Mack’s holdout isn’t locker room issue
Mack,
NAPA, Calif. – Khalil Mack’s continued absence from the Oakland training camp is a thorn in the side for Jon Gruden and management eager to revitalize a once-signature NFL franchise.
The holdout also underscores a serious flaw in the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players union, with the all-pro defensive end on the option year of his rookie contract.
Yet don’t consider Mack’s stance as a locker room issue among teammates.
“For us as players, it’s part of the business,” quarterback Derek Carr told USA TODAY recently during a break at the training camp. “We understand.”
Carr acknowledges the frustration of the new coaching staff, with new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther missing one of the league’s premier pass rushers as he installs a new system. Mack didn’t participate in the offseason program, either, so even though it’s too early to panic with the Raiders yet to open the preseason, there’s undoubtedly some level of catching up in store.
Gruden has grumbled about Mack’s absence and the lack of contact he’s had with the centerpiece of the defense.
“It’s hard because it’s a new staff,” Carr said. “A lot of them haven’t been around him.”
Yet Carr has a pretty simple realitycheck rule when it comes to other people’s money. “Don’t ever put your hands in another man’s pocket,” Carr said.
“Distraction-wise, it’s not (a distraction),” he added. “It’s just Khalil. Khalil’s our brother. He’s one the most genuine, awesome dudes. We’re very close. One of my best friends in the whole world.”
Carr said that in the days before training camp opened in July, Mack was at his house, along with Raiders receiver Amari Cooper and other players, “just hanging out.” Although he maintains he can talk about “everything” with Mack, Carr insists they didn’t talk about the contract dispute during the visit.
Nonetheless, the gist of the wedge between the Raiders and Mack, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, is rather apparent. The market suggests that Mack and another notable holdout, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, should command deals that compare to or exceed the bar set by Den-
“Don’t ever put your hands in another man’s pocket.” Derek Carr
ver linebacker Von Miller as the league’s highest-paid defensive player. Miller is in the third year of a six-year, $114.1 million contract that guaranteed $70 million and averages $19.016 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Mack, who averaged approximately
$4.7 million during his first four years, is due $13.864 million this season with the option. As is the case with Donald, there’s little dispute that Mack outplayed his contract. He has notched 401⁄
2 sacks in four seasons, earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and had a career-high 78 tackles in 2017.
Yet with fifth-year options included for first-round picks as part of their rookie contracts, teams get an extra year to strike long-term deals. As much as NFL teams needed a rookie pool to minimize the risk of paying mega-money to unproven talent (see Jamarcus Russell), the NFL Players Association gave up too much by including the fifth-year option.
Conceivably, with the potential to use multiple franchise tags — a factor that has Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell effectively holding out as he’s yet to sign his franchise tag tender — a first- round pick could be tied to the team that drafts him for seven years before getting the chance at free agency.
Maybe the NFLPA will dig in on scrapping the fifth-year option when talks commence for a CBA to replace or extend the current pact that expires after the 2020 season.
The other big holdout, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, is on his second contract. Yet he, too, has seemingly outplayed the contract averaging $10 million a year. Thomas has gone public with his stance: “Pay me or trade me.”
Mack, conversely, has maintained silence as agent Joel Segal engages in talks with general manager Reggie McKenzie.
And at least one prominent teammate insists he won’t sweat it.
“I’m not worried,” Carr said. “It’s not like he’s out there dogging our team. It’s not a controversy. It’s just business that has to get done. So, as players, we don’t freak out.
“At the end of the day, he’ll show up and it’ll be, ‘What’s up, bro? How you been? You got fresh legs?’ ”