Detroit Lions: It’s time to settle the holdouts before it’s too late

The Detroit Lions are playing with fire regarding their two best defensive players.  Playing with fire isn’t wise; it could end up costing the team a successful 2019 season.

Two of the leagues’ top defenders at their respected positions remain at home while offseason workouts, along with minicamp has taken place.  The Detroit Lions organization would be wise to settle contract disputes with both Damon Harrison and Darius Slay.

Slay is a pro bowler in back to back seasons, playing against the opponents’ number one receiver each game.  He’s a lockdown corner, and when he’s challenged, he’s dominated with 11 interceptions over the last two seasons. He’s got two years remaining on his four-year deal.  He’s paid much more reasonably than Harrison but expects more than his 12.6-million, when lesser corners make more.

Both players are looking for new deals; both players have a significant impact on the Detroit Lions success or lack thereof in 2019.  Damon Harrison came over to the Lions in a trade with the New York Giants.  He’s arguably the best interior run stopping defensive lineman in the NFL.  He’s set to make 6.75-million dollars this upcoming season and an additional 9-million next season before his current deal expires.

Harrison changed the entire landscape of the Detroit Lions defense when he arrived.  The team was struggling to get any consistent push from the interior of their D-line while struggling to plug the run.  He didn’t play a full season with the Lions; in fact, he played just ten games in Honolulu blue, yet led the team in run stops.  In an article published on Mlive.com, Kyle Meinke mentions Pro Football Focus graded Harrison as the leagues top run stopper, yet he is paid as the 15th best DT in the league.

In the same article head coach Matt Patricia does his best Bill Belichick impression when asked about the holdouts, talking but not saying anything on the subject;

"“I think I’ve addressed that issue,” Patricia said. “I think I’m really going to focus on the guys that are here, as far as that’s concerned, and talk about them. Whatever communication we have with players in those situations are kept private between us and the player. So when we get back for training camp, we always expect everybody to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re there. We deal with it, and we go from there. But don’t really look into that too much.”"

I think the head coach is taking the wrong approach here.  Understanding it’s not Matt Patricia’s fault that both Slay nor Harrison are in attendance.  He’s right; he needs to coach the players that are in attendance, it’s actually beneficial to the young players who are clawing for one of the final roster spots.  They are receiving valuable practice reps.

If I were Patricia, although it’s obvious, he should express that he wishes his star players were in attendance mentoring the younger players, helping them grow into better professionals rather than being away from the team.

Maybe saying something like that, it would pressure GM Bob Quinn into going back to the drawing table and hammering a deal out.  The calendar has yet to officially reach summer; it’s still early.  I wouldn’t panic yet, but most Detroit Lions fans would feel much better if this issue is solved.  If both players did extend a holdout into the regular season, it wouldn’t be a sink or swim situation; the Detroit Lions wouldn’t be able to survive without them.

No one wants to see the Lions who potentially have a top five defense struggle when it’s avoidable. Get these players’ new contracts and get on with it.  Wake up Bob Quinn, wake up, this could be damaging any future negotiations with these players.  Both players will have the opportunity to sign elsewhere in two years, that would simply be unacceptable.