Football leaders conduct a 'Burgundy and Gold' rehearsal; Terry McLaurin engages in discussion with GM Adam Peters
The Washington Commanders were in the midst of an eventful week, with star wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract dispute taking centre stage. Meanwhile, the team also held an intrasquad scrimmage at the OrthoVirginia Training Center, dubbed the "Burgundy and Gold game" by head coach Dan Quinn.
McLaurin, who is in a hold-in as he negotiates a contract extension, spoke with General Manager Adam Peters before the scrimmage. Despite the ongoing contract negotiations, McLaurin remained separate from the players during the action, engaging in conversations with staffers and teammates, including Jayden Daniels.
The gold team, featuring notable players such as Javon Kinlaw, Von Miller, Trey Amos, Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and Daron Payne, emerged victorious in the scrimmage, securing a 14-0 win. The burgundy team, led by Jayden Daniels, Deebo Samuel, Luke McCaffrey, Brian Robinson, and Zach Ertz, among others, failed to score any points against the first-team defense.
Javon Kinlaw expressed his enthusiasm about the win and planned to engage in some post-game trash talk, while Jeremy McNichols described the scrimmage as a "good change of pace" from the usual practice schedule. Jeremy Reaves emphasised that the competition should remain on the field and not extend beyond it.
Despite the frustrating performance on the field, tight end Ben Sinnott, who played with the burgundy team, found the scrimmage a valuable opportunity to assess the team's progress and identify areas for improvement.
As for McLaurin's contract dispute, insiders believe he will likely remain with the Commanders and that a compromise extension may be reached before the 2025 season starts. McLaurin is seeking a significant pay raise, with contract negotiations having not progressed significantly. The Commanders' general manager appears firm on maintaining the team's long-term financial flexibility, resisting McLaurin’s demands so far.
A possible compromise under discussion could include a deal with guaranteed money for 2025 and 2026 and conditions around guarantees for 2027, reflecting the complexity of the negotiations. McLaurin’s franchise tag cost in 2026 would be around $30.2 million if no new deal is made, adding pressure for a resolution.
The Commanders will be back in action Aug. 18 at Northwest Stadium for a preseason bout against the Cincinnati Bengals. With the regular season fast approaching, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, but an agreement or compromise extension seems probable soon.
Terry McLaurin, despite his ongoing contract negotiations and subsequent separation from the team during the scrimmage, showed interest in American football, as he is a skilled wide receiver who could excel in both NFL and football games. Meanwhile, the Commanders, during the scrimmage, demonstrated their prowess in NFL's specific version of football, with the gold team securing a 14-0 win.
