Andre Johnson holding out of OTAs (1 Viewer)

[coolnerd]

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson missed Monday's start of organized team activities because he is unhappy with his contract.

Johnson has five years remaining on his contract and will make a base salary of $5.8 million in 2010.

The OTAs are not mandatory like the June minicamp.

The Texans' policy is to not talk about contracts with players who are not participating in team drills.

Texans general manager Rick Smith said he has been in contact with the Pro Bowl receiver and plans to meet with him at some point.

Two years ago, Johnson reworked his contract that was an eight-year deal worth $60 million that included a $15 million signing bonus. He is represented by his uncle, Andre Melton.

Johnson has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his seven NFL seasons. He has caught 216 passes for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns the past two seasons.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...nt/7008821.html

 

[JAA]

reworked 2 years ago?

 

[gandalas]

eight-year deal worth $60 million that included a $15 million signing bonus...

Making 5.8 million this season...

Dude, seriously?

 

[Captain Hook]

1) AJ signed the contract two years ago....I don't think anyone had a gun to his head and IIRC he got about $15 million guaranteed in signing bonuses

2) Yes he is one of the very best NFL wide receivers, and

2a) is now underpaid - average yearly salary compared to the other elite receivers

In baseball I would have zero sympathy because the contracts are guaranteed....in the NFL where the club could cut him after a bad season or for any reason, I think he has a point he might get the current contract redone and I think Houston may do it, but they certainly don't have to. WHEN are the players and their agents going to learn that if they want to be among the highest paid at their positions they should just sign two or three year contracts?

 

[Keepers]

I have a problem with this type of holdout while I don't with Chris Johnson's. CJ was slotted into a late 1st round rookie contract, he has obviously outperformed it and likely deserves a new contract. AJ voluntarily reworks a 6 year deal for big bucks and big singing bonus, and then when he sees other players get paid more than him, he wants a new contract. Did he really expect that during those 6 years, bigger contracts weren't going to be handed out? And can we expect that if he gets another reworked contract that he isn't going to do the same thing in 2 years when someone gets paid more than him?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

1) AJ signed the contract two years ago....I don't think anyone had a gun to his head and IIRC he got about $15 million guaranteed in signing bonuses2) Yes he is one of the very best NFL wide receivers, and2a) is now underpaid - average yearly salary compared to the other elite receiversIn baseball I would have zero sympathy because the contracts are guaranteed....in the NFL where the club could cut him after a bad season or for any reason, I think he has a point he might get the current contract redone and I think Houston may do it, but they certainly don't have to. WHEN are the players and their agents going to learn that if they want to be among the highest paid at their positions they should just sign two or three year contracts?

Good points Hook. I think AJ would like a new contract but in the meantime he isn't going to show up for anything voluntary. A lot of players once they reach the elite status like AJ tend to not show up for the off season voluntary stuff. In football there should only be 2-3 year contracts. This way the players that perform at a high standard are always paid a premium. The contracts that Haynesworth and Peppers signed the past couple seasons are just proposterous.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson missed Monday's start of organized team activities because he is unhappy with his contract.

Johnson has five years remaining on his contract and will make a base salary of $5.8 million in 2010.

The OTAs are not mandatory like the June minicamp.

The Texans' policy is to not talk about contracts with players who are not participating in team drills.

Texans general manager Rick Smith said he has been in contact with the Pro Bowl receiver and plans to meet with him at some point.

Two years ago, Johnson reworked his contract that was an eight-year deal worth $60 million that included a $15 million signing bonus. He is represented by his uncle, Andre Melton.

Johnson has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his seven NFL seasons. He has caught 216 passes for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns the past two seasons.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...nt/7008821.html

While two years ago doesn't sound like a long time, since then he's been named 1st team All-Pro by the AP and the Sporting News twice, and led the league in receiving yards twice.And since then, he's developed a pretty impressive rapport with Matt Schaub. He has the highest yards per game average in games started by Schaub of any WR-QB in league history, and he's got a very healthy lead on #2. He's where Ochocinco was three years ago or T.O. was eight years ago. And he wants to make sure the gravy train keeps running.

That said, no chance he holds out with $5.8 million on the table this year. If he uses this as an excuse to miss some OTAs, team drills and some 2-a-days, he wouldn't be the first vet to do so.

 

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

Whose this guys agent. Seriously.

Anyway, i think last yr he saw Fitz contract and thought "dayum" but still went out and played

at a pro bowl level. But as others dwarf his contract i think he should get a raise. He has been

loyal and keep his mouth shut on a medicore team. He just wants to win. And i expect he will

be even more displeased after this season. Im a realist, love my texans but there schedule

this yr is freakin brutal. Our cornerbacks gonna be chewed up like gum and now we got a

few games with out our best def player. I think he is worth a top 5 contract for wr's.

Although his cousin done him a disservice with that last deal he just not to long ago signed.

 

[Captain Hook]

Who is this guys agent. Seriously.

Seriously - it is his Uncle Unc probably thought ....hotdam that is a lot of money

 

[Buckna]

I could see him using this as an excuse to miss some OTA's, etc. It's not like he really needs them at this point. Possibly rework the contract next year shunting some of the later years money into a new signing bonus or something. Houston did resign him at hometown discount after he got injured in '07.

"Pay him. Pay that man his money."

 

[Sweet Love]

This is the only thing (besides the "No Fun" monicker) that makes the NFL dumb. Hopefully they can sort this out in the CBA meetings. I am not a hug fan of gauranteed contracts, but I like this kind of stuff less...kinda can't blame the player or the team and we get stuck with this.

 

[Donnybrook]

The OTAs are not mandatory like the June minicamp.

I am not going to worry about this until June.

 

[Invictus~Bronte]

This I'm not getting on board with. Would he be giving $ back if he sucked last year ? "Dayum" as was stated

 

[prymetyme25]

I could see him using this as an excuse to miss some OTA's, etc. It's not like he really needs them at this point. Possibly rework the contract next year shunting some of the later years money into a new signing bonus or something. Houston did resign him at hometown discount after he got injured in '07.

"Pay him. Pay that man his money."

one of my favorite movies.....

 

[massraider]

If Andre wanted to make as much as the top WRs every year, then he should just have signed a 1 or 2 year deal. But he chose a longer term deal, for the larger signing bonus, and security in the case of injury. I don't wanna hear about how he has played great, and now Player X makes more than him. That's the way it goes. When Andre was a rookie, and had a #3 pick contract, he was getting paid like the best WR in the game, and he wasn't.

When you sign a long term deal--after your rookie deal--I have little sympathy. If a guy is a 4th round pick, and is a stud, he should get as much as he can. Players have little control over where they are drafted, and what contract they get. But when you are a vet, and get a deal extended/re-done, that's a conscious decision. You are saying I want my money now, even tho it'll be less than I may make as a FA in a few years. So what, since AJ has performed as he was expected to, based on that extension, he's underpaid?? No freaking way.

He was the #3 pick in the draft, he hasn't been underpaid--ever.

 

[Truman]

If Andre wanted to make as much as the top WRs every year, then he should just have signed a 1 or 2 year deal. But he chose a longer term deal, for the larger signing bonus, and security in the case of injury. I don't wanna hear about how he has played great, and now Player X makes more than him. That's the way it goes. When Andre was a rookie, and had a #3 pick contract, he was getting paid like the best WR in the game, and he wasn't.

When you sign a long term deal--after your rookie deal--I have little sympathy. If a guy is a 4th round pick, and is a stud, he should get as much as he can. Players have little control over where they are drafted, and what contract they get. But when you are a vet, and get a deal extended/re-done, that's a conscious decision. You are saying I want my money now, even tho it'll be less than I may make as a FA in a few years. So what, since AJ has performed as he was expected to, based on that extension, he's underpaid?? No freaking way.

He was the #3 pick in the draft, he hasn't been underpaid--ever.

This is just greed on his part - he wants the team to take all the risk while he reaps all the rewards.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I think that going into an uncapped year and no CBA, there are fewer blockbluster deals or extensions. There is risk that when the NFLPA and owners mediate a truce, no one knows what the new cap will be. Owners want to be conservative for that reason, among others. Even the extension given to Patrick Willis is modest if looked at compared to his true market value.

AJ should never have left his uncle negotiate his deal. He saved a whole 3% in cutting out an agent. But he will lose big time money because of it. Until this whole mess is settled, the owners now have the upper hand. I heard that Darrel Revis wants $20 million a year. HA!

The NFLPA needs to come to the table with their hat in hand. The player's demands are just plain nuts.

 

[Mikey16x]

I don't know how Andre Johnson sleeps at night with the money he's making right now. He might have the same agent as Latrell Sprewell..

"Latrell Sprewell says he'll ask to be traded if the Minnesota Timberwolves don't sign him to a contract extension by Wednesday night's opener. ''I think this thing is heading towards me leaving, personally,'' Sprewell told reporters after a practice this week. Earlier this preseason, Sprewell said he wanted a contract extension by the Wolves' opener, against the New York Knicks, or he would ask for a sign-and-trade deal or wait to become a free agent. Either way, Sprewell said he didn't want to negotiate during the season. But he took a tougher stance Sunday. Asked if he would play out the season and test the free-agent market, Sprewell said: ''Why would I want to help them win a title? They're not doing anything for me. I'm at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed.'' Sprewell is due to make $14.6 million this year"

 

[baldbird]

I think the whole damn league is over paid.

 

[Truman]

I think the whole damn league is over paid.

Good to know

 

[Donnybrook]

I don't know how Andre Johnson sleeps at night with the money he's making right now. He might have the same agent as Latrell Sprewell..

A little insight to what kind of relationship that AJ has with agent/uncle. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;sportCat=nfl

He grew up in Carol City, Fla., in the rough Miami neighborhood known as The Bajas. Raised by Karen Johnson, a single mom working as a letter carrier, Andre met his father, Leroy Richardson, only once, for a few hours when he was 8. (In August 2002, Richardson was shot to death in Mississippi.) Karen, who had Andre after her sophomore year at Tennessee State, where she ran track, asked her older brothers Andre Melton and Keith Francis to watch over her son.

Since then Melton has become Johnson's closest adviser, spending several weeks each year in Houston and traveling to every game. (He's the one who raised quite a stink last week when he told me if the Texans don't start winning -- and pronto, like, ya know, Monday night -- he has an exit strategy in mind for his nephew.)

According to Karen, Melton and Andre Johnson, Francis was a local high school football phenom at Miami Senior High School in the 1970s who was recruited by Barry Switzer and Bobby Bowden. He never played in college, though; instead, the family says he served time for drugs while Melton was a teenager. Andre was only 4 years old when Francis started throwing him a football in the yard at their grandmother's house north of the city where the Miami Dolphins' stadium loomed in the distance. And it was Francis who first recognized the freakish athletic potential in Andre while serving as a powerful warning against the lure of the streets. (Francis was killed in August 2004.) "Because of him, they were on me about everything," says Johnson. "Every conversation I ever had with him ended the same way: Don't make the same mistakes I made."

I have always said that teams shouldn't expect players to honor their contract if they don't have to honor them. I imagine the thing the keeps AJ up at night is the fact that Brandon Marshall is getting paid almost 12 M per season.

 

[Truman]

I think that going into an uncapped year and no CBA, there are fewer blockbluster deals or extensions. There is risk that when the NFLPA and owners mediate a truce, no one knows what the new cap will be. Owners want to be conservative for that reason, among others. Even the extension given to Patrick Willis is modest if looked at compared to his true market value.

This is an interesting point. There are restrictions on how much salaries can increase, even so Owners have been very conservative in granting extensions. I suspect it may be related to negotiations - blockbuster deals would give players leverage in terms of increasing the cap.I'd be interested to know what problem you have with the players demands. I would rather owners sustain their current position if anything as they at least invest back into the game, unlike the players.Tremblay believes there's no relationship between player salaries and ticket prices - they're both based on supply and demand. I'm not sure that's the case given that shared revenue is largely based on TV money, however certain teams rake in revenue over and above whats shared. Certain team owners will max out the cap every year as a tiny proportion of their revenue, others are consistently below the cap - none of whom seem to be in big markets.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

This probably isn't Uncle Melty's doing (see what I did there?); I think he just wants to skip voluntary camps. I wouldn't be too concerned if I was a Texans fan.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

This is an interesting point. There are restrictions on how much salaries can increase, even so Owners have been very conservative in granting extensions. I suspect it may be related to negotiations - blockbuster deals would give players leverage in terms of increasing the cap.I'd be interested to know what problem you have with the players demands. I would rather owners sustain their current position if anything as they at least invest back into the game, unlike the players.Tremblay believes there's no relationship between player salaries and ticket prices - they're both based on supply and demand. I'm not sure that's the case given that shared revenue is largely based on TV money, however certain teams rake in revenue over and above whats shared. Certain team owners will max out the cap every year as a tiny proportion of their revenue, others are consistently below the cap - none of whom seem to be in big markets.

The owners are creating a soft cap by colluding and not raising the ante on big time deals. The feeling is that no one wants to award the kings ransom to get this years Albert Hanyesworth only for that player to kill the cap once it is finally set. There is a sense that the owner wants to know with accuracy just what percentage a player counts toward the overall roster. The problem of the players demands is that they pressure the owner after signing a contract to pay them more. How many times does an owner have to overpay in signing bonus money so that the player loses motivation? (read Terrell Suggs). How many players lose thier motivation once the bonus check clears and is sttiing in the bank?

 

[Truman]

Owners at least invest in growing the game. Players cash out and go.

Owners are free to cut/trade players as well if they feel they're not worth the investment. It's a sunk cost once it's done.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

The owners are creating a soft cap by colluding and not raising the ante on big time deals.

I call shenanigans here. Brandon Marshall's extension and Jahri Evans gets an average of $8.1M, the richest guard in NFL history.

 

[Thomsen]

AJ is not the kind of guy that holds out, this is just him making the public/media know that he is not happy with the situation. He is a team leader and would never hold out, with a contract like this.

 

[JAA]

1) AJ signed the contract two years ago....I don't think anyone had a gun to his head and IIRC he got about $15 million guaranteed in signing bonuses2) Yes he is one of the very best NFL wide receivers, and2a) is now underpaid - average yearly salary compared to the other elite receiversIn baseball I would have zero sympathy because the contracts are guaranteed....in the NFL where the club could cut him after a bad season or for any reason, I think he has a point he might get the current contract redone and I think Houston may do it, but they certainly don't have to. WHEN are the players and their agents going to learn that if they want to be among the highest paid at their positions they should just sign two or three year contracts?

Where were you when TO was getting the shaft by the Eagles?

 

[fatness]

This is just greed on his part - he wants the team to take all the risk while he reaps all the rewards.

Johnson is risking injury and the end of a career when he plays. Every player is.

 

[mozzy84]

This I'm not getting on board with. Would he be giving $ back if he sucked last year ? "Dayum" as was stated

no, but the team could cut him and he would get no more money at all from said contract. The team is getting a top 3 receiver at a bargain right now.

 

[Jason Wood]

I think as Chase pointed out, this is a much different situation than what Chris Johnson is dealing with. There is precious little incentive from either side of the AJ/Texans to actually hold out beyond the early days of camp. AJ isn't going to leave almost $6mm on the table, and the Texans aren't going to believe he'll willingly lose out on that kind of scratch, particularly with so many years left on the deal.

 

[3nOut]

This I'm not getting on board with. Would he be giving $ back if he sucked last year ? "Dayum" as was stated

no, but the team could cut him and he would get no more money at all from said contract. The team is getting a top 3 receiver at a bargain right now.

People on tihs board have to stop thinking about contracts the way they are used to. The way contracts are structured nowadays (seemingly), most of their money is made up front through bonuses. If a player signs a 5 year contract with a team that gives him a $75 million bonus on signing, then pays him $1.00 per year as their salary, would they still complain that they are being underpaid in year 5? I am exagerating the numbers, but this is exactly what is happening with all these holdouts.Bottom line is that both Johnson's are acting like johnsons.

 

[massraider]

This is just greed on his part - he wants the team to take all the risk while he reaps all the rewards.

Johnson is risking injury and the end of a career when he plays. Every player is.

Right, and that's why players sign long term deals, because in case of injury, they get the guaranteed money, the singing bonus that he got up front. And there's a give and take. You sign a deal like that, knowing it'll be surpassed within a few years.Fitzgerald's contract will be surpassed, by a lesser player, within a few years. Doesn't mean he will deserve a new deal.

 

[cstu]

This I'm not getting on board with. Would he be giving $ back if he sucked last year ? "Dayum" as was stated

no, but the team could cut him and he would get no more money at all from said contract. The team is getting a top 3 receiver at a bargain right now.

People on tihs board have to stop thinking about contracts the way they are used to. The way contracts are structured nowadays (seemingly), most of their money is made up front through bonuses. If a player signs a 5 year contract with a team that gives him a $75 million bonus on signing, then pays him $1.00 per year as their salary, would they still complain that they are being underpaid in year 5? I am exagerating the numbers, but this is exactly what is happening with all these holdouts.Bottom line is that both Johnson's are acting like johnsons.

 

[JamesTheScot]

Whose this guys agent. Seriously.

Anyway, i think last yr he saw Fitz contract and thought "dayum" but still went out and played

at a pro bowl level. But as others dwarf his contract i think he should get a raise. He has been

loyal and keep his mouth shut on a medicore team. He just wants to win. And i expect he will

be even more displeased after this season. Im a realist, love my texans but there schedule

this yr is freakin brutal. Our cornerbacks gonna be chewed up like gum and now we got a

few games with out our best def player. I think he is worth a top 5 contract for wr's.

Although his cousin done him a disservice with that last deal he just not to long ago signed.

With all due respect, he doesn't "just want o win". He wants to get paid like he's the best WR in the league.When there's a salary cap in place and you are wanting to be one of the highest paid players at your position, there's a certain "I better get mine" mentality that puts your own personal interests at odds with the goal of loading the team with better (and thus higher paid) talent at other positions. Every dollar more he demands is one dollar less the Texans have to apply towards building up other positions of need.

There's just no other way to spin this. I'm not fragging AJ because he thinks he deserves more money than Marshall. But don't make it sound like he's all just about winning. He wants his plain and simple and the reality of that position is that he thinks it's up to someone else on the roster to take less.

Cushing maybe?

 

[Raiderfan32904]

The owners are creating a soft cap by colluding and not raising the ante on big time deals.

I call shenanigans here. Brandon Marshall's extension and Jahri Evans gets an average of $8.1M, the richest guard in NFL history.

Shenanigans eh? Well they both got around $12 million in guaranteed money. That is what their contracts are really worth. Granted, they should both perform to the level of getting half of the $50 million contracts they signed for. But no one rides a contract to the end anymore.Jahri signed a $56.7 million contract, and Marshall signed for a $50 million. But those ring as true as Albert Haynesworth's $100 million contract. Don't be fooled. The contract is the signing bonus. Money talks and you-know-what-walks.

 

[Truman]

This is just greed on his part - he wants the team to take all the risk while he reaps all the rewards.

Johnson is risking injury and the end of a career when he plays. Every player is.

That's why there are guaranteed dollars. He got a $15 million signing bonus two years ago.

 

[3nOut]

If I were the Texans, I would tell Johnson that they cannnot rework his contract but that they would be willing to chop two years off his existing contract. That way, he plays 2 more years under the contract that he negotiated, and would be considered for a new deal after 2 years. I think that is a fair compromise without setting a terrible precedence for other players.

 

[Buckna]

Texans WR Johnson set to report to OTAs

By JOHN MCCLAIN

Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

May 19, 2010, 10:03PM

After meeting with Texans owner Bob McNair on Wednesday, wide receiver Andre Johnson has decided to participate in his first organized team activity today.

Johnson met with Texans officials today and is scheduled to get with the team on Friday to discuss the state of his contract. Johnson has five years left on the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed in March of 2007.

“I think we can work something out that'll be a win-win situation for everybody,” Melton said .

Johnson didn't participate in the first three days of OTAs because he's unhappy with a contract that calls for him to make a base salary of $5.8 million this season.

General manager Rick Smith said Monday that he would meet with Melton. The Texans don't talk contract if the player isn't present.

“Andre will be back,” Melton said. “I think we can get everything worked out.”