FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - First-year Jets coach Todd Bowles started his team's inaugural workout without who many consider the best talent on his roster.
A source close to the team confirmed to ESPN that Muhammad Wilkerson, entering the final year of his rookie contract, will wait for a new deal by sitting out the voluntary workouts.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports said on Twitter that Wilkerson "might not be around for a while."
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan met with the defensive lineman's agent in late February, and the two sides have been talking for almost a year, though no numbers have been agreed on for the New Jersey native.
"Obviously, the agent and Muhammad have their perspective," Maccagnan said. "We're going to have our point, and at the end of the day, hopefully find a middle ground we're both comfortable with. Muhammed is a very good player. I'd like to keep him a Jet."
There has been no indication that Wilkerson will be absent for the team's whole offseason program, however. June 9 marks the team's first mandatory event, their second minicamp.
Though he would never consider a holdout, as he said last season, a 4-12 campaign for which he was paid only $1.2 million on what became one of the league's most active offseason clubs, spending $90 million in guaranteed money.
Wilkerson has emerged as one of the best 3-4 linemen in football. A 30th-overall selection by the Jets in 2011 out of Temple, he has racked up 237 tackles and 24.5 sacks, adding a safety, an interception, and seven forced fumbles.
All good work he is more than willing to improve upon, provided he's paid.
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