Fans also think it's just something as simple as that 2.5 million. It's also about the guaranteed money, length of the contract, how that contract is structured, egos (owners/players/agents/family), effect on future signings/contracts, etc that aren't known that may also be holding the deal up. A couple days ago fans just thought Jerry was being cheap, now that it's been said it was $20 million now many of those same fans are saying Tank is being greedy. Tank is a really good player, not a great player and he wants great player money and he needs surgery. Tank thinks he's being disrespected and Jerry should also feel disrespected since we're looking at paying a player $20 million or more that hasn't gotten that surgery yet. For top dollar he better be in top form sooner not later. $22 million is a lot of money and it's hard to fault Jerry or any other GM thinking hard if that money might be better invested in a different player/players.
We need a pass rush and yeah, we are in a bit of corner with Tank, but any deal we work now, we are basically locked with him for 3-4 years. Paying market price is one thing, but this is a player looking to set a new market price and there is a legitimate question if he is worth that price, again he is very good but can/will he be great. This isn't a player like Donald, Thomas or Julio that has played at elite levels for multiple years.