OPINION:
Terry McLaurin didn’t show at the Washington Commanders’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday in Ashburn, but he is scheduled to make an appearance nearby soon.
He is named as one of the numerous stars who are advertised to appear at the CSA autograph show at the nearby Dulles Expo Center on June 27-29.
Maybe McLaurin, 29, who is seeking a new contract with a year left on his current deal, could seek out some contract negotiation advice from the most legendary holdout in Washington football history — John Riggins, who is also scheduled to be there.
After nine NFL seasons — four with the Redskins — Riggins left training camp in 1980 and sat out the entire season. When he came back in 1981, Riggins delivered one of the greatest quotes in league history — “I’m bored, I’m broke and I’m back.”
Whenever this contract dispute is settled, don’t expect McLaurin’s return to be so memorable. This isn’t the first time McLaurin, who was often the lone beacon of light during the dark days on the field under the Dan Snyder ownership after arriving as a rookie in 2019, has flexed his muscles for money.
He held out in 2022, refusing to attend OTAs or minicamp. When McLaurin did come back after agreeing to a three-year, $70 million deal, he turned his absence for pay into a spiritual experience.
“Coach (Ron) Rivera, we had a lot of personal conversations and I really do appreciate that as well because this is the only place I’ve been, but to have a personal relationship with him, that’s grown even more throughout this process even through the negotiations has just been awesome the way he’s heard me out,” McLaurin told reporters. “And we’ve had some very honest and transparent conversations. I’ve really got to see the vision that’s going to be laid out forward for us as an organization and myself personally. And the best thing … is just to get back with the guys and practicing and playing and really just trying to achieve all the goals that we have for this season.”
Not exactly, “I’m bored, I’m broke and I’m back.”
McLaurin might not have been particularly eager to report in 2022 because, despite the so-called “vision that’s going to be laid out forward for us as an organization and myself personally,” he was coming back to a team that had gone 17-32 since he arrived as a rookie in 2019 and his eighth starting quarterback — the disaster that was Carson Wentz, a quarterback no one could have been particularly enthusiastic about playing with.
This time, though, it is the franchise savior, quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is waiting for McLaurin in Ashburn. Now there is a real vision, one McLaurin spoke of often last season after the team’s best season — 12-5 and an NFC title game appearance — since 1991.
“I think his preparation is very unique for a guy who’s just got into the league, and that was him (from) the first day we met him when he got here in the spring,” McLaurin told reporters after Washington’s 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals after Week 4. “His preparation, the way he attacks practice, the way he is starting to conduct the film sessions at the end of the week for the receivers and the tight ends. It’s no surprise when he goes out there and he executes at a high level.”
At a May community event, McLaurin told WUSA 9 that he was looking forward to “growing” with him.
“There were a lot of Sundays where he was our best player out there, you know what I mean?” McLaurin said. “And the way he’s able to extend plays with his legs, his arm, and he can make all the throws. And again, I think it’s just his competitive nature, where you feel like you got a chance to make big plays with the ball in his hands. So I’m just looking forward to growing with him.”
So it’s clear that McLaurin understands that the Gods have finally smiled upon him with Daniels as his quarterback. Like everything with this team, Daniels is the sun around which all planets revolve — including this contract dispute with McLaurin. He would appear to be the leverage for both sides.
McLaurin, a two-time Pro Bowler, was Daniels’ most valuable weapon last season, pulling down 82 catches for 1,096 yards — his fifth 1,000-plus yard season in six NFL seasons.
General manager Adam Peters has made it clear with his transactions that the franchise wants to make the most of the time Daniels is under his rookie contract. To do that, it would seem that they are going to have to pay McLaurin, even if it is elite wide receiver money.
On the other side, McLaurin has been waiting for the arrival of a quarterback like Daniels his entire career. Now that he is here, is McLaurin really going to risk that for some more pocket change?
Is it a risk? It’s hard to believe that this will end with anything other than McLaurin in training camp with a new contract.
After all, these are the Dan Quinn Happy Commanders.
But there are headlines like this all over social media — “Should Seahawks call Commanders about a trade for their disgruntled star receiver” and “Should the Patriots swoop in on a disgruntled Commanders receiver?”
That certainly doesn’t fit in with the good vibes of the Josh Harris ownership.
• Catch Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.