Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp: RFAs Not in Attendance Is a Bad Sign

The Cleveland Browns have started their mandatory minicamp, from June 10-12, and even though the team has extended the deadline for RFAs to sign their tender contract, not attending the mandatory minicamp may be a bad sign for those players and the team.

As reported by Cleveland.com, four of the five unsigned RFAs for the Browns did not show up to Thursday's mandatory camp.

RFAs not attending are: linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, safety Abram Elam, linebacker Matt Roth, and surprisingly fullback Lawrence Vickers who showed up for the last week of organized team activities (OTAs) while still unsigned.

UPDATE 6/10/10 @ 2:06 P.M. EST: According to ESPN.com, Vickers is at mandatory minicamp—he was reportedly late to take care of some personal business at home.

Running back, and possible incumbent starter, Jerome Harrison is the only unsigned RFA to attend the mandatory camp.

Harrison may be more passionate about sticking with the Browns than any of the other four unsigned players. Despite still being unsigned himself, he is no dummy and can feel the heat that rookie running back Montario Hardesty is putting on him to be the opening day starter.

Even though the Browns extended the RFA tender deadline to June 15, the absence could also be another way for these players to simply not attend any of the offseason programs, since they are not obligated to attend without being under contract.

Or this is a sign of things to come, with holdouts for these four players through training camp and, possibly, the regular season.

Not a good move if it is that later, since a holdout only hurts their bottom line value and makes other teams question the passion of these players being a true team player.

Why not attend the offseason program?

It's not like the Browns are a solid team on all sides of the ball—they need improvement everywhere and attending helps all the players get on the same page, especially with all the new faces.

However, it is also understood that an NFL player only has a small window to get paid big money, since a career can get cut short in only one play. So this is a big sacrifice for these players, especially Elam and Roth.

Elam is only a one-year starter at safety and really doesn't yet have the numbers on which to hang his hat. Roth was cut by the Dolphins in mid-season 2009 due to a riddled injury past and, like Elam, also does not have impact numbers.

Jackson could find a team much more easily, since he has solid numbers at linebacker and led the NFL in total tackles in 2008. Nevertheless, a holdout for him would decrease his value in the end too.

At least Harrison knows better, and hopefully he and a few of the other RFAs will sign their tender before the June 15 deadline, otherwise they will sacrifice nearly $1 million on their tender when the Browns can reduce the offer to only 10 percent above each players' 2009 salary.

What is more important?

A long-term deal that would be preceded by a holdout where there is no salary at all, or a one-year tender deal to play your heart out in 2010 in order to prove you're worthy of a long-term deal for 2011 and beyond?

One would say the later is the best option, but Browns writers and fans will have to wait and be patient until June 15 rolls around to see who indeed signs.

On a side note, Cleveland.com also reported that fullback/halfback Peyton Hillis was also not in attendance for mandatory minicamp due to an undisclosed illness. Moreover, kicker Phil Dawson has shown up to kick field goals, probably due to the fact he heard how terribly Shaun Suisham has been missing nearly every kick in OTAs.

At least, the Browns have depth at linebacker and in the offensive backfield in case holdouts do occur, but the Browns are easily better with all the RFAs on the roster, as opposed to them not being there.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: THE Cleveland Browns Blog)