Xavien Howard returned from a season-ending injury and surgery. Not only did he return, but he performed. Howard led the league in interceptions and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Howard had a chip on his shoulder. He watched the Miami Dolphins invest heavily in others at his position. That motivated him to remind them of his value.
Now, he’s is making a bet on himself. Howard is early into a lucrative long-term contract but feels he has already outplayed that deal. The Dolphins did not expect to have to be worried about Howard’s contract this year but rather focused on other top players with expiring deals. It seems like Miami is doing just that and as a result, he’s is holding out.
This leaves the Dolphins with three options:
- Renegotiate his contract
- Trade him
- Do nothing and wait it out
In the latest episode of the Talking About Them Dolphins, Jamie Bahamas explains which of the three options Miami should go with.
Fan66
June 25, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Trade him. Trade him now. Give in this time and you kill your organization. A contract is a contract.
Phin Fan
June 25, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Sorry X I love watching you play when healthy, but last time we were in this position was Jones. He got his big contract and then injured. God he quite on the team in the middle of a game? Not saying same with you. But you got your big contract and also went on injured So if you look at it you got paid and didn’t play. So I see no reason to give you a bigger contract than you have. Why hurt the team, we need to have more than 1 person on the field at a time. If anything you should take a pay cut and help the team win it all! We all know there is more money in commercials than there is in playing football. Win the the supper bowl and see your income grow and grow for your future. Look at Manning
Daniel J Nemzek
June 26, 2021 at 8:53 am
Hey don’t get me wrong I love having X but if it’s even a close call from a business stand point as far as salary cap goes. There are a ton of teams out there that will give us plenty of draft picks for years to come. I would not cry if they traded him. No one player is worth sacrificing the team success. Would love to see the take away from this trade.
jim gilmore
June 26, 2021 at 12:24 pm
Trade him for the best offer we can get, X is a great player, but it looks like he’s a little selfish. I didnt see the Dolphins ask him to return any money when they paid his full salary when he was playing at 70% with a knee injury, i dont think they refused him a game check when he missed a game.. If the dolphins give him more theres no guarantee he wont do the same thing again next year. he has already proven that a contract doesn’t mean a thing to him. Goodbye X if your big head can fit through the door, don’t let it hit you in the ass on your way out……
David Nordel
June 26, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Have to wait it out…once you bend for him you bend for all, no one man is larger than the team or the goal…
Mmxenx
June 27, 2021 at 8:21 am
Trade him to detroit for#1 draft pick
Happy Dolphin
June 27, 2021 at 9:10 am
Control Xavien Howard’s greed by not restructuring his contract. Bench him for two years so that in the event there is a trade, his salary proposal, from other “interested” teams drops dramatically. Myself, I would not renegotiate anything, as Xavien Howard is approaching an age where his value drops dramatically around the league, and he is, in-fact, an injury-prone player. Greed is spewing out of this player and his new agent. The Dolphins hold all the cards and should not falter. I like the bench option because it eliminates bonus incentives and disciplines this malcontent of a player. I would also keep a close eye on him possibly throwing games due to his greed not being accommodated and this would affect the moral of other players, if he was allowed to play in the regular season. If I was an owner of this franchise or any NFL franchise, I would not play the bs games that players these play and I think it is high time the management put these types of players in their place!
Happy Dolphin
June 27, 2021 at 9:18 am
NFL players control the tempo of the business and that is just an irresponsible and reckless way to conduct business. Temperamental malcontents trying to force salary demands and the idiotic regimes and owners buckle under and give in to these ridiculous demands, how typical and extremely foolish! It’s is no mystery why these player misfits get away with absurd demands. Why reward an injury-prone player excessive amounts in salary contracts when that player clearly does not deserve it based on poor overall performances? This just tells me that the GM’s are incompetent.
Happy Dolphin
June 27, 2021 at 9:26 am
let’s also not forget the fact that this “chip” on his shoulder should not even exist due to the fact that during the time his contract was renewed, and that was under a serious rebuilding year, he was in all respects, the highest-paid corner in the NFL. So select another phrase to describe this situation because it is not about disrespect but rather it is more about his GREED! An injury-prone player reaching his upper years and he expects a king’s ransom? I WOULD DEFINITELY PUT THE STOPS OUT ON THIS GUY and show him who is really in charge!
Happy Dolphin
June 27, 2021 at 9:30 am
What value? Do you mean the fact that he is mostly off the field during contract years because of his failing health standards? That value? Getting paid 15 million a year for an uncertain situation that could cost this owner multi-millions due to his health issues? Give me a break! Having a rare pro bowl year does not qualify this player to be overcompensated, especially since he has been with the Dolphins many years and rarely sees the field a full season.
Happy Dolphin
June 27, 2021 at 9:33 am
Paying millions to an injury-prone player, yeah that’s “smart”.