Dolphins CB Howard holding out for new contract

Tua Tagovailoa threw five interceptions in practice on Tuesday. Worse, all those giveaways came with the player who picked off more passes than anyone else in the NFL last season nowhere to be found.

Xavien Howard was a noshow for the first day of the Miami Dolphins’ three-day mandatory minicamp, with coach Brian Flores saying it was “a contract situation” — a clear indication that the cornerback who led the NFL with 10 interceptions last season wants to renegotiate a contract.

Patriots

New England coach Bill Belichick says he doesn’t expect cornerback Stephon Gilmore to participate in any of the team’s remaining mandatory minicamp workouts this week. It’s an indication that the former defensive player of the year could possibly be a holdout.

Vikings

Minnesota signed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson before their minicamp began, bringing back a proven interior pass rusher in the latest part of their offseason makeover.

Cowboys

Dallas is headed back to California for training camp after the pandemic kept them home last year. The club said its first practice will be in

Oxnard on July 22, and fans will be allowed.

Elsewhere

As the NFL prepares for a 2021 season it hopes will be free of pandemic-related disruptions, more than 50% of the players have been vaccinated for the coronavirus. But the league and the NFL Players Association continue to deal with vaccine wariness, employing an approach that stresses education and incentivizes players with the lure of relaxed protocols.