If Xavien Howard had his desire, he would stay with the Miami Dolphins. Howard has proven as much as Dolphins camp regardless of wanting a brand new or reworked contract that may make him one of many highest paid cornerbacks within the NFL once more (Howard is at the moment the sixth-highest paid cornerback, behind Dolphins teammate Byron Jones). 

The All-Professional cornerback has missed some apply time with an undisclosed harm, however stated he practiced Saturday. Howard nonetheless has a commerce request — if his contract state of affairs is not resolved with the Dolphins. He hopes that is not the case.

“That is as much as the Dolphins,” Howard advised reporters Saturday concerning his contract state of affairs. “I am simply right here with my teammates and having fun with each second with my teammates… I hope it will get higher. It is a course of. I am listening to this and listening to that however nothing is getting carried out proper now. 

“Proper now, I am simply right here — out right here each day, supporting the group and out right here working.”

Howard stated he and Dolphins coach Brian Flores did discuss earlier within the week, nevertheless it “did not go nowhere.” He hasn’t dedicated to taking part in in any preseason video games, and shot down any rift between him and Jones — who makes $1.45 million extra in common annual wage than Howard.

“Me and Byron obtained an incredible relationship,” Howard stated. “All that the media is saying this and saying that about me and Byron, man we have got an incredible relationship. We hang around collectively. 

“It is a enterprise on the finish of the day. The NFL is a enterprise. When a participant makes it a enterprise, he is egocentric or he is this and that. He will help me and I will help him it doesn’t matter what.”

Howard led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2020 and has probably the most interceptions within the league since 2017 (22). Howard additionally led the league in passes defensed (20) final season and opposing quarterbacks focusing on him had only a 30.3 passer score. He additionally earned his first All-Professional choice in 2020. 

There’s rather a lot on the desk for Howard heading into this season. He needs to backup the dominant play from final yr, so there is not any debate on how beneficial he’s to a protection.  

“I’ve all the time been motivated,” Howard stated. “There’s nothing — each day I am out right here, I am targeted on getting higher at one thing. Being motivated, that is simply in me proper now. That is been in me.”