Latest news with #contractdispute
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I Do Not Know' Says Tomlin Of Watt Timetable On Steelers Contract Dispute
'I Do Not Know' Says Tomlin Of Watt Timetable On Steelers Contract Dispute originally appeared on Athlon Sports. T.J. Watt is a centerpiece of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense and over the last eight seasons has carried on a rich Steel City tradition as a game-wrecker. Advertisement But right now, as he's embroiled in a contract dispute with the only NFL team he's ever known, something else feels wrecked. But coach Mike Tomlin, in speaking this week about one of the most feared pass rushers in the league, did say he is "optimistic.'' ... With an asterisk added. Watt has totaled 58.5 sacks in four seasons, which included 22.5 sacks in 2021, tying the single season record set by Michael Strahan. What's that worth? The market ws recently re-set by rival edge rusher Myles Garrett with an extension paying out $40 million per year with the Cleveland Browns. Maynbe now that minicamp has ended, the front office can accelerate its efforts here? Advertisement 'I'm optimistic we're going to get things done because we got two sides that want to get things done,'' Tomlin said. When that's going to occur … I do not know.' We can make the argument that Watt is the most important and best Steeler to play here in the last decade. At the same time, the six-time All-Pro linebacker - who was not in attendance for the team's mandatory minicamp this week and will therefore be fined over $100,000 for his holdout - is under contract. Watt's exact asking price is not exactly clear to this point, but it has certainly climbed with that move and other corresponding actions. As it stands, he will have the most expensive cap hit for the Steelers this season with an expected figure of over $30 million. Related: Antonio Brown Wanted on Attempted Murder Charge, Per Report Related: Steelers Fans Get Bad News on T.J. Watt to Open Mandatory Minicamp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Commanders Might Not Have Terry McLaurin to Start Season
Commanders Might Not Have Terry McLaurin to Start Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Oh, the irony. Washington Commanders star wideout Terry McLaurin finally has a star quarterback throwing him the ball, and he's holding out. Advertisement McLaurin was drafted by Washington with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He's had to play through a plethora of subpar starting quarterbacks since then, including names like Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz and Sam Howell. But in 2024, he finally got his franchise quarterback, along with a shiny new owner, coach, and basically a new franchise. And after a successful season of 82 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns, he enters the final year of his contract. And it's because of that, he wants the security of a new deal. And there's nothing wrong with that. That's normal business in the NFL these days. Jeff Kerr with CBS Sports offered some NFL minicamp overreactions, and the Terry McLaurin situation was one that was discussed. Is it an overreaction to say that the Commanders' star wideout won't be on the roster in Week 1? Advertisement Commanders will not have Terry McLaurin on roster at start of season: Overreaction or reality: Overreaction "Terry McLaurin is holding out over a contract dispute, as he's entering the final year of his contract. Due a significant raise, McLaurin currently has a base salary of $15.5 million with a cap hit of $25.5 million -- the final year of a three-year, $68.4 million deal. This is typical business between McLaurin and the Commanders, as both sides went through a similar situation prior to McLaurin's last extension. The Commanders don't seem too concerned about it, but the market has certainly changed since McLaurin's last extension." McLaurin is worth every penny (in today's NFL) of $30 million per year. And with Daniels working on his economic rookie deal, why would the Commanders not pay their receiver? The Super Bowl window opened wide last season before abruptly shutting in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. Advertisement But that window is open again if McLaurin is on the field. Related: Cowboys Ex Update Hits Commanders With More Bad News Related: Commanders Media Bizarre Criticism of Cowboys Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson reportedly resume contract negotiations after edge rusher skipped minicamp
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the Cincinnati Bengals' minicamp this past week amid a contract dispute. The eight-year veteran is looking for an extension with his contract set to expire after this season. Hendrickson, 30, is set to be paid a base salary of $15.8 million but insists that he will not play this season under his current deal. He's seeking a long-term agreement that would put him among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers. Advertisement However, not attending minicamp may have moved the negotiation process forward. Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed discussions on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. How much of a gap exists between the two sides has not been reported. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is currently the league's highest-paid pass-rusher after agreeing in March to a four-year extension that pays him an average annual salary of $40 million. Hendrickson's teammate Ja'Marr Chase is the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback with a new contract that will pay him $40.25 million per season. Hendrickson isn't the only pass rusher looking for a new contract. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt are also looking to top the pay scale at their position. One major issue is that neither player likely wants to be the first to sign, possibly reset the market and then watch a peer overtake him as the NFL's highest-paid pass rusher. Advertisement The Bengals' defensive end has registered 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. That total led the NFL last season. (He finished behind Watt's 19 sacks in 2023.) Subsequently, Hendrickson was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished as runner-up in NFL defensive player of the year voting. Hendrickson has 77 sacks in his eight NFL seasons, averaging 13 over the past three years. Only Garrett has more during that span. He also has 220 tackles and 77 tackles for loss for his career. Cincinnati is also in a contract dispute with rookie Shemar Stewart, one of four first-round selections who have not reached an agreement with their respective teams. As a result, he left minicamp last Thursday.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers OLBs Coach Not Worried About T.J. Watt Skipping Mandatory Minicamp: ‘We Know He's Working Right Now'
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is skipping mandatory minicamp due to a contract dispute, but outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin is not worried about his absence. When asked what the team is missing by not having Watt at minicamp, Martin replied, 'Nothing, really. We know what he's doing.' Advertisement Martin said Watt keeps in contact with him and the coaching staff and the fellow outside linebackers. 'We know he's working right now as we speak,' Martin said. 'When he gets here, we know he'll be ready.' Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt during practice on Dec. 19, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now Watt, the Steelers' star edge rusher and best player, has not been around the team since cryptically throwing up the deuces on Instagram a few months ago. He did not attend the two-week voluntary OTAs at all. Watt will be subject to $104,768 in fines if he skips all three days of the mandatory minicamp. Watt is looking for a new contract, as his is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, and he will likely be looking for one that meets or beats the $40 million per year that the Cleveland Browns gave Myles Garrett earlier this offseason. Advertisement Watt hasn't spoken publicly since separating himself from the team, but comments from his brother, J.J. Watt, have made it seem that Watt is upset about the timing of the deal, and wanted it to be done by now. The Steelers, on the other hand, almost always wait until the end of the offseason to deal with contract extensions with their own pending free agents, because it gives the team better clarity about how much money they want to have in the opening year of the contract. The Steelers could save up to about $9 million in 2025 cap space while giving Watt a $40 million-per-year extension, and with the team still pursuing help in the wide receiver market, that flexibility may be essential. The Steelers also may not be able to find such a wide receiver, and thus would prefer to have more of Watt's money in 2025. The last time Watt needed a new contract in 2021, he attended, but did not participate, in Steelers offseason activities, which was dubbed a hold-in. That contract negotiation dragged on until the final week of the offseason, with Watt agreeing to a contract in the middle of the week before the Steelers' season opener. Advertisement Watt's current deal is a four-year, $112 million contract. He is set to earn $21.05 million in salary in 2025, none of which is guaranteed. The 30-year-old edge rusher is coming off the least-productive full season of his NFL career, having recorded 11.5 sacks over 17 games. Watt also led the NFL with six forced fumbles. A late-season injury significantly slowed him down, with Watt recording just seven tackles and no sacks over the final four games of the season. Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers OLBs Coach Not Worried About T.J. Watt Skipping Mandatory Minicamp: 'We Know He's Working Right Now' Advertisement Related Headlines
The National
06-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Robert Pether conditionally released in Iraq after four years in jail
A Dubai resident has been conditionally released from prison in Iraq after his family campaigned for four years to secure his freedom. Robert Pether, from Australia, along with his Egyptian co-worker Khaled Radwan, who both resided in Dubai at the time, were jailed in August 2021 and fined $12 million after a contract dispute between his employer and authorities in Iraq. Despite his release, Mr Pether is still barred from leaving Iraq and Australian authorities say he continues to face legal proceedings. However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the development was a 'positive development'. "I know the personal toll Mr Pether's detention has taken on him and his family and hope this news brings a measure of relief after years of distress," she said in a statement. Simon Harris, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein had contacted him to confirm the release of Mr Pether, whose family currently live in Ireland. "I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon," Mr Harris said. But there are concerns about Mr Pether's health and any outstanding charges against him, he added. Contract dispute results in jail Mr Pether and Mr Radwan were arrested when they travelled to Iraq for what they thought was a routine business meeting. Employed as an engineer in Dubai for CME, Mr Pether was contracted to work on the central bank's headquarters near the Tigris River. The men were detained at the meeting. They each received a five-year jail sentence and were ordered to pay $12 million by an Iraqi court. The dispute was over a $33 million contract awarded to CME in 2015. The project was put on hold a year later, with plummeting oil prices and Iraq's war against ISIS put forward as the main reasons. Work resumed in 2018, with CME working for 39 of the 48 months as set out in the contract. Payment was received for 32 of those months before being withheld. CME was asked by the central bank to extend the contract by three months to make up for work that was suspended due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
