Houston Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins Refuses To Show Up To Training Camp Without Contract Extension
Last season, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins finished third in the NFL in receptions with 111 and receiving yards with 1,521. Hopkins produced those stats despite catching passes from the likes of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden and facing numerous double and triple-teams with no viable option on the other side of the field to take the attention of the defense away.
The Texans spent the offseason trying to rectify the situation on offense by adding quarterback Brock Osweiler from the Denver Broncos in free agency and then drafting receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller. Texans general manager Rick Smith also added running back Lamar Miller from the Miami Dolphins in an attempt to kick-start a running game that was terrible in 2015.
With a defense that really rounded into form toward the end of the 2015 regular season, the Texans entered training camp to win the AFC South Division in 2016. There’s only one problem: Hopkins is nowhere to be found.
Sources: Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins seeks new deal, holds out from training camp: https://t.co/TB1MypUQgj pic.twitter.com/mqDqRNXOuq
— ESPN (@espn) July 30, 2016
According to ESPN, NFL insider Adam Schefter, DeAndre didn’t report to Texans’ training camp as he searches for a contract extension. Hopkins has two more years left on his rookie contract and is only due to make $1 million in base salary in 2016. For a guy that’s averaged 79 catches for 1,177 yards and six touchdowns per season through his first three years in the league, that’s a massive underpay, and one can understand Hopkins’ frustration.
“I’m not looking for a certain range,” DeAndre Hopkins said during a break at a football camp for local children. “I just want to be treated for what I’m worth. That’s fair to say, right?”
Schefter also reports that DeAndre will have to pay a $40,000 fine for every day that he misses of camp. In addition, Hopkins is due a $445,000 roster bonus on the fifth day of Texans’ camp which would be Wednesday. If DeAndre doesn’t return to camp by then, he’ll forfeit the bonus.
The bad news for Hopkins is that there seems to be little incentive for the Texans to engage in extension talks. In fact, Texans beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, reports that the team will not redo DeAndre Hopkins’ deal with two years remaining on it.
DeAndre Hopkins contract won’t b redone with 2 years left. ESPN reporting he didn’t report with vets. They reported at midnight.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) July 30, 2016
Texans redo contracts with 1 year left. Only Watt did it with 2 left. Fines ncreased 2 40 grand per day 4 players under contract staying out
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) July 30, 2016
Hopkins was seen at the team facility on Friday night but only to grab some things out of his locker. DeAndre then left the premises without reporting by the midnight deadline for veteran players.
DeAndre Hopkins has not reported to @HoustonTexans training camp. https://t.co/Z3QCpBCZZY
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) July 30, 2016
It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this situation. Hopkins certainly deserves a raise for the way he’s played to this point in his career and his importance to the offense, but the Texans likely weren’t planning on having to rework his deal this offseason. It could cause a lot of problems for the organization if DeAndre is willing to hold out into the regular season.
Either way, this certainly isn’t how Houston wanted to start the 2016 season. With so much excitement from a busy offseason, the team would rather focus on winning a division championship, making a playoff run and potentially reaching Super Bowl 51. Before any of that can happen, the Texans have to find a way to make DeAndre Hopkins happy and get him back into camp.
[Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images]
