"GRIDIRON GRUMBLINGS": VOL. I

HOLDOUTS
By Marc Jimenez, NFL Draft Bible

Maybe I’m just cynical, but when I heard that Michael Strahan was a no-show at Giants camp because he was considering retiring, I immediately had the thirty-five year-old defensive end pegged as just another holdout.

The act of a player holding out is nothing new in the NFL. It happens every year at the start of training camp when a big name player, often with a big chip on his shoulder, seeks a big time payday. If such a player does not get what he wants then he will fail to report to camp, thus becoming a holdout.

We as sports fans have become conditioned to this type of behavior, yet every time a player holds out for more money, the ramifications could be damaging to both player and team.

Let’s look at a few of this year’s holdouts.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t believe for a second that Strahan will retire. The issue, as always, is money. Like all holdouts, Strahan, who is scheduled to make $4 million this season, feels that he is underpaid and wants a new deal. Strahan also made it known that he isn’t thrilled about the Giants direction -- and who can blame him when Eli Manning is their quarterback -- and just might consider doing some television work like his former teammate Tiki Barber.

The loss of Strahan would be a big blow to the Giants, but when you consider Strahan’s recent divorce settlement -- his former wife, Jean, was awarded $15.3 million along with child support for their twin daughters at $18,000 a month -- and the fact that he only played eight games last season due to a foot sprain, it’s hard to imagine that he will call it quits after fourteen seasons. Plus, with Simeon Rice threatening to take his spot, Strahan better watch out. Advantage: Giants

Kansas City running back Larry Johnson is another big name player holding out. The All Pro back has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him a measly $1.7 million this season. Coming off back-to-back 1,700+ yard seasons, there’s no question that Johnson is an elite running back and should be paid like one. But, considering that Johnson carried the ball an NFL-record 416 times last season, turns twenty-eight in November and the possibility of a Priest Holmes comeback looming, the Chiefs are balking at the $27 million in guaranteed money that he is seeking.

Nevertheless, Kansas City should not let this linger. Although Johnson isn’t known to be much of a vocal leader on or off the field, he is one heck of a runner. With Damon Huard and/or Brodie Croyle taking over for Trent Green, not having Johnson in the backfield would devastate the Chiefs offense. Sure, they can talk tough and threaten to fine him $14,000 for every day he misses training camp, but does anyone really think that the 33-year-old Holmes, who hasn’t played since getting injured by a hit from Shawne Merriman two years ago, can give them anything? The bottom line is, Kansas City cannot afford to be without Johnson. Advantage: Johnson

Not all holdouts are the same. Take for instance Jake Plummer, who was acquired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the Denver Broncos on March 3, despite making it clear that he would not play. Now, it’s no secret that the Buccaneers can use some help at quarterback, but neither coach Jon Gruden nor team officials have been able to talk Plummer out of retirement despite the fact that he is still under contract. As a result, it is being reported that Tampa Bay, who placed Plummer on the “reserve/not report” list, might force him to play by going after the signing bonus that Denver paid him.

"There are consequences to not reporting to camp," said general manager
Bruce Allen. "We treat him just like any other player who did not come to camp."

With a statement like that and the fact that Tampa Bay has gone after a player’s signing bonus in the past -- three years ago when wide receiver Keenan McCardell held out all of training camp and the first half of the season in a contract dispute, the Buccaneers were able to recover part of McCardell’s signing bonus -- Plummer should be worried.

So you see, even though Plummer is retired, he is actually another holdout, one that is under contract for three more years. Advantage: Buccaneers

Not all holdouts are unhappy about the status of their contracts or have lost the desire to play. Some holdouts haven’t even inked their first multi-million dollar deal yet. Such is the case with Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brady Quinn.

The Browns were lucky to have selected the Notre Dame quarterback with the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft and would be wise to get him into camp early to see if he could fare better than incumbent Derek Anderson. But falling into the late round has probably cost Quinn the fat contract that he is seeking, hence the “Golden Boy” is holding out.

Given that Cleveland is in no position to compete for a championship soon, having Quinn get his experience on the playing field should benefit both parties. It is being reported that Quinn is looking for a four-year deal, while the Browns want him to sign a five or six-year deal. Advantage: Push

It is never a good thing for any team to have a disgruntled player --remember the Philadelphia Eagles and Terrell Owens a few years back?

Unfortunately, in this day and age, it is impossible for a team not to have one. With salaries rising each year, a player that signed a generous contract a few years ago can now be considered underpaid. And if a player is underpaid then he feels disrespected, which is one step away from becoming a holdout.

For many players, life is one big competition and the size of their paychecks determines if they are winners or losers. But unlike other sports, an NFL player’s contract is not guaranteed, so he is in a constant struggle to receive the best contract possible, while risking the possibility of being cut at moments notice.

Ultimately, a holdout situation is like a game of chicken. Who will blink first?

Don't miss out! Stay tuned right here at 4th & Goal as Marc Jimenez provides you with an insight & anlysis from around the league with his Gridiron Grumblings Report!

Email: marc@nfldraftbible.com