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Around the NFL: Khalil Mack holds out of Raiders minicamp

Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) sacks and forces a fumble from New York Giants quarterback Geno Smith during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Mack recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Alameda, Calif. • Khalil Mack is holding out from the mandatory minicamp for the Oakland Raiders.

Mack stayed away from the first day of the three-day minicamp on Tuesday. He is subject to a fine of about $80,000 if he doesn’t show up at all this week.

Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million. Mack is seeking a long-term deal and hasn’t participated in the entire offseason program in the first year under new coach Jon Gruden.

“One of the big reasons I came here was to coach that man,” Gruden said. “I don’t want to speculate. There are a lot of guys in the league, several players in a similar situation. We’re just trying to resolve it as soon as possible and in the meantime coach the players that are here.”

Mack has been one of the top defensive players in football since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He was a first-team All-Pro at both defensive end and linebacker in 2015 and won AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He has 40 1/2 sacks in four seasons and leads the NFL in QB pressures with 185.5 since entering the league, according to SportRadar.

Earl Thomas absent from Seahawks minicamp

Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas officially commenced his holdout as the team began its three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday.

Thomas released a statement on Twitter on Sunday announcing his intention to skip the minicamp and all team-related activities until his contract situation is resolved.

“Kind of had heard that he was making that choice,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “I wish he was here. That would be nice. But we’re focusing on the guys that are here and we’ll see how that goes.”

Thomas is entering the final year of a four-year extension signed prior to the 2014 season. He is scheduled to make $8.5 million in base salary in 2018.

Rams DT Aaron Donald skips mandatory minicamp, seeking deal

All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is not attending the Los Angeles Rams’ mandatory minicamp while he continues his lengthy quest for a lucrative new contract.

Donald wasn’t on the field with his teammates for the Rams’ first minicamp workout Tuesday, and he wasn’t at their training complex for their off-field commitments Monday, either. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year also skipped the Rams’ voluntary workout program over the previous two months.

“He’s in a good place,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday. “Would we want him to be here? Yeah, we’d love to have Aaron here. But it’s kind of the same where it’s been. We’re just focusing on the guys that are here, but we’re always in constant dialogue with Aaron and his group, and would like to come to a solution. When that’s going to happen, it’s hard to say.”

Donald is home in Pittsburgh during the Rams’ offseason work for the second straight year, but he reported to last season’s mandatory minicamp to avoid a potential fine. This year, Donald doesn’t appear to be concerned about losing money by missing minicamp while he strives to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid players.

The defending NFC West champion Rams haven’t indicated whether they intend to fine Donald for missing the camp, but his absence wasn’t a surprise. The team could fine him more than $84,000 for missing this camp, but it waived much larger fines incurred by Donald last year when he skipped the entirety of training camp.

Luck takes private throwing program public at Colts’ camp

Andrew Luck’s big secret is finally out. He’s been throwing a football for weeks — and now he’s throwing in public, too.

Nearly 17 months after undergoing surgery on his injured right shoulder, Luck jogged onto the practice field Tuesday wearing a red jersey, strapping on a helmet and picking up a special ball as he started throwing in front of reporters for the first time since October.

No, it wasn’t a regulation NFL ball and the longest pass he attempted was only about a 20-yard lob, but it still was progress.

“It’s a lighter football,” Luck said, referring to the striped football he tossed around. “It’s sort of a bridge. I’ve thrown a real football, ‘The Duke,’ whatever you want to call it. I’ve picked it up and I’ve thrown it and it felt great. And honestly, there was a little mental block to doing it and I had to do it sort of by myself.”

David Johnson skips first day of Cardinals minicamp

Arizona running back David Johnson skipped the first day of the Cardinals’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday amid reports that the sides are discussing a new contract.

Johnson, who led the NFL with 20 touchdowns in a breakout 2016 season before missing all but one game with a wrist injury last year, is scheduled to make $1,882,500 in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract.

Cardinals first-year coach Steve Wilks did not address Johnson’s situation specifically on the first day of the three-day minicamp, but teammates were supportive of his stance.

Johnson had 2,118 yards of total offense in 2016, behind only Le’Veon Bell and Ezekiel Elliott among NFL running backs. He had 1,239 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns that season.

McCown, Bridgewater, Darnold an intriguing QB trio for Jets

The grizzled veteran. The comeback kid. The hotshot rookie.

The New York Jets’ quarterback competition is an intriguing mix of experience, charisma and hype with Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold all going for the starting job this summer.

And any of the three could end up under center when the regular season begins in September.

“It’s a fun room to be a part of,” McCown said Tuesday as the Jets’ three-day minicamp began. “Just personally because of the character of those guys, but also professionally because of how they approach their job and what they bring to the table.”

McCown is the incumbent starter, so he entered offseason workouts as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart.

All three got work with the starting offense Tuesday. McCown, who turns 39 on July 4, got the bulk of the snaps with the starters in team drills. But he’s also well aware that he’s not the future of the franchise. That label would go to the 21-year-old Darnold, who was the No. 3 overall pick out of USC.