The All Things Terry Thread

[Boone]

HOF44 - on the blog you linked...

The problem is, it's such a 'fan' thing to give McLaurin a total pass while blaming his substandard agent for everything. But McLaurin is no dummy. He is privy to all of the same information we all are. He probably even has some insight into his own biases, and that the team is not factually wrong in their seeming assessment of where Terry's talent puts him in the NFL WR hierarchy, and what his likely future production arc might look like. And even what kinds of offers he might realistically get on the open market. He knows, but he has pretended throughout this whole process that it's all a mystery to him (and an insulting one at that).

Beyond all of that, McLaurin knows exactly who his agent is, he knows what his experience in these kinds of high level negotiations is, and yet he retains him as an agent.

Whether you think Terry is being 'reasonable' and 'can't blame him for trying to get everything he can get' or whether you think he's shown his 'true cards' and 'isn't the team first guy we all thought he was' - it doesn't matter. McLaurin OWNS 100% where he and his agent are in this 'negotiation'. We can blame the agent as much as we'd like to, so that we can protect our personal image of McLaurin the player, but ultimately he is responsible for his own position.

So far, I don't think it reflects super favorably on either who McLaurin has always said he is, nor on his overall level of intelligence and business savviness.

 

[Primus Porcus]

IMHO, the Russini ‘report’ is Terry’s camp actually blinking. That’s the first time we’ve seen someone report that they’ve backed off their original ‘demand’. Every other report is that they’re holding strong, this is the first that says “well… we don’t need ‘ALL’ of that.”

 

[mistertim]

If McLaurin decides that he's injured and sits out the year and they let it slide he's signing a 1 year 6M dollar prove it deal next year. He probably isn't that dumb but anything is possible.

I think the concern is that Terry would try to sit out the first half of the year with a fake injury and then suddenly feel much better and be able to play once he gets to the point where he has to start playing in order to accrue an official season, meaning he can be a potential UFA after this year.

But AP isn't dumb. He'd know what's going on and figure out a way to shut it down. Send Terry to 3rd party doctors before the season starts, get MRIs, and when they come back saying they can't find anything wrong, tell Terry to either suit up or they'll put him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list and his contract rolls over into 2026.

 

[skinsfan4128]

Got to be honest, this completely reaks of an agent who is trying his best to leverage the best client he has and parlaying this into a big payday and getting more clients that they can cash in

Terry should know better. AP has the leverage, and Terry should know that.

I've probably repeated what most of you guys have already posted. But regardless, I'm over Terry and his dumbass agent trying to strongarm our team.

HTTR!

 

[Conn]

We're paying $26M this year. So. There's that.

I knew you would have to defend Keim's honor immediately.

I still think he's wrong about this because both of math (Payne has another season) and because they're paying $26m this year, and that indicates they could pay $28m next year if he plays well this year.

Shrug. I don't agree this is a contract season for Payne. It is for Terry.

And the beat reporters often live in an echo chamber, if one of them says something, everybody else feels the need to say the same thing.

It's really ok for Keim to be wrong, or to disagree with him. He's usually right. But he's not infallible, and sometimes his takes are just not right. This is one of those times.

They’re paying Payne $26M this year because they have to. His contract is not cuttable or tradeable and that’s not their contract work. They’re stuck with it.

Next year they do not have to pay him $28M, and won’t unless he becomes an entirely different player and it’s worth paying him that in a contract year (the same way that the structure makes this year essentially a contract year for him)

 

[Conn]

IMHO, the Russini ‘report’ is Terry’s camp actually blinking. That’s the first time we’ve seen someone report that they’ve backed off their original ‘demand’. Every other report is that they’re holding strong, this is the first that says “well… we don’t need ‘ALL’ of that.”

Yes. As is the acknowledgement from her that he doesn’t “actually” want to be traded, he’s just playing his final card. She described it like it’s just procedural at this stage in the negotiations (which is basically true). That’s because fans don’t like the trade request, and dumb fans (and media) loudly demanding he be paid whatever are the only people really in McLaurin’s corner and his dumb agent thinks that’s leverage.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

You really think he's going to want to be sitting there doing nothing when the other receivers start making him look redundant while costing himself his next 50+M dollar contract?

He's going to show up, probably even signs whatever Peters has ready for him.

Maybe. But that wasn't the point I was making. What I was making is that the team isn't going to want to pay him 15m to sit out. Which I don't think they want to do, but if they keep up this injury nonsense, he could force them to.

I tend to agree that in the end, Terry is going to show up and play. Either on his current contract or an extension. But if he decides to take the nuclear option and hold out for regular season games, I don't think they want to pay him during his hold out. I think they'd prefer to not pay him in that scenario.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Maybe. But that wasn't the point I was making. What I was making is that the team isn't going to want to pay him 15m to sit out. Which I don't think they want to do, but if they keep up this injury nonsense, he could force them to.

I tend to agree that in the end, Terry is going to show up and play. Either on his current contract or an extension. But if he decides to take the nuclear option and hold out for regular season games, I don't think they want to pay him during his hold out. I think they'd prefer to not pay him in that scenario.

Exactly.

Also, Madden has Terry as the 6th best WR. Maybe this is what Terry's agent has been leaning on.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Exactly.

Also, Madden has Terry as the 6th best WR. Maybe this is what Terry's agent has been leaning on.

If that's what Terry's agent is hanging onto, he needs to find another line of work.

 

[SkinsFTW]

First thing Terry did when he picked up Madden was try to sign himself up to a new contract.

Terry holds out for 30M a year on Madden, why not in real life? Makes sense lol!

 

[Bulldog]

I have no problem with Terry sitting out and coming in after Game 7 if his camp wants to play it that way.

I also don’t have an issue if Peters decides to trade Terry and then looks to acquire a WR at the deadline for the stretch run.

In two games during the regular season the Eagles secondary kept Terry in check quite well - limiting him to 5 for 60 and 1 for 10 yard performances.

Ditto for the two Giants games.

Terry’s stats to me after games often reminded me of what you would see from a productive tight end - a few games with 15 yard plus average per catch but quite a few where he was down around 8 or 9 yards per catch average.

And again there were games where he was just taken out of play by the secondary coverage.

His greatest plus was the stat of 13 touchdowns.

I see less dependence on Terry to be the go to option inside the 20 with Deebo here and Noah Brown back for entire year.

If the team gets any production out of Sinnott and Lane in the two TE or spread formation that could lessen the dependence on #17 as well.

 

[Chris]

Joel Corry, ex-agent and current front office analyst for CBS Sports, speaking about Terry’s agent on yesterday’s Hoffman show’

“An agent’s job is to execute your clients wishes, so you take your clues from your client. Trade requests should only come if that’s what the client wants. A lot of times you’ll see trade requests made out of frustration and the player really wants to be there.”

As I’ve said too many times already…Terry is driving this bus. A better agent would temper Terry by counseling him on real world realities and would have very likely put this kerfluffle to bed by now.

 

[actorguy1]

In Keim's latest podcast he said the FO would offer $28 million a year tops. He doesn't think Terry would sit out actual games either.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

One thing I wanted to say about this situation:

I don't think it's possible to overstate how valuable Terry is to this team, both inside the locker room and on the field. While JD5 might be the best player on the team already (which is bananas), and there are other veterans who either have their HOF ticket punched or are moving in that direction (Bobby Wagner and Von Miller), and other players who might be at the top of their position group (Tunsil), Terry is special. He was drafted here, until now has never complained, and was for a long time the single voice of sanity in an insane world.

And he's a top 5-10 receiver to boot. 12 at the outside.

I don't think that can be overlooked, and I think it's important to acknowledge how important he is to the team both on and off the field.

I do NOT want him traded. I do NOT want him unhappy, and I do NOT want him to feel unappreciated. I want none of those things.

However, on the flip side, the team has an obligation to do what's right and practical from a contractual perspective. They CANNOT pay Terry, at age 30, like a top 5 WR with a 3 or 4 year extension which essentially starts in his age 31 season. That's cap and team management malpractice.

So, while I think, at least on this board, most people (not all) are generally in the camp that Terry is being unreasonable with his request, I caution taking too hard a line about the person or the player.

My biggest beef with the team is they are playing along with what I think most people feel is a sham of an ankle injury. I'd prefer the sides just call it what it is, a "hold in" so Terry doesn't get fined for not showing up, but he's not working with the team, and that's the current situation. I fear the injury thing is going to allow things to get more ugly.

But all that said, Terry is super important to the team and the fan base. So it behooves everybody to get something done where he feels like he is appreciated and appropriately compensated.

The complicating factor, however, is he probably needs to change his expectations, and he's not ready to do that yet.

 

[Conn]

He would indeed be fined for holding in, reporting isn’t enough, you have to practice if you’re healthy. That’s why they’re allowing him this fiction as an olive branch, to keep him off the field while not fining him every day. Teams do it all the time in these situations

 

[skinsinparadise]

In Keim's latest podcast he said the FO would offer $28 million a year tops. He doesn't think Terry would sit out actual games either.

Yep and he also seemed skeptical that Terry would take it at 28 million.

 

[DCSkinz2023]

I think our FO has been class in not getting into the back and forth. Some fans just seem ignorant when it comes to Terry's situation but there's no changing their minds. At this point I almost feel like I don't want to extend him. He's not going to sit out for a year and re-enter free agency at 31 so let him play out his contract. He may play fake hurt throughout the year and with all the camp he's missing I think it will hurt his production this season but this was his choice to play hardball.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

He would indeed be fined for holding in, reporting isn’t enough, you have to practice if you’re healthy. That’s why they’re allowing him this fiction as an olive branch, to keep him off the field while not fining him every day. Teams do it all the time in these situations

They need to stop doing it and start fining him. And start doing it now. Enough with the olive branch.

And I get how this sounds dissonant from the post I made just a bit ago where I was singing his praises.

But it's time to get to brass tax. You're here, you're holding out, you're getting fined. Either participate, sign a new contract, or get fined. You choose.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Yep and he also seemed skeptical that Terry would take it at 28 million.

Here's what I will put on the team, if Terry and the agent care SO much about AAV, which is useless, then give him $39m AAV. Who the hell cares. But structure it so it's actually a 1-2 year extension with $50-$60m guaranteed. Just back load the damn thing with non-guaranteed money. Then he can be released if he slips and get to FA, or restructure, or whatever.

If that's the sticking point, they should fix that and be done with it.

If it's the guarantees, that's harder to fix because that's real money.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Here's what I will put on the team, if Terry and the agent care SO much about AAV, which is useless, then give him $39m AAV. Who the hell cares. But structure it so it's actually a 1-2 year extension with $50-$60m guaranteed. Just back load the damn thing with non-guaranteed money. Then he can be released if he slips and get to FA, or restructure, or whatever.

If that's the sticking point, they should fix that and be done with it.

If it's the guarantees, that's harder to fix because that's real money.

Not sure if its the sticking point. One insider (forgetting whom but I posted it here at the time) said its the guaranteed money-and length that Terry's side is more into.

Keim has hinted that this team is more likely to budge than Terry's side. Sounds like this team isn't at 28 yet but are willing to go there. Not sure about the guaranteed money demands.

Meanwhile, Mike Evans was ranked a few weeks ago by players-FO as better than Terry. And the other day players voted that Evans is the better player over Terry. They both ranked Evans higher.

K. Martin (Sheehan referred to this), national reporter asked a bunch of GMs who would they rather have Metcalf or Terry. Their answer was Metcalf.

The idea from Terry's camp that Terry is the WR who is in that elite class is cool -- but clearly not everyone in the NFL sees Terry the same way.