Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp

In other news. Titanic sinks, 1507 souls lost. 

He should be at camp he has a contract.  Not a team leader 

@"Bullazin" said: He should be at camp he has a contract.  Not a team leader  

@"medaille" said:

@"Bullazin" said: He should be at camp he has a contract.  Not a team leader  

While I do agree that in a perfect world he would be there, NFL contract negotiation isn’t a perfect world.  These contracts aren’t meant to be played out as the back end of most long term contracts are funny for cap reasons and there’s often an unwritten agreement that they’ll be taken care of prior to the end of the contract, and maybe that was with Spielman and not Kwesi, but regardless, not participating is some of the only leverage he has and it’s a standard NFL negotiating tactic.  It is not reflective of his leadership characteristics.

With a new defensive coordinator this season Hunter is already behind.  If it stretches into camp he is farther behind even more.  This not only hurts him trying to catch up but it also hurts the team by not showing.  Understand he is underpaid but maybe if he shows up in good faith the team will respond and negotiate in good faith.  Leadership characteristic, hardly.  Report to the team and let the agent work out a new deal.

Holding out is tougher now under the current CBA. I am a Vikings fan, but I am usually pretty sensitive to what players want. It is a violent game and careers are usually quite short. 

Hunter may not be able to afford a true holdout because that could cost him a couple million dollars. But other star players have shown how to do a "hold-in." Jalen Ramsey missed several games when he wanted out of Jax by saying he had a sore back. The sore back cleared up once he was traded. I think it was Deandre Hopkins who claimed he had now-and-then hamstring soreness when he wanted a new deal in Arizona. That route is a bit riskier for Hunter because he has had injuries lately. But I suppose everyone would understand what he was doing.

Hunter is still young-ish and he is still really good. We don't know what the issue is with Hunter and KAM. Maybe Hunter was 4 or 5 years and KAM wants 2 max. Who knows? But if someone is willing to (1) give the Vikings adequate comp and (2) give Hunter the deal he wants, . . . may need to trade him. But I would not give him away like with Z and Cook. My preference is we pay Hunter and keep him a Viking for the next 4 years.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"medaille" said:

@"Bullazin" said: He should be at camp he has a contract.  Not a team leader  

While I do agree that in a perfect world he would be there, NFL contract negotiation isn’t a perfect world.  These contracts aren’t meant to be played out as the back end of most long term contracts are funny for cap reasons and there’s often an unwritten agreement that they’ll be taken care of prior to the end of the contract, and maybe that was with Spielman and not Kwesi, but regardless, not participating is some of the only leverage he has and it’s a standard NFL negotiating tactic.  It is not reflective of his leadership characteristics.

what leverage is that?  he doesnt participate, he doesnt play,  he doesnt get paid and his contract doesnt advance.  If he sits out and ends up devaluing himself how does that help him with his next contract?  He misses mini camp,  it really on helps the back up get a shot at showcasing himself with a better supporting cast and IMO hurts Hunter.  If this stretched into camp/ and the season then he really gets devalued as does his trade value.   I know its how its done,  but I just dont think either party wins in a hold out.

@"dadevike" said: Holding out is tougher now under the current CBA. I am a Vikings fan, but I am usually pretty sensitive to what players want. It is a violent game and careers are usually quite short. 

Hunter may not be able to afford a true holdout because that could cost him a couple million dollars. But other star players have shown how to do a "hold-in." Jalen Ramsey missed several games when he wanted out of Jax by saying he had a sore back. The sore back cleared up once he was traded. I think it was Deandre Hopkins who claimed he had now-and-then hamstring soreness when he wanted a new deal in Arizona. That route is a bit riskier for Hunter because he has had injuries lately. But I suppose everyone would understand what he was doing.

Hunter is still young-ish and he is still really good. We don't know what the issue is with Hunter and KAM. Maybe Hunter was 4 or 5 years and KAM wants 2 max. Who knows? But if someone is willing to (1) give the Vikings adequate comp and (2) give Hunter the deal he wants, . . . may need to trade him. But I would not give him away like with Z and Cook. My preference is we pay Hunter and keep him a Viking for the next 4 years.

@"medaille" said:

@"Bullazin" said: He should be at camp he has a contract.  Not a team leader  

While I do agree that in a perfect world he would be there, NFL contract negotiation isn’t a perfect world.  These contracts aren’t meant to be played out as the back end of most long term contracts are funny for cap reasons and there’s often an unwritten agreement that they’ll be taken care of prior to the end of the contract, and maybe that was with Spielman and not Kwesi, but regardless, not participating is some of the only leverage he has and it’s a standard NFL negotiating tactic.  It is not reflective of his leadership characteristics.