Contract negotiation, like football, is a game of leverage. On Tuesday, Cardinals running back David Johnson used some of his leverage by deciding not to play football.
Johnson, a regular at the team’s voluntary offseason work, skipped the first day of a mandatory minicamp that runs through Thursday, presumably because he desires a contract extension sooner rather than later.
Johnson is due to make almost $1.9 million in salary this year, the last of a four-year deal he signed as a rookie.
His agent, Brian Mackler, and the Cardinals have discussed an extension but apparently talks aren’t progressing as quickly as Johnson would like.