HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson wants a new contract.
The Pro Bowl wideout skipped the team’s first voluntary practice of the offseason Monday and no one is sure when he’ll join the team.
Johnson has five years left on an eight-year contract worth $60 million that included $15 million in guarantees. The Texans restructured his first contract with two years remaining.
General manager Rick Smith said the situation is “very difficult” because Johnson has so much time left on his current contract.
“It is because it’s something that’s not customary, that’s not common,” he said.
Still, the GM said he was willing to talk with Johnson.
“I’m not real worried about that because we redid him with two years left on his original deal and that was three years ago and over the first three years of that deal — even if you ask him — he’s been well compensated,” he said.
Johnson, who is entering his eighth season, has had more than 1,500 yards receiving in each of the past two years for the Texans.
The team’s policy under Smith has been to only negotiate with players who are participating in team activities. Smith pointed to what star middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans did last offseason when he was unhappy with his contract.
“One of the things that was real smart on his part was the fact that he was upset that we had not been able to come to terms with an agreement, but he came back and was a part of the offseason workout and he was with his teammates, he was a leader and he did things the right way,” Smith said.
Browns K Dawson skips workout
Kicker Phil Dawson skipped the Cleveland Browns’ first voluntary offseason workout in a possible contract protest. Dawson, the second-leading scorer in team history is in the final year of his deal. He has been asking for a new contract for several years. Dawson also sat out Cleveland’s offseason training activities last season.
Dumervil shows at workouts
Elvis Dumervil put his coveted signature down on a piece of paper. Not a contract extension that will pay him like a Powerball winner. Not his tender worth $3.168 million.
Instead, he signed a waiver allowing him to participate in the Denver Broncos’ passing camp this week.
“I didn’t have to, but at the end of the day I’m going to be a Bronco in 2010 and I wanted to come out and support the organization and teammates and get acclimated with the new guys,” Dumervil said following the two-hour workout Monday.
Ravens sign DBs Fisher, Jones
Baltimore bolstered its defensive backfield by signing veteran cornerback Travis Fisher and rookie safety Brad Jones.
Both players participated in the team’s full-team minicamp on a tryout basis two weeks ago.
Fisher is an eight-year veteran who has played in 90 NFL games. He started his career in 2002 with St. Louis and played with Detroit in 2007 and 2008 before seeing action in four games with Seattle last season.
Cowboys release lineman Procter
Offensive lineman Cory Procter was released by the Dallas Cowboys.
Procter started just 13 games in five seasons with the Cowboys. Eleven of those starts came at left guard in 2008 for injured Kyle Kosier.
The Cowboys originally signed Procter from the Detroit Lions practice squad in November 2005.
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