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John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn says vast receiver Terry McLaurin‘s commerce request is just not 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 supply 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 Sunday. 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 aspect of issues. That is what they’re working by way of. I like teaching him.”
Quinn mentioned he did not want to handle the state of affairs with gamers to ensure it would not turn out to be a distraction.
“Gamers at the moment are extra conscious of contracts than they was once,” Quinn mentioned. “They acknowledge that is the enterprise half. For the workforce, we’re simply rocking. For Terry, the commerce request, that is a part of regular enterprise that is occurring across the NFL. We perceive it.
“This group is tight, they usually’re centered on what they should do.”
Longtime security/particular groups standout Jeremy Reaves agreed with Quinn.
“17 is aware of I like him,” Reaves mentioned referencing McLaurin’s quantity. “That is my man. I want him the perfect however I’ve to return out right here and I’ve a job to do. We’re a bunch that understands all of us have a job to do. We’ve got a duty to one another.”
The edges have been far aside for a very long time of their negotiations, sources mentioned. Washington has been reluctant to pay a large receiver top-of-the-market cash when he will likely be 31 because the extension begins.
McLaurin’s counter is Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver DK Metcalf, who signed a deal value $32.5 million per yr this offseason. They have been in the identical draft class and have comparable statistics, however Metcalf is 2 years youthful.
McLaurin is within the ultimate yr of a three-year deal value $68.4 million. He turns 30 in September.
Quinn mentioned he was not stunned it has reached this level however that he leaves the negotiations to common 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 attempt 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 assist him as finest I can, however we do not talk about the finance a part of issues.”
McLaurin, as has been customary since he reported, headed to the observe subject round 20 minutes after the session ended. As he did so Saturday, he greeted teammates, then hugged Jayden Daniels’ mother and proprietor Josh Harris, who have been speaking to at least one one other. McLaurin then signed autographs for roughly 45 minutes — with one younger fan yelling to him that he was going to start out a GoFundMe account.
McLaurin is Washington’s high 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’s rehabbing an ankle that initially bothered him late within the season and signing autographs for followers after observe. He sits in on conferences and attends walk-throughs. Each he and the workforce are wanting to get him again on the sphere.
“It is an emotional time,” Quinn mentioned. “I simply attempt to ensure to assist the participant as finest I can.”
