Chargers Running Back Melvin Gordon Officially Begins Holding Out From Camp

Exactly half of the NFL's  32 teams report to training camp on Wednesday, and arguably the biggest story line surrounds the Los Angeles Chargers and their star running back Melvin Gordon. He threatened to hold out and demand a trade without a contract extension, and Gordon officially began that holdout on Wednesday.

Now the game of chicken begins as for each day that Gordon misses camp, the Chargers can fine him up to $40,000 (they don't have to or most likely waive those fines once the sides agree to a deal). That's apparently a risk Gordon is willing to take to get some long-term security and a nice signing bonus. He's set to make around $5.6 million in the final year of his rookie deal before potentially hitting unrestricted free agency – although the Bolts could slap the franchise tag on him this winter.

Reportedly, the sides are very far apart and the Chargers seem to have all the leverage. The 26-year-old Gordon has threatened to hold out into the season but he would have to report by the Tuesday after Week 10 in order to get credit for the fifth and final year of his contract. If he didn't, then the final year of his rookie contract would simply flip over to 2020.

This is different than Le'Veon Bell's situation last year with the Steelers in that Bell was not technically under contract because he didn't sign the franchise tag. So, he couldn't be fined and his contract couldn't simply flip over to the following year. That's why Bell sat out the entire season.

The Chargers aren't willing to break the bank for Gordon considering he's injury-prone (he has completed just one 16-game season) and they have two other good tailbacks on the roster in Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.

Los Angeles, a legitimate Super Bowl contender, opens the season in a terrific matchup against the visiting Colts as 3-point favorites on the NFL odds.