Melvin Gordon reported to mandatory minicamp this week, and the Los Angeles Chargers running back hopes the next step in the offseason is a new contract.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a deal done," Gordon said Tuesday, via ESPN's Eric Williams. "But that's not going to stop me from coming out here and doing what I need to do. We're going to see. I would like to go out there and have it done. We're talking right now, and that's kind of where I'm going to leave it."
Gordon eschewed voluntary offseason workouts earlier this year, choosing to work out on his own. He reported to minicamp this week but wouldn't dismiss the possibility that he could hold out of training camp or even further into 2019 if a deal isn't struck.
"I don't know, man," Gordon said. "I'm just trying not to talk about it. If it's going to happen, it'll happen. When it does, I'm pretty sure you guys will know."
The 26-year-old former first-round pick is slated to make $5.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract.
Gordon proved his worth to the Chargers after finishing the 2018 campaign clearly hindered by knee issues. L.A. wasn't the same bruising offense without the running back at full capacity. Conversely, injuries at such a grinding position are common, which might lead the Chargers brass to balk at paying a back big dinero. They need only look to their city-mates, the Rams, and Todd Gurley's situation to possibly get cold feet about paying a running back.
"It's an issue with everybody else," Gordon said. "But I know my value. I know what I bring to this team, and I'm sticking with that. Todd's paid, so Todd don't care what anybody says right now -- him or David Johnson -- they can say what they want to say. They signed the dotted line.
"But unfortunately I haven't yet, so I've got to take the heat for some of the stuff that they're going through. But I'm not them, and like I said, I know my value."
There is no question the Chargers value Gordon's play. The question is whether monetarily the sides can agree to fair compensation that appeases both parties before the start of the season.
