Breaking Down the Latest Buzz Around NFL's Most Important Contract Discussions

The deadline for signing NFL players on the franchise tag to long-term extensions has come and gone, leaving those players little recourse but to play this season under their franchise tenders.

However, that doesn't mean that there isn't still quite a bit of wheeling and dealing going on in the NFL, including a potential training camp holdout from the league's leading rusher in 2011.

Here's a look at the latest on some of those situations.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

After leading the National Football League with 1,606 yards on the ground in 2011, running back Maurice Jones-Drew is seeking a new contract that will place him among the highest-paid players in the NFL at his position.

However, as ESPN reported Tuesday, Jaguars general manager Gene Smith has publicly stated that the team has no intentions of re-doing Jones-Drew's deal with two years still remaining on the seventh-year pro's $31 million contract.

That sets the stage for a potentially nasty holdout that could stretch into training camp or even the preseason.

It's looking less and less likely that Jones-Drew will report when Jaguars training camp opens on Thursday, and head coach Mike Mularkey told The Florida Times-Union that he's in the dark just as much as anyone else in regards to Jones Drew's intentions:

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“Every player had to sign that they got the information in regards to training camp. Somebody signed at the (Jones-Drew) household we sent it to. Everybody is aware of when it starts, when they have to be here."

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Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets

Much as in 2010, it appears that the New York Jets are on the verge of another locker-room distraction in the form of a contract impasse with star cornerback Darrelle Revis.

In 2010 the drama was televised for all to see on the HBO series Hard Knocks. The situation was finally resolved when the Jets signed Revis to a front-loaded five-year deal that has paid the four-time Pro Bowler over $32 million over the past two seasons.

However, even though the 27-year-old is none too pleased about the fact that he'll make a paltry $7.5 million in 2012 (seriously, how can a man be expected to live on that?), it appears that Revis will show up for training camp this week, at least according to a recent report in Newsday.

That doesn't mean that all is hunky-dory in New York though (is it ever?), as Revis has still been rather vague about his intentions regarding a holdout. The sixth-year pro also didn't appear amused, according to Newsday, when reporters continued to press the subject:

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"Whatever you want to write," Revis told a reporter, growing more and more agitated. "I just told you, I'm getting ready for this season."

When asked if there are lingering issues between him and the Jets' front office, he said: "If something's lingering, you will find out. It's going to be written. It's going to be in the paper. I'm telling you, I'm getting ready for the season."

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Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns took a significant risk in drafting 28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round of April's NFL draft, and that risk has, to this point, been compounded by the team's inability to get him signed to a contract.

Given the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, it would seem easier to get rookies signed. However, players and agents have just found new sticking points to haggle over. In this case, that sticking point is Weeden's desire to see all four years of his rookie deal guaranteed.

It's absolutely vital that the Browns get the signal-caller they expect to be their opening day starter into camp on time so that he can learn the offense.

Luckily for the team, it appears that headway is being made that would accomplish just that, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the two sides "are now 'close' to a deal, and are hoping to wrap it up today, sources said."

Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore safety Ed Reed has been one of the cornerstones of the fearsome Ravens defense for a decade.

As the 33-year-old enters the final year of his contract, it would appear that the 11th-year veteran is looking for one last big payday, as Reed has continually griped about his desire for an extension this offseason.

The thing is, Reed's $7.25 million salary this year already exceeds that of such stalwarts as Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs and Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers.

Not only that, but the risk of inking Reed to a long-term deal with significant guaranteed money is also compounded by the fact that Reed has battled injuries and contemplated retirement for the past several seasons, although he now says that he plans to play "four or five more seasons" according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.

However, if a recent report by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is to be believed, then fans of the Baltimore Ravens can breathe easy, as an unnamed member of Reed's family stated that he fully expects the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year to be in camp on time:

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Everyone is talking about a holdout. Ed isn't going to hold out. He told me he isn't going to hold out. He speaks his mind about some things, gets some things off his chest, but he's never said he is going to hold out. He'll show up when he has to be there and he'll play out his contract.

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