The Texans have now played three games without stalwart left tackle Duane Brown, and there is “no end in sight” as the veteran offensive lineman continues his holdout in search of new contract, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Brown, 32, has been pushing for a new deal since at least May, and didn’t participate in Houston’s minicamp, training camp, or preseason. The Texans don’t seem inclined to work out a fresh pact with Brown, while Brown himself has indicated that he will in fact play at some point in 2017. As of earlier this month, general manager Rick Smith and Brown’s representatives weren’t talking, but Brown is likely to report following an eight-week absence (a timeline that would allow him to accrue a season towards free agency).
Houston has turned to Kendall Lamm (one start) and Chris Clark (two starts) in the wake of Clark’s absence, but both players have offered sub-par performances, as Clark and Lamm have ranked No. 55 and No. 58 among 72 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. While the Texans’ offensive line has played well in the run game, the unit is dead last in adjusted rack rate, according to Football Outsiders.
Brown is currently signed through the 2018 season, and is due non-guaranteed base salaries of $9.65MM and $9.75MM over the next two years.
This guy is holding out at age 32 making $9mm a yr. bold strategy cotton. Hope that pays off. Not too many high powered o lineman lasting until 32 these days
Really bold. Costing himself roughly $500k a week. If he reports in week 8 that will mean he will have lost more than $4.5M in income. That is more money than I will likely make in my entire career. Flat out crazy bold. Generational money he is losing out on.
Then you have to consider that he won’t be in the best playing shape. If I was one of his teammates I’d be peeved. Costing his entire team.
How come they don’t penalize someone who gets paid and still don’t work? Lubricous!.
He’s not getting paid
He’s trying to get guaranteed money, not money that can just be yanked away…if he gets hurt, his career is over and so will his NFL earning potential…like you guys are saying it’s a bold move and he’s leaving a nice chunk of money on the table but at his age he’s trying to lock up the last bit of guaranteed money he’s most likely looking at