If everything I've been reading is correct (and I think it is), AD MUST report today OR he loses a year in FA eligibility. I suppose since the Rams aren't meeting today, then he can get away with not showing up until tomorrow.
I would think that unless the Rams and AD are confident a deal is few hours or a day or two from being completed, he's going to show up.
I have read some stories about this that basically boils down to this: Yes. The rule about the daily fines and the Aug. 8th final report date for a player under contract is correct. Yes. These rules are CBA rules, automatically included in NFL contracts, and they have real teeth. These are perhaps the team's greatest leverage.
But.....mostly agents and media types say that if the player is a star, the team wouldn't want to alienate the player by playing hardball. That is, if a player is virtually forced into camp because of these CBA rules that maybe the player won't be all in or maybe his teammates will be disgruntled on his account.
My take: Of course agents and media types would say this. They are 100% player oriented. But when is the last time we've heard of a player being so disgruntled that he tanked, or showed a horrible attitude, or that his teammates decided that they didn't want to play on that team because of the team played hardball with their teammate? I'm sure the Rams do not want to force AD into a box. What I don't know is if they are willing to do so even if they don't want to.
I think they should let it be known that the CBA is the CBA and it will be enforced. And that there will be NO more negotiations until the 2017 season is over, and then they can be reopened.
And, if Donald still fails to report, then go forward making it clear he has indeed lost a year of FA eligibility. The terms are the terms, my friends. Play ball for the Rams or don't play. I hear Walmart is hiring.
