The Buffalo Bills are expected to be without their best defensive back when mandatory minicamp starts Tuesday. Franchise player Jairus Byrdwon't show unless he has a contract, a source informed of the negotiations told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
This is not a holdout. By rule, Byrd cannot practice until he signs the franchise tender or renegotiates a long-term contract. There's "nothing happening on that front at this time," Rapoport's source explained.
Byrd and offensive tackle Ryan Clady of the Denver Broncos are the only two players yet to sign from among the eight who were hit with the franchise tag this offseason. The NFL contract website Spotrac.com places Byrd's value at $45 million over five years.
Bills fans have another month before Byrd's contract stalemate should become a major concern. The deadline for franchise players to sign extensions is July 15. If the sides don't have a contract in place by then, Byrd might skip training camp as his leverage slips away.
UPDATE: Clady told KDSP-FM on Monday that he will not be at Broncos minicamp, but he "more than likely" will show up for training camp.
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