Xavien Howard wants out. However, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores says that his star cornerback is staying put. 
“We don’t want to trade X. Write that down. He’s a very good player. He’s a big part of the team. We don’t want to trade him,” Flores said on Friday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe). “Talks are progressing. You take from that what you want… As long as everyone is willing to compromise, we can get something done.”
Howard skipped mandatory minicamp this summer in an effort to secure a deal from the Dolphins. He signed his last contract just a few years ago but the market has advanced considerably since then. His current $15MM AAV has him ranked sixth at the cornerback position. Teammate Byron Jones doesn’t have as strong of a resume, but he ranks No. 5 on that list.
“[The] business side of the NFL proves organizations don’t always have a player’s best interest at heart,” Howard said on social media recently, adding that he didn’t “feel comfortable” with the extension he inked just a few years ago.
“We wanted things to work out with the Dolphins, and brought solutions to the table – like guaranteeing more money – that we felt were win-wins for both sides,” Howard continued. “These were proposal of adjustments that wouldn’t just make me feel more respected, but were also cap friendly. But the Dolphins refused everything we proposed…That is why I don’t feel the organization has dealt with me in good faith.”
Howard notched ten interceptions last year to lead the NFL, the second time he’s led the way in just three years. He also graded out as the second-best corner in the league, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. The Dolphins have already received multiple calls on Howard, but it doesn’t sound like they’ll move him between now and Week 1.
What is his real value? I mean does he need a new contract every year? I hear the players side, ‘pay because we have short careers.’. But every year a new star remakes the market for his position.
He’s really only asking for guarantied money. At least that’s what he has said previously.
Thing is, Howard’s deal isn’t exactly old. I realize that he’s got concerns about guarantees, but he’s also got four years left on what he signed. I don’t treat “well, he signed it” as a catch-all for complaints by players because I think it varies by situation, but Howard knew the contract structure when he signed-or should have. He’s only played two years on a long term deal. It’s too early to be making demands. He isn’t even halfway through, and this is the deal he wanted.
Why did he sign the contract in the first place?
Sounds like a guy I wouldn’t want in my locker room. I’d trade his ass and not look back.
Trade him to PITT for James Washington and a draft pick. Both problems solved.
Bad deal. Despite playing as a defensive back, Xavien Howard has a better catch ratio than WR James Washington does.
Wouldn’t want either one of their overblown egos on any team I was part of or rooted for. Poor character individuals. Me me me. I need. I want. I deserve. Me me me
The NFL creates this drama themselves.
Guarantee the $ like MLB and NBA.
These guys end up with brain damage and can’t even get a guaranteed deal?
If GM’s are so afraid of guaranteed $, make everyone free agents, every year.
Capping teams to 1 year contracts would prevent divas from asking to be traded, and prevent teams from having to cut players and pay them to play elsewhere.
They just want their cake and to eat it too.
♫ Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don’t think that I can take it
Cause it took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
OH NOOO! ♫
First off cause their contracts aren’t guaranteed…that makes the NFL the best ran sport. Look how many players in MLB, NHL, NBA have high dollar and long contracts that handcuff the teams if the player regresses midway through season. That is not good for the franchise or the player. The player should realize it’s not all about them. It’s the team.
Long contracts aren’t bad for players especially if their getting big money. People need to realize this is a business. Players want to maximize their income (that doesn’t make them selfish) and teams want insurance in their investments.
The team is ran by adults who chose to sign the contract.
Why do we allow collectivism to support sports teams?
Because baby billionaires need their bailouts and welfare.
I say make sports a true free market no more handouts from tax payers and law makers.
Capping teams to one year makes it worse for the players. One year injury no more contracts. But maybe capping to 3-4 years. 7 year contracts in any sport is a long time.
I’m not interested in what’s best for the player.
I’m interested in a system where players aren’t demanding trades and GM’s aren’t handicapped by the previous regimes decisions.
1 year contracts would prevent fans from cursing players every time they want a new deal.
You were doing pretty well until you suggested fans be prevented from cursing players. Sport venues provide a very safe and healthy way for fans to vent their frustrations. Without such an outlet to express emotions, there would undoubtedly be more people getting shot.
Wow! A contract! I wish when I bought a house since I bought it new that I could after 3 years of the mortgage decide that my house has depreciated and could tell the mortgage company that since my house depreciated, I’m going to pay you $200 less per month!
If these players are asking for more money because their play has been in the top 5 of all players at their position, shouldn’t their contract also reduce down when their play falls out of the top 5 ?