-
John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn mentioned receiver Terry McLaurin‘s commerce request isn’t a distraction, calling it a traditional a part of enterprise within the NFL.
McLaurin requested a commerce Thursday after talks on a contract extension continued to offer no momentum towards a deal. McLaurin is taken into account a hold-in and was positioned on the bodily unable to carry out record after reporting on July 27. He held out for the primary 4 days of camp.
Quinn mentioned McLaurin knowledgeable him of his request earlier than it went public.
“We love Terry and are actually glad he is right here and hope he is practising quickly,” Quinn mentioned, “however I additionally perceive the enterprise facet of issues. That is what they’re working via. I really like teaching him.”
Quinn mentioned he did not want to handle the scenario with gamers to verify it does not grow to be a distraction.
“Gamers at the moment are extra conscious of contracts than they was,” Quinn mentioned. “They acknowledge that is the enterprise half. For the crew, we’re simply rocking. For Terry, the commerce request, that is a part of regular enterprise that is taking place across the NFL. We perceive it.
“This group is tight and so they’re centered on what they should do.”
The perimeters have been far aside for a very long time of their negotiations, in keeping with a number of sources. Washington has been reluctant to pay a receiver top-of-the-market cash when he’ll be 31 because the extension begins.
McLaurin’s counter is Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf, who signed a deal value $32.5 million per yr this offseason. They had been in the identical draft class and have comparable statistics, however Metcalf is 2 years youthful.
McLaurin is within the closing yr of a three-year deal value $68.4 million. He turns 30 in September.
Quinn mentioned he’s not stunned it has reached this level, however that he leaves the negotiations to normal supervisor Adam Peters.
“I attempt to keep away from judging it,” Quinn mentioned. “I acknowledge gamers try to set themselves and their households up, so I strive to not put myself in that spot. It is too straightforward to say, ‘Man, if I had that a lot I might be this or that.’ So I do not go there. I attempt to help him as greatest I can, however we do not focus on the finance a part of issues.”
McLaurin is Washington’s prime wideout, coming off a season through which he caught a career-best 13 landing passes. He has surpassed 1,000 yards for 5 consecutive seasons and is coming off his second Professional Bowl look. McLaurin has been beloved by followers and deeply revered within the locker room since coming into the NFL as a third-round decide in 2019.
For now, although, he is rehabbing an ankle that initially bothered him late within the season and signing autographs for followers after apply. He sits in on conferences and attends walk-throughs. Each he and the crew are anxious to get him again on the sector.
“It is an emotional time,” Quinn mentioned. “I simply strive to verify to help the participant as greatest I can.”