Los Angeles Chargers offensive deal with Rashawn Slater was carted off the follow subject on Thursday afternoon with what turned out to be a big harm. Based on ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the two-time Professional Bowler suffered a season-ending knee harm.
It is a large blow to the crew’s offensive line and offense as a complete.
It additionally serves as a harsh reminder as to why gamers will at all times — and will at all times — act on the aspect of warning on the subject of taking part in coaching camp when they’re in search of a brand new contract.
In Slater’s case, he is a fortunate one as a result of he simply agreed to a brand new four-year, $114 million contract extension with $92 million in ensures days earlier than the harm occurred. That contract was signed after he didn’t take part in a few of the crew’s early training-camp follow periods. If Slater had participated early on and had this harm occur earlier than he was capable of get his new deal signed, it will have been a devastating blow in his quest to get that pay day. Not solely would the Chargers have had no incentive to pay him this season, however there isn’t any assure he would have ever acquired that kind of contract sooner or later.
Followers won’t like the concept of a hold-out or hold-in, however it’s important to have a look at it from the attitude of the participant. They’ve a really restricted time to earn prime greenback within the NFL, and there are by no means any ensures.
The hold-out/hold-in strategy isn’t solely a option to put stress on the crew to pay them, but it surely’s additionally a matter of self-preservation. Soccer is a violent recreation. It is a bodily recreation. It is a collision recreation. Accidents are at all times going to be part of that. However accidents occur with a lot larger frequency early within the season, and especially in training camp, as a consequence of the truth that gamers are nonetheless working their approach again into recreation form and going by means of extra intense and bodily practices than they do at any level throughout the season.
It is a harmful time for them by way of accidents, and that shouldn’t be missed on the subject of contract talks.
Gamers have brief careers and even much less time to set themselves up financially. They shouldn’t be keen to take pointless dangers on the subject of their incomes energy. The Slater state of affairs exhibits simply how delicate all of it’s.
