Do Eagles Have a Haason Reddick Situation? Nick Sirianni Answers

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick addressed his contract and now there is speculation that maybe his groin soreness is part of a hold-in as he looks for more money.

PHILADELPHIA – The first question to Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni in his pre-practice news conference on Thursday morning was about the Haason Reddick situation.

Exactly what the “situation” is, isn’t exactly clear.

Was it because he was asked about his contract two days earlier?

Is it the lingering groin soreness that had him miss the first few days of camp and continues to keep him limited in practices?

Is it both?

Is it none of the above?

What exactly?

Whatever it is - if anything - has the local sports talk shows buzzing.

Not Sirianni, though.

“I don't see there being a situation,” Sirianni said. “Haason has been here every day and working his butt off to get himself back out on the practice field. Working his butt off to make sure that he is healthy so this injury that he is going through right now doesn't linger all season.

“You know, engaged in meetings, engaged in practice, engaged in the training room. Haason is a great teammate and a great player. I'm glad he's here.”

On Tuesday, Reddick was innocuously asked if he feels underpaid after posting 19.5 sacks last season, his first with his hometown team after signing a three-year contract that can be worth up to $45 million.

“I ain’t going to sit here and … like I say, y’all see it,” he said. “Y’all know what’s going on. I’m just worried about being the best version of myself. And then everything else will sort itself out.”

So maybe that’s it.

Or maybe it’s what could be termed a “hold-in” where Reddick showed up, but the injury isn’t an injury at all, just a way of safely biding his time in a stand to get more money in a restructure.

In Minnesota, Vikings star pass rusher Danielle Hunter held out of spring workouts and showed up from training camp but didn’t do anything – called a hold-in. The Vikings gave him a big raise this week, upping his salary to $20M and doubling his original salary for the year of $4.9M to a full $10.

In San Francisco, reigning Defensive Player of the Year and 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa is holding out looking for more money.

Reddick played for a base salary of $1.03M in the first year of his contract and this year’s base salary is $1.08M. Next year it jumps to $13.7M. He did get $30M guaranteed in his deal including a $13.7M signing bonus.

Is the injury a ploy to get more money?

Reddick didn’t sound like it was when asked about his sore groin.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I had a groin from working in the offseason. I’m just working on getting that back. The training staff is doing a good job.”

Asked how close he is to 100 percent, Reddick said he didn’t know.

“We’re taking it day by day,” he said. “Just making sure that I don’t re-aggravate it. we don’t want it lingering. It’s not even an injury but we don’t want it to be lingering pain throughout the season.”

Sounds legit.

The Eagles currently are $13.8M under the salary cap. It could be money that general manager Howie Roseman is holding onto in case he wants to make a trade before the season begins.

If he doesn’t, maybe some of that money gets put into Reddick’s bank account, though there are other Eagles who will soon need new deals, including the first two picks of the 2021 draft, DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson.

Reddick said he is going to continue to work hard, adding contract stuff has a way of working itself out.

“I’m just going to come out, continue to work, and be a better version of Haason Reddick," he said. "Continue to be a great teammate. Go out here and work hard for the guys and let those things sort themselves out as they should.”

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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