Agent's Take: Sizing up Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard situations, with solutions for the disgruntled corners

Here's how things could play out for the AFC East's pair of unhappy star cornerbacks

AFC East cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard subjected themselves to $93,085 fines by the Patriots and Dolphins for skipping last month's mandatory minicamp. Both players are unhappy with their contracts. The absences could extend to training camp unless their contracts are adequately addressed by their respective teams. The fines are much more severe in training camp. NFL teams are required to fine players like Gilmore and Howard, who aren't on rookie contracts, $50,000 per day for training camp absences. The Dolphins and Patriots report to training camp on July 25. An additional penalty would apply to Gilmore because he was an unrestricted free agent when he joined the Patriots in 2017 on a five-year, $65 million contract. Players that sign contracts as unrestricted free agents are also fined one week's base salary (1/18th of salary) for each preseason game missed. This would be $388,889 every contest, totaling $1,166,667 for the entire preseason schedule since Gilmore's 2021 base salary is $7 million. None of the training camp fines can be reduced or waived.