In what seems to be an annual rite of passage, rumors have surfaced that Emmy winner Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) might be leaving The Young and the Restless. Is the actor preparing to walk out? It depends on who you ask -- but one thing is certain: the actor will be off-screen.

In Soap Opera Uncensored, Nelson Branco stated that Braeden and show executives were again embroiled in "tumultuous contract negotiations" and that those talks were not going well. Money, a source told Branco, was not "the sticking point."

Soap Opera Digest, meanwhile, cites a show insider who maintains that, in addition to there being no ill will, "Eric's contract is not up until the end of the year."

If uncertainty surrounding Braeden's future with Y&R sounds familiar, it's with good reason. In 2009, contract talks went down to the wire. When no agreement was reached, Y&R wrote Victor out of the show's stories. The actor and his alter ego were off-screen for nearly three months. A fiery Braden blasted producers for wanting to change the terms of his three-year contract mid-contract.

"It is over. I pulled the plug. That's it. No more. If I show good will, I expect it to be reciprocated," Braeden said at the time. "If there is a rigid attitude on the other side, what is there to negotiate? That's a sign of utter disrespect."

Braeden will be off-screen for about two weeks due to scheduling, but he will return before the end of the summer. For now, Braeden remains under contract to The Young and the Restless. Reportedly, his current contract does not expire until November.

In April, Braeden marked his 32nd anniversary playing Victor Newman. In that time, Braeden has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy on eight occasions. He won the Outstanding Lead Actor trophy in 1998. In 2007, Braeden was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.