According to NFL.com, Falcons holdout Roddy White is seeking more money than Greg Jennings got this summer.

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Contract extension in the best interest for Falcons, White

Steve Wyche By Steve Wyche | NFL.com

Senior Writer

The Falcons are three days into training camp and quarterback Matt Ryan's No. 1 target, wide receiver Roddy White, remains a holdout.

White, who is entering the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him $2.9 million this season, wants an extension -- and the Falcons want to give him one. However, money has gotten in the way.

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White, a Pro Bowler last season and an emerging talent who has had consecutive 1,200-plus yard seasons -- with 2,584 yards and 13 touchdowns since 2007 -- is seeking more than the $9 million average and $16 million guaranteed Packers wideout Greg Jennings received in a three-year extension this summer (with escalators it can climb to $30 million).

The Falcons had hoped to reach a deal well before now, but they don't want the dollars to venture into Larry Fitzgerald territory -- which clearly White's demands must be broaching since an accord has not been finalized. Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million deal last summer.

An argument could be made that White doesn't deserve what he's asking for since he's only had a legit two-year body of work during his four-year career. That said, take White out of Atlanta's lineup and here is the domino effect: No. 1 wide receiver -- Michael Jenkins; No. 2 -- Harry Douglas; No. 3 -- Brian Finneran. To have a young talent such as Ryan at quarterback without a compliment like White on the outside will allow defenses to stack the line of scrimmage to stop tailback Michael Turner and double-team tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Ryan might be good, but if you allow defenses the luxury of simplifying what they do in order to bottle up Turner and Gonzalez, he might not look as good as he did as a rookie. The presence of White forces teams to decide whether to double him or Gonzalez, leaving one in single coverage and/or a soft spot on the defense for Turner to gash.

Several players from around the league have told me that White has really emerged as one of the bigger threats over the past two seasons. He's big, he's strong and he's one of the toughest wide receivers to bring down, which is why the strength of his game is catching intermediate balls and handling things from there. White also has the breakaway speed and hands to make tough catches on deep routes.

White's development could get skewed if a deal is not reached. His first two seasons in the NFL, he was not nearly as focused and committed as he has been in recent seasons -- and the results prove as much. If a deal is not reached and White reports disgruntled, this distraction could be highly counter-productive. A former teammate told me last week that White is a far different person and player than he was early in his career, but that this contract issue is weighing heavily on him.

The Falcons do have some leverage in that White could eventually cave and play without a new deal -- and be tagged with a franchise tender next season or sign a long-term deal at some point before then. Should the NFL and the NFLPA not complete a new labor pact, making the 2010 season an uncapped year, White also would be a restricted free agent because he has less than six years of service. That would allow Atlanta to cripple his mobility by requiring interested teams to give up at least a first-round pick in order to sign him.

It doesn't look like things are headed in that direction, though. One of the reasons why there has not been an acrimonious tone during the holdout is because both sides want to get a deal done. I've spoken to some people who believe something could get completed by the end of the week, although that is more speculation than inside intelligence since the Falcons and White's representation are keeping things private.

The Falcons are known for taking care of the players they want and paying them accordingly. Owner Arthur Blank has developed a reputation as someone players want to play for while making his franchise a destination point for players. There has not been an abundance of contract issues or holdouts with veteran players under Blank's ownership. That history and White's value to the team are signals that the sides will eventually come together.

Until then, White is losing $16,000 a day and the Falcons are training without their most dangerous big-play threat.

[ukfalc]

Offer him $8m a season or whatever we think is fair value, and let him rot on the bench in 2009 and 2010 if he doesn't want it.

[WoTFan]

Ten million is rediculous, but I doubt he's asking for that. Since Greg Jennings got a 8 million/yr deal, he's probably asking for 8.5-9 a year.

[schwarzenegger321]

Yeah, read this. See my post from a earlier today. The longer Roddy holds out the more likely I think he is going to get traded. There are several reasons why I think that is a legitimat possibility.

Also, I think it's inaccurate to say that Roddy is Atlanta's most dangerous big play threat. He is a big play threat, but not the most dangerous.

[Lou Dog]

It has already been reported that he has turned down 9 mil a year

[taylor228193]

rot in **** roddy.

[schwarzenegger321]

A number 2 and number 5 pick for Roddy would be about right. Wonder who's going to be shopping for WR's later this month. Denver? Lions?

[CraigSmackDaddy]

Love Roddy but he does not deserve more money than Jennings... They have very similar stats and Jennings is a year or two younger. Most feel Jennings was overpaid... I have had VERY little to say about this holdout but I must say at this point, which is just rumors, it sounds like he is asking for too much. 8 mil a year sounds about right to me....

[Dem Birds]

A number 2 and number 5 pick for Roddy would be about right. Wonder who's going to be shopping for WR's later this month. Denver? Lions?

:lol: :lol:

All of you people act like Roddy ****ed your mothers, man. It's a business and he's doing what he has to do to get paid. If he goes to camp and blows out his knee, he won't get a new contract.

Roddy White CLEARLY deserves more money than Jennings.

[CraigSmackDaddy]

It has already been reported that he has turned down 9 mil a year

Really? Link? That's f'n crazy if he did... 9 mil a year should have gotten the deal done quick like...

[Lou Dog]

A number 2 and number 5 pick for Roddy would be about right. Wonder who's going to be shopping for WR's later this month. Denver? Lions?

Id like to keep him but if we ended up trading him I would likeus ot get a 1st round pick for him

[WoTFan]

A number 2 and number 5 pick for Roddy would be about right. Wonder who's going to be shopping for WR's later this month. Denver? Lions?

[Lou Dog]

Really? Link? That's f'n crazy if he did... 9 mil a year should have gotten the deal done quick like...

Dont have a link due to laziness but it was on AOL yesterday. Said he turned down a 5 year 45 mil offer

[FireDawg85]

It has already been reported that he has turned down 9 mil a year

If thats the case, screw hi

[Sun Tzu 7]

Yeah, read this. See my post from a earlier today. The longer Roddy holds out the more likely I think he is going to get traded. There are several reasons why I think that is a legitimat possibility.

Also, I think it's inaccurate to say that Roddy is Atlanta's most dangerous big play threat. He is a big play threat, but not the most dangerous.

I think if this stretches into next week.... then him getting traded might be a real possibility.

[schwarzenegger321]

:lol: :lol:

All of you people act like Roddy ****ed your mothers, man. It's a business and he's doing what he has to do to get paid. If he goes to camp and blows out his knee, he won't get a new contract.

Roddy White CLEARLY deserves more money than Jennings.

First if this is a business than it's a two way street (I agree with you). Roddy is not an elite WR, he is a good WR with a lot of potential. We have a lot of talent at WR this year. Finding a replacement for Roddy would not be a huge problem.

Since this is a business if the options are to give a guy a lot more money than he's worth and set a precidence with the team (negative), have him hold out and start a guy who probably is just as good (Roddy does not have blinding speed or make acrobatic catches - he makes the catches he is supposed to. Well, except balls thrown to him in the endzone when we play Denver), or trade him for picks, which one do you think the team would choose.

It is not in the nature of TD to overpay for anyone. He is not going to start now.

Oh, by the way cool signature.

[bossFALCON™]

they kind of overpaid jennings which has created a problem for us. roddy's better then jennings. he's put up better numbers, he means more to our team and he's a probowler. jennings should've gotten 8, roddy would've sat perfectly at 8.5-9 and fitz at 10. the most i want to give roddy is 9.5. i love roddy as a do a bunch of other falcon players but he isnt fitz, who will most likely go down as one of the top 3 wideouts of all time.

[WoTFan]

If thats the case, screw hi

Just did a quick google, didn't find anything reporting he turned down a 5 year 45 million deal.

Also, people saying trade him must have forgetten how often Matt Ryan threw to him last year. Even with TG, you can't just find that production on the street corner.

[sporkdevil]

That's f*ing ridiculous. He wants so close to Fitzgerald money? That is crazy, because he is NOT Fitzgerald, and Fitz's contract crippled the team when he signed it.

I'm all for paying a guy, but screw him! Make him play out this year, play next year as a RFA, and franchise him the next year. We could get 3 years for around $15 million, and have 3 years to improve our WR's. Over $9 million is just plain stupid money.

[CraigSmackDaddy]

Dont have a link due to laziness but it was on AOL yesterday. Said he turned down a 5 year 45 mil offer

If so this should have been taken care of already.... hard to believe that he thinks he deserves Fitzgerald type money.

[BrockSamson]

If thats the case, screw hi

What does Hi have to do with this?

[Falcons Ace]

First if this is a business than it's a two way street (I agree with you). Roddy is not an elite WR, he is a good WR with a lot of potential. We have a lot of talent at WR this year. Finding a replacement for Roddy would not be a huge problem.

Since this is a business if the options are to give a guy a lot more money than he's worth and set a precidence with the team (negative), have him hold out and start a guy who probably is just as good (Roddy does not have blinding speed or make acrobatic catches - he makes the catches he is supposed to. Well, except balls thrown to him in the endzone when we play Denver), or trade him for picks, which one do you think the team would choose.

It is not in the nature of TD to overpay for anyone. He is not going to start now.

LMAO at you thinking Roddy is just an above average WR. Look at the numbers. He's a Top 10 WR EASILY, closer to Top 5. No one on this team can even hope to replace Roddy. No one one our team is the deep threat like Roddy is, no one is a threat on 3rd down like Roddy is, no one is a play-maker like Roddy is, no one is a YAC threat like Roddy is, no one draws double teams like Roddy does, and no one can make catches like Roddy does. He's fast enough to be a consistent deep threat and made plenty of acrobatic catches last year.

Roddy has played well enough to earn 8.5-9.5 million a year, and it's laughable that people are so willing to give up the first true #1 we have had this decade. He has great chemistry with our young stand-out QB and is a major cog in this offense. It's hysterical how people want to sit here and pretend he's not anything that great and could be so easily replaced.

[skynyrd04]

It has already been reported that he has turned down 9 mil a year

IF that's true, wow. Man, I supported Roddy getting 7-8mil but 9? Roddy is smokin something if he thinks he deserves Fitzgerald money!

[WoTFan]

I just searched on AOL, no story on White turning down 5 years 45 million. The guy was making it up.

[Thelonious Mingus]

they kind of overpaid jennings which has created a problem for us. roddy's better then jennings. he's put up better numbers, he means more to our team and he's a probowler. jennings should've gotten 8, roddy would've sat perfectly at 8.5-9 and fitz at 10. the most i want to give roddy is 9.5. i love roddy as a do a bunch of other falcon players but he isnt fitz, who will most likely go down as one of the top 3 wideouts of all time.

Explain how Roddy White put up better numbers?

Last year:

Roddy: 88 Catches 1382 Yds 15.7 AVG 4.4 YAC 7 TD's

Greg Jennings: 80 Catches 1292 Yds 16.2 AVG 4.8 YAC 9 TD's

Last 2 years:

Roddy: 13 TD's in 32 games

Greg Jennings: 21 TD's in 29 games

Greg Jennings is better than Roddy.

RODDY WHITE IS NOT WORTH 8 MILLION. 10 MILLION IS LAUGHABLE

DIMI WILL NOT BUDGE / STUTTER