Editor's note: Melvin Gordon's agent told ESPN's Josina Anderson that he requested last week that the Chargers trade Gordon. This story originally ran on July 24.
The important thing with this Melvin Gordon situation is not to panic. I know, I know, that's not how we roll these days when we talk about sports, but at least try and stick with me here.
Training camp isn't and never was the deadline for Gordon and the Los Angeles Chargers to get a new contract done. If Gordon were in camp, the Chargers would be babying him anyway to make sure he'd be healthy for the start of the season. He doesn't need to learn the offense, and the time away could actually be a good thing for a team that fancies itself a Super Bowl contender once the real action starts. Assuming, of course, that he is actually with the team at some point.
The Chargers aren't assuming that, but it's their hope and sources say it's one they share with Gordon. He's justifiably upset that the fifth-year option on his rookie contract is scheduled to pay him just $5.6 million this year, and he wants a new deal that pays him like the high-level performer he has been. Both sides hope they can reach a deal that makes him happy by the time the season starts. If they can't, sure, there's a chance the Chargers could look to trade Gordon. They've definitely discussed that possibility internally. They just hope it doesn't come to that.
So let's look at a couple of aspects of this: