Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon are two of the best running backs in the league, and it now appears that both of them want to be paid as such. Reports have indicated that both are prepared to hold out if they do not get new deals.
For the Los Angeles Chargers’ star, Gordon has told the team that he either wants a new deal or not only will he not report to training camp, he may demand a trade as well. He is currently projected to make just a little over $5.5 million this year and would be a free agent after next season (assuming that the Chargers do not use the franchise tag). Last season Gordon rushed 175 times for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. He also had 50 receptions for 490 yards and another four touchdowns.
You certainly cannot blame Gordon for wanting to make more. He is not only in the last year of his deal, but in a league where an injury can quickly end a career as well as the fact that running backs don’t age well, he is looking to maximize his value now. Additionally, a new deal would give him stability moving forward. Knowing that the Chargers could conceivably use the franchise tag for a few years, there would be a lot of uncertainty from year to year for the running back.
For Elliott, it appeared as if he was going to be a little more amicable to not having a deal done as he participated in Dallas’ offseason program; however, with two years left on his rookie contract, he too is trying to maximize his earning potential. While he has not been as forthright in his desire for a new deal, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says that he is strongly considering it.
Last season, Elliott rushed 304 times for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 77 receptions for 567 yards with another three touchdowns. Obviously, having either Gordon or Elliott hold out would certainly be detrimental to their respective organizations, so it will be interesting to see how quickly things get done in both situations.
Extended Schedule?
The NFL and NFL Players Association were set to meet this week, but those meetings were cut short after just one day. While reports were that they were productive, there will certainly be hurdles to overcome between the two sides. One interesting hurdle may be in terms of how long the schedule is.
This has long been a source of contention as many, including players, feel the preseason is entirely too long at four weeks. In fact, it seems every year that the second and third weeks are about the only ones worth watching, and the fourth week is an absolute joke. One thing that the NFL is proposing is to expand to an 18-game schedule instead of the current 16. To try to offset the wear and tear on the players (without having to pay them significantly more), the initial introduction would cap the number of games a player could play at 16.
This seems to bring a plethora of questions, including how will teams field the two extra games worth of spots without using all of the regulars. Still, the two sides are each shooting for the moon right now, which is normal in collective bargaining, with the hope they can come to some sort of compromise. The question is just what will that compromise look like when it is all said and done?
Gould, 49ers Agree To Extension
Robbie Gould, one of the most successful kickers in NFL history, has agreed to a new deal with the San Francisco 49ers for four years and just a little under $20 million ($10.5 million fully guaranteed). Since joining the 49ers, Gould is 72-for-75 on field-goal attempts. In his career, he has made 358 out of 408 field goals (and 454 out of 465 extra points). After requesting a trade, there was a belief that he could try to make his way back to the Chicago Bears, but it appears that may have just been a smokescreen as he will happily sign his new contract.
Harrison Released Amid Assault Allegations
In what is sadly becoming a bit of the norm, another NFL player has been accused of assault and now finds himself on the unemployment line. Desmond Harrison has been charged with assault on a female. This is not the first time that he has run into trouble as he had a reputation in college of being in trouble that led to him not being drafted. Still, after being released by the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals claimed him hoping that they could get him straightened out. Sadly, that does not seem to be the case, as the Cardinals have released him amid the allegations.
Lock Signs With Broncos
While initially it was reported that there were some issues, John Elway and the Denver Broncos finally signed everyone from their 2019 draft class. The final signee was Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, who was picked with the 42nd overall pick. It was believed that he was seeking a quarterback premium, but when it was all said and done, the two sides came to an agreement ahead of practices starting. While the Broncos acquired Joe Flacco this offseason, Vic Fangio and crew will hope to be able to develop Lock sooner than later. Ever since Peyton Manning retired, Elway has struggled to develop a suitable starter, and he hopes that Lock can be their long-term solution.
