The Sports Xchange

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Frustrated defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson did indeed join the rest of his New York Jets teammates Tuesday for the opening of this week’s mandatory minicamp.

Wilkerson, who stayed away from voluntary OTAs as negotiations on a contract extension moved at a glacial pace between his agent Chad Wiestling and new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, didn’t do much to hide his unhappiness but also indicated he wouldn’t play the holdout card.

“If I have to play under my contract, so be it,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson is due $6.97 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract. He wasn’t fined for missing any of the OTAs, but could have been docked $72,000 if he missed the minicamp.

“Mo is and has always been a team-first player and is willing to put the team ahead of his own contractual status,” Wiestling said in a statement. “Mo loves being a member of the Jets and would prefer to finish his career in New York.”

It remains to be seen if that will happen. Wilkerson is a borderline superstar — he has 24 sacks in 61 games — who is in the odd position of trying to negotiate a contract with the third general manager under whom he’s played. Further complicating matters is Maccagnan used his first draft pick to select Wilkerson’s potential replacement, Leonard Williams.

“I thought a deal would be made, but at the end of the day, it’s a business,” Wilkerson said. “These things take time.”

Wilkerson has surely noticed it’s taking him longer to get an extension than some of his 2011 first-round peers. Defensive ends J.J. Watt (Houston Texans), Robert Quinn (St. Louis Rams), Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints) and Corey Liuget (San Diego Chargers) have signed new deals worth more than $250 million combined.

“All I know is I heard the talks will start,” Wilkerson said. “That’s all I know from my agent.”

–The Jets had two notable absences in Tuesday’s practice. Second-year tight end Jace Amaro, who exited last Wednesday’s practice with a back injury, remained on the sideline as a precaution. And rookie wide receiver Devin Smith missed the workout to attend the birth of his child.