Breaking Down the NFL Holdouts: Which Disputes Are Most Valid?

A majority of NFL minicamps are either underway this week or were completed last week, which allows us to dig back into something no one really wants to talk about: Summer contract disputes and the potential holdouts that accompany them later on.

Several players continue to hold out of minicamps in hopes of attaining a better deal for 2012 and beyond. Below, we break down the continuing holdouts to determine which are the most valid. 

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Forte missed the entirety of the Bears' three-day minicamp last week. As expected, Forte continues to hold out for the kind of multi-year deal that has proven to be elusive for the 26-year-old. 

The next couple of months should be interesting from both sides. 

While Forte has until July 16th to get his multi-year deal—he'll play on a one-year deal in 2012 if nothing is reached beforehand—the Bears have no incentive to move things along on a big contract. 

Forte is good value to the Bears at one year and $7.7 million, and they signed an insurance policy in Michael Bush this offseason. If Chicago doesn't like what Forte is demanding, there's no reason for the team to cave. 

Eventually, Forte is either going to accept something well below what he wants in a multi-year deal or he'll have to play on the one-year tender. Playing on the franchise tender appears to be the most likely ending to this longstanding duel. 

But that doesn't mean Forte shouldn't be getting more contractual love from the Bears. In four NFL seasons, Forte has cracked 900 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving in every year. He cracked 1,200 yards rushing in the one year (2008) that he received 300 or more carries, and few backs are as capable in the passing game as Forte. 

As an outside observer, you want the two sides to come to an agreement. It's beneficial for both. But that doesn't always add up in the modern age of NFL football, especially for running backs. 

Holdout: Valid

Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

Just like Forte, Bowe was absent for the Chiefs' entire minicamp last week, according to the Kansas City Star. As a player not under contract, Bowe has no obligation to attend anything this offseason. 

Bowe is, like every player on this list, searching for the security and peace of mind of a long-term deal. The thing is, teams have precious little incentive to cave in to franchise-tagged players. Such is the case for Bowe in Kansas City.

However, the chances of Bowe not signing his $9.5 million tender before July 16 remains remote.

While the holdout makes plenty of sense—Bowe is leaving himself every possible avenue to get a long-term deal done—you can expect him to be in camp on the one-year tender in late July. 

Holdout: Valid

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

It's a broken record now, but Jones-Drew skipped the Jaguars' minicamp held last week. Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union first reported that Jones-Drew would miss the camp. 

Jones-Drew believes he's outplayed the five-year, $30.95 million deal he signed with the team in 2009, but the Jaguars have remained steadfast on not redoing his deal before this season. 

It's fairly easy to see why Jones-Drew wants his deal redone now rather than later.

Despite turning just 27 years old in March, Jones-Drew has accumulated plenty of touches during his six-year NFL career. Eventually, running backs with as many totes as MJD has had recently break down, and he's trying to safeguard his future contractually with a new deal. 

Jones-Drew is also coming off the best season of his NFL career, a year in which he ran for 1,606 yards despite being the Jaguars' only true offensive weapon. If there was ever a time to cash in on a big season, it's now for MJD. 

Holdout: Valid

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Finally, we come to the holdout most are talking about. It's likely the one that is least valid, too. 

While Brees is coming off a season in which he broke the NFL record for passing yards and threw for 46 touchdowns, the Saints have been plenty generous in their previous offers. 

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Saints offered Brees a deal worth $18 million annually last season and have since upgraded that offer. It is likely that guaranteed money and the length of the deal are the sticking points for Brees. 

But at this current time in the Saints' franchise history—one where New Orleans has went from Hollywood story to the bad boys of the NFL—Brees is needed more than ever. Sean Payton is gone for the entire 2012 season. So is defensive captain Jonathan Vilma. 

If there was ever a time to surrender on a contract squabble—from both sides—it's right now. This should be a done deal by now and Brees should be in minicamp helping to repair the wounds served by Bountygate. 

It's both sides' fault, but that doesn't make the holdout any more valid. 

Holdout: Not valid