The Raiders and Khalil Mack have made no progress in contract talks and the All-Pro defensive end is likely to miss regular-season games as a result, sources familiar with the standoff tell Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. The Raiders open their season on Sept. 10 against the Rams, so the two sides have less than two weeks to turn things around before Mack abstains from meaningful games. 
The Raiders have yet to make an offer to Mack, despite his prolonged holdout this offseason. Technically, the fifth-year veteran is tied to his $13.8MM fifth-year option, but Mack is willing to miss out on game checks that are worth more than $800K in order to make a point and force the Raiders into giving him a lucrative extension. Meanwhile, GM Reggie McKenzie does not expect Mack to report to the club until he has a contract in hand.
Because of the impasse, the Raiders have not ruled out trading Mack. There are at least four clubs seriously interested in making a deal for the defensive dynamo, and the Jets may be among those teams.
Apparently, things haven’t improved much since talks first stalled back in February. There have been no meaningful talks between the two sides in months, Robinson hears, and Mack’s side has taken a “pay him or trade him” stance with the Raiders.
Coach Jon Gruden has final say over the matter, but he has not been directly involved with the talks either. Robinson also hears that owner Mark Davis has the flexibility needed to give Mack a lucrative deal with guarantees, despite speculation about the Raiders’ finances. And, the two sides aren’t waiting on Rams star Aaron Donald to sign a deal. Still, with the season fast approaching, the lack of progress between the Raiders and Mack is troubling.
I never understood why in a players mind that he feels he can hold out from playing until he’s given a new contract, when he’s still under the current contact. I get that they want insurance in case something happens to him in that final year, but it still shouldn’t let him sit on the coach until it happens. He signed on the dotted line for at least 4 years, plus a 5th if the team chooses to pick it up. What am I missing here?
If he doesn’t want to get paid for the games he misses, it’s his call. Not saying I agree with the technique, but if you or I didn’t feel like we were being fairly compensated for our labor we have the option not to go to work as well.
The issue is, he IS being compensated fairly for his work. He signed the contract that he’s playing for. Until that contract is up, I don’t see how this is acceptable.
I think you’re missing the point that he does have a contract and you or I if in the same position wouldn’t just be able to not show up because we were unhappy without significant ramifications potentially over and above not getting paid.
But I would get fired immediately. If I don’t like what I’m being paid (even though I agreed to it), I ask for a raise. If I don’t get that raise and that becomes an issue for me, I ask to be transferred or find a new job. Never do anything that’s gonna hurt your coworkers or store in general
no offense, but you are probably not a critical part of your company’s success or failure. if you were, then you’d most definitely have the ability to negotiate on your terms and tell your boss to eat dirt if you dont get what you want because another company will surely bring you on board if things dont work out.
stop comparing NFL players to regular jobs people, this isnt close to being in the same realm.
^^^this
The idea of sitting out games and not getting paid is ridiculous. That’s likely $750,000 per. So he sits 4 and it’s 2 million lost. In this game where injuries can happen at any time that’s a huge chunk of change to leave on the table just to be a privileged pouting athlete
Even if he loses 3 mil, he’s not putting miles on his body either right now. He gets paid to be healthy and produce, he’ll make back whatever he loses now on his next deal no problem
For the same reason a team can release a guy prior to the end of the contract and pay him nothing even though they signed on the dotted line as well…Careers are short and have the most risk of not only injury but long term injury and holding out is the only recourse the players have.
exxxxactly
Look, nobody said that the NFL is a democracy…..the owners pay the players. If you have a contract, which you examined prior to signing you have a contract. This has nothing to do with careers being short blah, blah, blah…..nobody is forced to play in the NFL….you know the risks going in…..if you deem the risks unacceptable then don’t play in the league!
One more thing…..$13.8 million is not a bad pay day for 1 seasons worth of work. Anybody else out there in the real world making that kind of pay?
Tired old “he’s making millions so just shut up and do ur job” stance. He’s still on his rookie deal so that pay scale is set based on draft position, not really negotiated. And ya to u and me $13.8 mil ain’t bad but the amount as it relates to ur income isn’t the issue. He’s one of if not the best at his position and arguably one of the best players on defense period. If it WERE u in his situation I think u would want to be paid the same or better than others doing the same job with less production (ie Von Milller $19mil/yr avg). Especially if u know ur in a dangerous profession where injury or fickle ownership could take ur job away in a second. Yes not everyone gets an opportunity to see money like that in their lifetime but that doesn’t mean they throw common sense out the window because they are “blessed to play a game for a living”. Earn what u feel u are worth, if u are worth it someone will pay, if not ulll find that out too. Stop comparing professional athletes to ur own job, it’s not the same, 70,000 people don’t show up and pay money to watch u work.
Don’t forget the team can cut the player when ever they see fit, contract or not.
If I’m not mistaken, Matt Forte had a similar situation with the Bears a few years ago. He chose not to hold out and got hurt costing him millions and then bears didn’t bother to sign him. I know positions and age matter but the player has to look out for himself. Sucks for the fans but teams never have loyalty in football.
Trade him to the Rams for Aaron Donald.
Now that would make week one an awesome matchup!
He’ll be traded by the deadline to a contending team with some extra draft capital. 🙂
Not sure why they say 4 teams interested and the Jets are one of them?? Why because the writer is so desperate to have a NY audience? Why does NY have to come into every article on this site? They should just rename it NY Teams Rumors
Spot on Bubba it’s always about New York
NY has the largest media market. Therefore, information is more plentiful and easy to come by.
This is crazy to me. I can’t believe one of the best players at a premium position hasn’t gotten an offer from the FO. I liked the way Odell handled his contract situation and I hope that’s the case for these players going forward, but Mack has a point for not showing up to camp imo. I think the Raiders are going to trade him. Probably draft picks and a swap of a couple above avg, starting caliber players. Any deal would have to get approval from Mack obviously bc the deal would have to come with a contract extension.
I bet that of he did show up to camp he would have a new contract by now. All he has shown is that he puts himself and his agent above his team.
Let him sit out the whole season, tag him next year, and the year after that. 3 years out of the league will get him squat.
still think they are waiting for donald to sign, but do not know if the raiders have the money to sign mack or more probably if the donald amount helps the team trading for him
The storyline here seems almost too predictable. Mack signs for big bucks…Mack suffers season ending injury in first game…McKenzie gets fired…PFR goes back to reporting on Aldon Smith arrests.
or PFR reports j gordon is back in rehab, d bryant rumors start up again
Swindle a trade Colts, C’mon!