntary offseason activities but did show up for mandatory minicamp in June, then reported to training camp on time and practiced the first eight days before beginning his hold-in.
Head coach Sean McDermott said he expected Cook to practice on Tuesday, and that's exactly what happened. “I would say that things have changed,” McDermott said. “We have had conversations with James, good conversations, as I’ve mentioned before.”
But does that mean the hold-in is officially over?
“Too early to go there,” McDermott said.
Cook has been present for team meetings and walkthroughs during his hold-in. So this contract standoff appears to be progressing toward a conclusion, at least for now.
What about the others? Are they progressing or stuck in neutral? Let's take a look.
Buffalo Bills RB James Cook: Progressing
Tuesday was a step forward for Cook and the Bills, on however big or small a level. Josh Allen and other Bills players publicly have Cook's back. It may go without saying, considering Cook's past two Pro Bowl seasons, but Buffalo sounds willing to make a deal too. "We tried to get something done with Jimbo, and unfortunately, you know, it’s got— it takes two," GM Brandon Beane said on Aug. 4. “And both sides have to agree on what that number is, and obviously, that hasn’t gotten there. But, I’m not sitting here saying ‘You don’t pay running backs.’ I think you just have to find what the sweet spot is.”
Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Progressing
Did you watch the same preseason opener we did? Where the Eagles' backups on offense tore through the Bengals' starters on defense? Yeah. Couple that with Hendrickson remaining engaged while holding in, and we're calling this one progressing toward a deal. The Bengals' need is clear as day.
San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Progressing
We'll tag this one as "progressing" too, considering head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday that Brandon Aiyuk likely won't play until a month into the season, at least. There was also yet another injury to the 49ers' wide receiver room this week. Jennings reportedly did a light workout on Monday, but hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27 and is seeking a new contract. With the 49ers running thin at the position, it might motivate a deal to be done sooner than later.
Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons: Stuck in neutral
"I think it's unbelievable that there have been zero contract talks between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys," ESPN's Adam Schefter said Monday. "There has been no progress and you have to wonder where this is going." That sounds dire. This should be an open-and-shut negotiation. Parsons is 26, younger than all the other market-resetting pass rushers who've recently agreed to new deals. He can make a solid argument he's better than all of them. And the Cowboys' defense desperately needs him. The only reason this isn't regressing is because Jerry Jones sent this whole negotiation into a tailspin on the opening day of camp with his meandering season-opening media conference, and it's only stayed silly and unnecessary from there. Dallas has a history of getting deals done late. We're leaning on that here, but boy is it getting shaky.
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: Stuck in neutral
From Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson, who swung through Commanders camp this past weekend:
How far apart are the two sides? Everyone is keeping the numbers tight, but the details seep out in the contract comparables. On one side, it’s the four-year, $132 million extension the Pittsburgh Steelers slotted to DK Metcalf this offseason, which included $60 million guaranteed. The other side is a little more tricky, but consider it a slightly richer version of the the four-year $92 million extension reached between Courtland Sutton and the Denver Broncos, which had $41 million in guarantees.
It’s not perfect apples to apples, but it gives you an idea of the divide between McLaurin and the Commanders. The key difference in the Metcalf and Sutton deals, aside from the significant divide in guaranteed money and annual average salary ($33 million AAV vs. $23 million AAV), is the fact that Metcalf signed his at 27 years old and with a Steelers team that was extremely (maybe desperately) motivated to keep him for a long period. Conversely, the Broncos did a risk-averse deal with a soon-to-be 30-year-old Sutton, who is at the horizon of his prime years.
So the team and the player are still pretty far apart here. There's no outside indication teams are calling to make big offers for McLaurin, so the Commanders have some negotiating power here. Though entering a year with such big expectations — especially for Jayden Daniels, and McLaurin was a big part of his incredible rookie season — it's not an ideal situation at all.
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