The New England Patriots qualify as one of the Miami Dolphins‘ fiercest adversaries. From its fans to the players, you can always count on New England’s football team to stand out as a major annoyance in the NFL. The Pats and Fins could not possibly be farther apart, and yet, they still somehow manage to have so much in common.
Yup, that’s right, even the frozen tundra up north shares common ground with the Sunshine State. We know that sounds crazy, but just think about it for a second. Both teams play in the AFC East, both have cornerbacks who are currently in holdouts, and most of all, both teams have completed the seemingly impossible task of an undefeated season.
Oh wait a second, we take that last one back (oops). Only Miami can lay claim to the coveted perfect season (Sorry New Englanders, but 18-1 just doesn’t cut it). Looks like you’ll need old Tommy back to have a chance at that one, and quite frankly we think he’d rather stay in sunny Tampa Bay anyway. After all, who wouldn’t want to live in the beautiful Sunshine State?
Xavien Howard Contract Holdout
Xavien Howard, that’s who.
As mentioned earlier, both the Dolphins and Patriots have found themselves in hot water when it comes to their cornerbacks. For the Patriots, their holdout is nothing short of a former DPOY (Stephon Gilmore). For the Dolphins, meanwhile, it’s arguably an even more important piece of cargo.
Xavien Howard, while not necessarily a former DPOY winner, has established himself as one of the most dominant cornerbacks in the entire NFL. The 27-year-old CB tallied a league-high ten interceptions in 2021 and earned himself a spot as a First Team All-Pro. If you’re not good with history or statistics, that’s the most INT’s for any player since the 2007 season.
That number shows that Howard has produced stark improvement since his first year with the team in 2016. More importantly, it serves as the reason why the valuable defender missed Tuesday’s all-important mandatory minicamp. What once represented a fair agreement between both sides now qualifies as the center of controversy in the Dolphins organization. The five-year, $75 million contract signed between the two parties in 2019 simply isn’t enough for a guy like Howard anymore. Of course, it’d be better if he chose a different pathway rather than holding out, but teams can’t always control everything in their favor.
When asked about the current situation, head coach Brian Flores expressed a sense of empathy for his valuable cornerback. As he stated, “X is a little bit of a unique situation. He was extended and now we’re talking about a potential renegotiation after one year. Those turn into longer conversations. We understand that”.
Potential Consequences For Holding Out
While Flores may support a clear and smooth transition, it doesn’t mean that Howard’s actions won’t go without their consequences. The cornerback is currently facing the possibility of a $90,000 fine if he chooses to skip the entirety of minicamp. That number, while daunting, could be avoided if Howard chooses to comply in a respectable manner with his team.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, Tuesday’s news qualifies as a massive pill to swallow for ‘Fins fans. It could (hopefully) result in a new agreement between the two sides, but it could also mean the end of the era. An era that really hasn’t lasted long enough for most Miami fans. Howard stands out as an all-around necessity for the team’s success, and losing him could be a massive blow for the organization’s quest for success.
So, while there’s much to discuss, we hope this deal gets done sooner rather than later.