The Carolina Panthers have a self-inflicted Brian Burns problem. 

At the start of training camp, Burns was without a new contract. And as Week 1 looms, the lone Panthers Pro Bowl representative is still without a new deal. 

It also appears that the situation isn't heading in the right direction. ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler gave us an update on the talks during Saturday’s edition of SportsCenter. Fowler's update wasn't the news many would have hoped. 

“They’ve been talkin’ for months. They are not at all close on a deal,” he said. “He’s gonna play games. But, yeah, frustration could boil over a little bit here eventually. This is an elite player.”

Burns did not participate in practice on Thursday. The team didn't disclose any health-related reasons for his absence. The surprise disappearance led to Panthers head coach Frank Reich smoothing things over in a press conference amongst reporters. 

"I'll just refer that to Brian," Reich said. "It's impossible for me to have more respect than I do for Brian, so that's his personal matter. And secondly, that's a matter of policy. That's not my role to talk about contracts even if that's what it was."

Still, it is the elephant in the room that is getting difficult to ignore. Burns is the unquestioned leader of the Panthers defense. And with a team Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said can win the NFC South, that goal won't get done without playing and paying Burns. 

Panthers HC Frank Reich gives Brian Burns more leverage in contract negotiations

Panthers Brian Burns just keeps proving that he is worth giving a blank check.

Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.