HOUSTON — There’s no one way to use leverage in a contract dispute. The Miami Dolphins’Â Christian Wilkins is staging a largely silent protest.
The star defensive tackle is refusing to participate in team drills while his representation and the Dolphins discuss terms of a potential extension.
Cornerback Xavien Howard went a dramatically different way two summers ago. After his hold-in didn’t produce the desired results, Howard publicly demanded a trade.
The Dolphins not only did not accede to that demand, they gave him more money in 2021 and 2022. Howard is now a happy camper. And he’s the perfect person to weigh in on what Wilkins should do next.
Miami Dolphins’ Xavien Howard on Christian Wilkins Hold-In
“I knew you were going to ask me this,” Howard told the reporter who brought up the Wilkins situation during his Wednesday news conference.
Howard’s advice to his defensive teammate?
“Get your money. Get your money. I can’t say anything else, man.”
Wilkins is certainly due a raise. He’s making just over $10 million this year on the fifth-year option — probably half of what he would if he were on the open market.
Xavien Howard pic.twitter.com/atnNza2Uhy
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley)
That day might not come for years, however. The Dolphins can use the franchise tag on Wilkins both this year and next and still pay him less over those two years than he likely would with a long-term extension.
“Christian is such a good player, such an important person in the locker room, who has made it clear that he feels that his play is deserving of a contract,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday.
“We would agree, as the Miami Dolphins organization, henceforth we are in negotiations. As a result, he hasn’t been participating in team [drills]. When he next participates, that will be up to him.”
When asked if he’s comfortable with Wilkins’ negotiating ploy, McDaniel replied:
“Every player is like a snowflake, I would say. Unique to itself. So I’m comfortable with the situation as it stands. Christian and I are in constant communication, and this is part of the business that a lot of teams are dealing with.”
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There’s a saying in the NFL — “there’s a time for pay and a time for play” — that even Howard seems to understand.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to make sure you’re ready to play football also though — no matter what you’re going through — because there’s like, some guys just focus on getting paid and stuff like that,” Howard said.
“Then they forget that you’ve still got to play football if you get paid or if you don’t. You’ve still got to perform. So it’s like, you’ve just got to take care of it and just be a pro. And I’m sure he’s going to do that because he’s a pro.”
