Mack is missing man at mandatory camp
ALAMEDA >> When the Raiders took the field for their first team session Tuesday at their mandatory minicamp, Tank Carradine lined up as the starting left defensive end.
That made it official. Khalil Mack is a holdout.
It’s likely to continue through the rest of the camp, perhaps even to training camp, although coach Jon Gruden is hoping that’s not the case.
“One of the big reasons I came here is to coach that man,” Gruden said. “But I don’t want to speculate. There’s a lot of guys in the league, several players that are in a situation. We’re trying to resolve it as soon as possible and in the meantime coach the players that are here.”
Raiders players, many of whom could find themselves in their own contract situations, weren’t about to judge Mack’s decision.
Guard Kelechi Osemele said he’s been too busy to give Mack much thought.
“I’m sure he’s doing what he needs to do to be ready,” Osemele said. “Right now, it’s next man up until he gets back. He’s a great player. In
my opinion, yes, we need to do whatever we can to get him back. He’s a phenomenal guy, you don’t come across talent like that.
“But we really haven’t been letting it affect our preparation day in and day out.”
Safety Karl Joseph said defensive players can’t help but notice Mack not being there, but said, “We know what he’s doing, and we respect it. When he’s ready to come back, we’ll be ready for him. You can’t replace a guy like that.”
As Gruden noted, it’s not like Mack is all by his lonesome when it comes to player holdouts.
Mack is most closely tied to the contract status of defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, who also won’t be participating in their mandatory camp.
Others are sitting out as well. Tennessee offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, Seattle safety Earl Thomas and Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones are opting to use the mandatory camp as leverage to better their contract situations.
Mack, Donald and Lewan are playing for teams which picked up their fifth-year options. Mack is scheduled to make $13.8 million, Donald $6.9 million and Lewan $9.3 million.
The baseline for Mack’s deal is Denver’s Von Miller, who is working under a sixyear, $114 million contract with $70 million guaranteed.
Raiders left tackle Donald Penn held out during training camp last season, not joining the team until it had left Napa and was back at the facility. He eventually got a raise and an extension.
The Raiders are within their rights to fine Mack for missing mandatory sessions, and missing the three-day camp could cost $84,000. More likely, those fines go away once a deal is reached or are not pursued simply to get the Mack into camp if the impasse goes into late July. Whatever the Raiders strategy is regarding Mack, Gruden wasn’t discussing
contracts with the media.
“I’m not going to get into what we’re going to do,” Gruden said. “That’s our business, honestly, and we’ll deal with it accordingly. We’re hoping to get the man signed and I’ll leave it at that.”
• Second-year defensive end Fadol Brown and rookie offensive tackle Brandon Parker engaged in the first practice fight of the offseason, with the pair shoving each other’s faces and Brown eventually taking Parker to the ground toward the end of the session.
A scuffle involving many of the Raiders ensued, and Gruden booted Brown from practice early. Osemele helped Parker up from his back, and the head coach was not happy in the aftermath of the dust-up that took place with the team running a two-minute drill.
“We haven’t had that. We really have stressed the etiquette that you have to have to be an Oakland Raider,” Gruden said after practice. “We have to work against each other. We have to practice against each other every day.
“I didn’t like what happened today, particularly in the situation. You hear all this situational football talk around the league. We’re in a two-minute drill to win the game and we got a guy ejected for fighting. That’s a 15-yard penalty and Eddy Piñeiro ended their day with a game-winning field goal. I
would hate to fly back from London or wherever the hell we gotta play ... losing a game like that. Sorry for getting unglued.”
Osemele spoke after practice, and mentioned Tuesday’s incident involving Parker when asked what he’s seen from the Raiders’ two rookie offensive tackles.
“Brandon stood up for himself. That was really cool to see,” Osemele said. “You always want to see that. You worry about a guy’s toughness. He’s a tough kid. He’s been playing well. He’s really intelligent. Really smart.”
• Three weeks ago, Gruden said Obi Melifonwu wasn’t close to joining team drills. The outlook on Oakland’s 2017 second-rounder was grim while others in the secondary impressed the head coach in the early going.
Now Melifonwu has rejoined team drills, albeit not fully just yet, and Gruden’s tone on the second-year safety is far more optimistic.
“Obi is doing more. Yeah, he is. He’s out there more,” Gruden said. “He’s getting close to being all the way back.”
• Eddie Vanderdoes isn’t practicing for the Raiders and Gruden doesn’t know when the second-year defensive tackle will return to action.
• Defensive back Marcus Gilchrist missed practice with a “slight calf strain,” according to Gruden.
• Cornerback Shareece Wright also didn’t practice.