Jahmyr Gibbs is sitting out training camp and Brad Holmes is stuck in the weirdest contract standoff the NFL has seen in years
Training camp opened in Allen Park without Jahmyr Gibbs on the field. Over in Atlanta, the Falcons are dealing with the exact same problem with Bijan Robinson. The top two running backs in football are both holding out at the same time, both up for extensions, and both holding every last bit of leverage.
This is unprecedented territory.
When does this ever happen? When do the two best players at one position come up for extensions at the exact same moment? It does not. And when it does, the players own the negotiation. But there is a catch. Whoever signs first probably loses.
The Lions cannot afford to play chicken here
Detroit is not in a position where they can shrug this off and say it is just a running back, we will find another one. You also cannot lean on the whole “we have two years of control left, let it ride” strategy that works with most players. That does not work with Gibbs. You do not gamble with a player this good.
When you are dealing with a guy that every GM in the league would give up actual limbs to acquire, that player has all the leverage. Gibbs can walk into Brad Holmes’ office and name his price within reason. If he asks for a billion gajillion dollars like Dr. Evil, fine, Holmes is not paying that. But Gibbs knows that if the Lions balk, somebody else will pay him. He knows Detroit is not going to risk losing him over contract posturing.
Sure, the Lions might get back draft capital and trade assets if they moved him. But Gibbs changes this offense in ways that are night and day obvious. This is the guy you pay. This is the guy you keep.
The first mover loses and that is the problem
Here is what makes this so damn tricky. If the Lions sign Gibbs to a massive deal this week that makes him the highest paid running back in football, Atlanta is expected to immediately top that number and Robinson becomes the highest paid running back. Same logic works in reverse. If Robinson signs first, Gibbs is going to want more. And why would he not? That is how this works. Everybody wants to get paid as much as they can for the short window they have to do this.
Whoever goes first loses even though they are still making an unbelievable amount of money. They just will not be making as much as the other guy because the other guy is almost certainly going to beat that deal.
This might take a while and that is not great
Both teams have brand new offensive coordinators. Both teams are installing brand new offenses. These guys need to be on the field learning the system. They cannot afford for this to drag on. All the pressure is on the teams right now. They need to find the number and get it done.
But you also have to find a way to structure a deal that is player friendly and team friendly without overpaying and without making sure your player out earns the other. That is a sticky situation and there is no clean way out of it.
This does not feel like something that gets solved overnight.
Holmes was at practice and when another reporter asked about Gibbs he said he did not have any information on it. Dan Campbell will talk Thursday morning but I am sure he is not going to say much either.
Day 2 of training camp is Thursday. We will see if Jahmyr Gibbs is in the building.
