To put a positive spin on things? The Washington Commanders offseason has been remarkably positive and simply needs one more button-push to be a complete win.
The negative spin? That button-push is about Terry McLaurin ... and there is now. rumor about what the Commanders' No. 1 receiver and contract holdout wants that if true represents a holdout-related monkey wrench.
McLaurin has one year left on a three-year extension signed back in 2022 worth over $68 million. His last deal got him the salary as he was becoming of an impact pass catcher in the NFL; now he wants to cash in big on a contract similar to that of the top players at his position.
But ...
What does "similar'' mean?
NFL insider Mike Fisher has suggested to us that this could end up being a three-year extension worth near $100 million. ... with the guaranteed money for the 30-year-old being a remaining issue.
But the latest from Commanders insider Lake Lewis has that number juiced up to a total of as much as $37 million per year as Lewis mentioned on VTRN Sports Lynchburg Podcast.
And this is where we tap the brakes.
That number would mean McLaurin would be earning more than DK Metcalf and CeeDee Lamb, who are next up in average annual salary. It would vault him behind only Ja'Marr Chase, who currently sits at $40 million, the most for any non-quarterback in league history.
It would mean that McLaurin - who has earned a payday of some sort as his last five seasons have all ended with 1,000 or more yards, most with recently a 1,096-yard and 13-touchdown campaign - is the No. 2 value receiver in all of the NFL.
And that's an impossible argument for "Scary Terry'' to win.
Again, back to Mike Fisher ...
"The word here is 'outrageous,'' Fish says. "Because either the report is 'outrageous' or the demand is 'outrageous.'
The Commanders like McLaurin and he remains central to their plans of contention through the coming years with Jayden Daniels. But the age is the major roadblock here. The higher the price he demands, the more that number sticks out.
A $37 million APY figure is too great a number for the Commanders to settle on. The media needs to know that ... and maybe Terry does, too.
