With the quarterback market in the NFL exploding and only one year left on his current deal, Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love looks to be one of the next signal callers to receive a new contract. However, while he waits, Love has made it clear that he won’t be on the field with his teammates until it is agreed upon.
With Monday’s news about Love attending training camp but sitting out of practice, we compare the differences between a holdout vs. “hold-in.”
Jordan Love Holding In at Packers Training Camp
On Monday morning, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst told the media that Love will not practice until the two sides complete the contract extension they’ve been working on. While the situation doesn’t appear to be contentious at this time, it seems Love is drawing a line in the sand regarding the progress of the contract.
“We completely understand where he’s coming from,” Gutekunst said before adding that he believes a deal can get done in the next few days when asked about the timeline.
“Yeah, I think so, but again, you never know. We’re working really hard to get that done. At the same time, the thing I have confidence in is that we both want the same thing.”
What's the ceiling for Jordan Love and the #Packers in 2024? 🤔#GoPackGo https://t.co/h5YNcHmRuu pic.twitter.com/7Fz3jf6qBi
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) July 15, 2024
Love is expected to be near the top of his position pay-wise when it is all said and done, and he may even reset the QB market. In fact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter even stated that Love could become “the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history” by the end of the week.
That would ultimately mean he’s earning more than Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, both of whom have an annual salary of $55 million per year.
However, until then, it looks as if Love won’t be partaking in training camp, commencing what is the first hold-in situation of the 2024 season.
What’s the Difference Between a Holdout and Hold-In?
While plenty of players have unresolved contract situations by the time training camp starts, holdouts are less common in today’s NFL.
Although the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) prohibits players from taking such action, it doesn’t mean players aren’t finding ways to skirt the system and show their displeasure.
Instead of holding out and staying away from their teams, players are opting to hold in. They report to their team when training camp starts to ensure they aren’t fined for their absences, but instead elect not to take part in the action while there.
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It’s a loophole in the current CBA that allows for them to be present but not participate, setting up an uncomfortable situation that puts the player among his teammates, coaches, and media while acting essentially as an outsider at the same time.
While things may change in the next CBA, players and their representatives have decided that this is the best route to take when trying to prove their point and gain leverage in contract negotiations. It appears to be less hostile than the previous method, but it’s a distraction nonetheless.
Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, and Other Potential Training Camp Hold-Ins
Love is the first player to take the stance of sitting out in 2024, but he may not be the only one, as other stars around the league are fighting for their next contract as well.
In Dallas, QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb were expected to receive new deals this year, but neither has as we approach the start of their training camp on Wednesday.
Prescott is a team leader who has said the right things in the media, and while he holds all the leverage and appears not to be going down this path, there is always a chance he could have a change of heart and be a surprise hold-in candidate.
However, he is most likely going to report to camp with no issues as he holds the cards in the negotiations. Prescott has a no-franchise-tag clause in his current contract, so he is guaranteed to hit free agency after the season, where he’ll be able to sign with the highest bidder on the open market.
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Another quarterback worth monitoring is Miami Dolphins signal caller Tua Tagovailoa. Like Prescott, Tagovailoa enters 2024 in the final year of his contract, but it appears that he and the Dolphins are sufficiently far apart in agreeing on a long-term extension to warrant him staying out of the action.
San Francisco 49ers disgruntled WR Brandon Aiyuk has been in the news all offseason. Unhappy with his contract situation, he has even publicly requested a trade now, setting up what could be a fiery situation that could include a traditional holdout rather than the less contentious hold-in.
Could trading for Brandon Aiyuk make the #Commanders into a contender? 🤔@josiah_caswell says that Aiyuk could be a great fit for Washington, reuniting with college teammate Jayden Daniels. 👀 #RaiseHail | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/1OijkPm5tG
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) July 21, 2024
The 49ers have made it clear that they want Aiyuk on the roster and have no intention of trading the playmaker. However, something has to give in the meantime, and if Aiyuk is worried about his money, reporting to the 49ers and deciding he isn’t going to do anything while there as he waits may be the plan of attack.