NFL Peterson holding out, waiting for higher offer

His agent, Kevin Poston, is asking for a contract similar to Peyton Manning's.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers' contract talks with All-Pro linebacker Julian Peterson are in a stalemate, and he is expected to hold out when training camp opens Friday.
The 49ers are preparing for life without their two-time Pro Bowler while clinging to hope he'll accept their contract proposal or a one-year franchise tender offer to end what could quickly become a nasty holdout.
"I'm hoping he'll come in and play football," general manager Terry Donahue said Monday. "He deserves a great contract, and we've given him a great contract offer."
Peterson skipped the 49ers' minicamps to protest his negotiations with the club. He hasn't been in regular contact with the team since San Francisco designated him as the franchise player in February.
And Donahue hasn't even spoken to Peterson's agent, Kevin Poston, since the spring. The 49ers don't intend to budge from their offer of a six-year, $37.8 million contract with a $5.35 million first-year salary and a $15.5 million signing bonus, which would make Peterson one of the highest-paid linebackers in NFL history.
Differing opinions
Poston, who couldn't be reached for comment, and Peterson have different ideas, according to Donahue.
"The last conversation I had with Kevin Poston, he said he wanted [Peterson] paid like Peyton Manning," said Donahue, referring to the Indianapolis quarterback's $98 million deal. "That's simply not going to happen. ... They would like Julian to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league, and that simply isn't going to happen."
In previous negotiations, Poston reportedly asked for $30 million in guaranteed money at the start of a long-term deal. Baltimore's Ray Lewis has a seven-year, $50 million contract, and Washington's LaVar Arrington -- also represented by Poston -- signed a nine-year, $68 million deal in December.
Peterson also has refused to sign the 49ers' tender offer of approximately $6 million -- the average salary of the top five players at his position. Franchise players are prohibited from negotiating with other clubs.
Peterson led the 49ers with seven sacks and three forced fumbles last season while making 144 tackles. An exceptionally athletic linebacker, he excels as a pass defender and is frequently employed as a pass rusher as well.
But Donahue and coach Dennis Erickson are worried about the time he's missing with the 49ers, who will return with nearly all their personnel from last season's above-average defense.
New schemes
Willy Robinson replaced Atlanta head coach Jim Mora as the 49ers' defensive coordinator during the offseason, and the former Pittsburgh assistant has installed several new schemes, including sets in the Steelers' 3-4 alignment.
But the coaches are preparing for camp with no expectation of seeing Peterson any time soon.
"He's missing a heck of a lot of what we're doing," Erickson said. "We're putting in some real good packages. ... It's going to take some time. If he comes in on a Monday and expects to play on Sunday, that's going to be pretty hard."
While Peterson probably won't be in camp Friday, the 49ers expect quarterback Tim Rattay to join the first day of workouts at their training complex. Rattay was given the starting job after the club released Jeff Garcia, but tore a groin muscle at a minicamp workout in May.
Rattay will be limited in drills, but the team believes he'll be healthy enough to play in the second exhibition game in Chicago on Aug. 21. Backups Ken Dorsey, Brandon Doman and Cody Pickett will get most of the preseason playing time.
"[Rattay] looks good as far as being ready to play [in the regular season opener] against Atlanta," Erickson said.