Subscribe
Follow Us
Running back Melvin Gordon ended his holdout on Wednesday and returned to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. However, that doesn't mean he's around for the long haul. He expects 2019 will be his final season with the Bolts, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson.
Gordon wants to get paid like an elite running back — i.e., similarly to Le'Veon Bell, Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliot, and David Johnson –, which spawned his holdout. The Chargers didn't offer him money that parallels with the four aforementioned (between $13 and $15 million). Instead, they offered him $10 million, which inspired him to hold out longer.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco then ended all contract talks until after the season, in turn, prompting Gordon to seek a trade. After not getting his wishes of a trade or extension, Gordon returned to the team, four weeks into the season.
Gordon will play 2019 on the fifth-year option, worth $5.6 million. He will be a free agent following the 2019 season. In order to gain that free agency status, the back had to return to the team. After, if Los Angeles doesn't franchise tag him, he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Though Gordon wanted Los Angeles to bring out the Brinks truck, that won't happen. In defense of the Chargers, running backs are a devalued position and Gordon has rushed for 1,000+ yards once, while also missing eight games with the injury before the holdout.
The Chargers figured Gordon wasn't worth that massive money, as one of their backups, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, could replace his talents. Through the first three games of the season, they were right.
