Lions' Damon Harrison Joins Darius Slay as Mini Camp No-Show Amid Demands for New Contract
By Brendan Azoff
Damon Harrison has two years left on his contract and is due $6.75 million in 2019 and $9 million in 2020, but has decided to join teammate Darius Slay as a non-attendee to the Lions mandatory mini-camp. "Snacks" appears content with holding out for as long as possible as long as it results in a new contract.
Two of the #Lions top defensive players - Damon Harrison and Darius Slay — skip minicamp and want new contracts. Both have two years left. https://t.co/2you3OdjBB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 4, 2019
The two holdouts are arguably the best defensive players on the Lions roster, and if Detroit wants to have success in 2019, their contract disputes will have to be resolved, period.
Harrison was shipped to Detroit from the Giants during the 2018 season, tallying 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Without Snacks patrolling the defensive line and Slay patrolling the secondary, a Lions team that ranked 10th in yards per game and 16th in points per game in 2018 is sure to drop off a ledge.
Damon Harrison, like Darius Slay, will skip Lions minicamphttps://t.co/SpVQ0y4IFV pic.twitter.com/uxPfn0jWNh
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 4, 2019
The Lions may view Slay as a priority, but Harrison is just as impactful a player, and his holdout breeds problems for the Lions, who must find common ground with these two before things have a chance to get out of hand.