At the launch event for Nike's new NFL uniforms, Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe talked with Josh Looney of the Chiefs official website and indicated he wasn't sure yet whether he would attend the Chiefs offseason program, which starts on Monday. Bowe was issued the franchise tag by the Chiefs. There has been no word on where they stand in any negotiations but NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that Bowe and a number of other franchised players are not expected at the start of the offseason program on Monday.
Things will become more high profile next week. Drew Brees, Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Ray Rice and Matt Forte are among the franchised stars who, barring a major shift in negotiations, won't be present when their teams open offseason work, according to league sources. It would take an unforeseen degree of progress in talks over the weekend to get any of them signed long-term -- highly unlikely at this point.
I can't really blame Bowe for this. Skipping the start of the workouts, which are voluntary, is his only source of leverage. If he shows up to the workouts, the Chiefs probably have less motivation to get a deal done before the July 15 deadline, at which point he would have to play the entire season under the franchise tag if a long term deal hasn't been struck.
But if Bowe wants to report, he CAN report. NFL Network's Albert Breer notes that franchised players can sign a waiver that would protect them and the team in order to participate in the workouts.