Terry McLaurin remains on the sidelines, unwilling to participate in team activities until his contract standoff with the Washington Commanders is resolved. Nothing seems imminent, which is a growing concern with Week 1 against the New York Giants on the not-too-distant horizon.
And one NFL insider exposed what reportedly began this bitter summer battle between McLaurin and the Commanders.
McLaurin's credentials need no introduction. His previous production is up there with the very best. He remained the model of consistency despite a constant stream of failed quarterbacks in Washington. With Jayden Daniels under center, the former third-round pick broke the franchise record for receiving touchdowns, in addition to earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Commanders were reportedly stunned by Terry McLaurin's initial contract demands
The problem centers on McLaurin wanting top dollar. The Commanders are reluctant, considering his contract extension won't kick in until he's 31 years old. Charles Robinson from Yahoo Sports went one step further, claiming that Adam Peters was stunned enough by the wideout's initial demands to almost cut off negotiations instantly.
"The way I understand it, when negotiations first opened, I think the Commanders were a little stunned by initially what Terry McLaurin and his camp were really gunning for. Everyone's being careful about not saying what the initial number was, but I will say it was ... high enough that it almost completely broke down conversation instantaneously between the two parties. I think the Commanders were stunned at, initially, what the ask was. And to me, the inference is, this was like, nearly top tier, Tier 1 money."Charles Robinson
Peters isn't going to give McLaurin the north of $30 million he's looking for. That became abundantly clear, which also led to holdouts, holding in at training camp, and even a trade request to pile on the pressure to no avail.
McLaurin and Peters were spotted in conversation during Washington's team scrimmage. That provided hope that things hadn't gone past the point of no return, but fans anticipating a quick resolution following this development were out of luck.
Both sides have made their respective stances clear. The Commanders are using analytics a lot more these days, and the statistics don't exactly work in McLaurin's favor. The drop-off in production from receivers in their 30s — even those with Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials — is glaring. Peters is taking that into account, and it's a brutal truth that's falling on deaf ears where the player's representatives are concerned.
Fans just want everything to work out. They want McLaurin back on the field. So does Peters, but not at the expense of a deal that doesn't fit into his long-term strategy.
Until then, it's a waiting game.