Rosenhaus adds another Packer and guess what the player wants a new Deal

[jksmith269]

Slow day... It seems that Drew Rosenhaus is at it again. I hope none of our players ever sign with him or the Postons. MODS move or delete this at your desire.

Rosenhaus adds Davenport to player stable

Najeh Davenport


Controversial agent is seeking new contract for Najeh Davenport but insists halfback won't hold out

By Todd McMahon
News-Chronicle
As if the Green Bay Packers haven't had enough of Drew Rosenhaus for a second straight off-season, now comes this bombshell straight from the mouth of the calculating superagent.

Reached Wednesday by telephone, Rosenhaus said he was recently hired by Packers halfback Najeh Davenport to be his agent. What's more, Rosenhaus is after a new contract for his new client.

Sound all too familiar?

Rosenhaus, though, gave assurances that Davenport won't be following the holdout lead of two other clients in Green Bay the last two years: wide receiver Javon Walker and cornerback Mike McKenzie.

"He won't miss any (practice) time or anything. But, it would be, I think, productive for both sides to get a long-term deal done," Rosenhaus said.

The Packers signed Davenport, who previously was represented by Michael Harrison, to a one-year contract last month.

Davenport was a restricted free agent who essentially signed for the low tender placed on him. However, his base salary of $656,000 was reduced to $641,000, in exchange for the Packers' reportedly giving him a $100,000 advance from the salary, which isn't paid out in weekly installments until the season starts.

"I've mentioned to the Packers that we would like to get an extension done for him," Rosenhaus said. "I'm looking forward to working with the Packers on Najeh, and hopefully, we can get a long-term deal done for him in the future."

Rosenhaus' desire is to get a new deal in place for Davenport before the start of the season. He argues that it would behoove the Packers to accommodate those wishes before Davenport becomes a potential hot commodity as an unrestricted free agent next year.

Davenport has merely been a top understudy to Ahman Green during three injury-marred seasons, with only one pro start.

"If he gets into free agency, all bets are off," Rosenhaus said. "He's definitely a player that's capable of being a quality starting running back in this league. I'm hopeful of working something out with the team before we get into the season. We'll see what happens."

Packers general manager Ted Thompson didn't cringe at having to enter into contract negotiations with Rosenhaus regarding another player on the roster.

"Drew represents a lot of players in this league, and we signed two of them," said Thompson, citing the free-agent acquisitions of veteran safeties Arturo Freeman and Earl Little this spring.

Rosenhaus has upset a number of team officials and players, including outspoken quarterback Brett Favre, by advising Walker to stay away from on-field activities in Green Bay until his contract demands are met.

Walker, coming off a breakout season that culminated with his first trip to the Pro Bowl, has two years left on the deal he signed as a first-round draft pick in 2002. Walker skipped the mandatory portion of the post-draft minicamp last month.

The receiver made an appearance in Milwaukee last weekend at his inaugural celebrity softball game and made it known he wants to be paid as one of the top receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Walker said he prefers to remain a Packer and expressed optimism the two sides will reach agreement on a new contract before training camp starts in late July.

It's not clear whether Walker will skip the start of training camp if a reworked pact isn't consummated by then. McKenzie staged a contract-related holdout through the entire preseason and the first game of the season last year. Three weeks after he finally rejoined the team, the Packers traded him to New Orleans.

While Rosenhaus was forthright in discussing the alignment with Davenport, he maintained his stance of not commenting on Walker's situation.

Walker is among a handful of players represented by Rosenhaus who have shown their dissatisfaction about existing contracts by boycotting team activities this off-season. Others include receivers Terrell Owens of Philadelphia and Anquan Boldin of Arizona and safety Sean Taylor of Washington.

There's no indication if Walker will show up for the Packers' second minicamp, which starts June 1 but is voluntary for players.

Head coach Mike Sherman, though, said Wednesday that Walker placed a call to his office the previous day and left a message.

"He wanted to see how I was doing. Catching up on me," Sherman said.

When asked if he interprets the call as a sign that Walker is prepared to return to the team, Sherman responded, "It's not a big deal."

As for whether he's optimistic that Walker will report on time for training camp and show that he is committed to playing for the Packers, Sherman added, "I can't tell you. When they're here (practicing), they're here. When they're not, they're not. That's all I know."

Meanwhile, Sherman didn't disclose whether he will have Favre participate in the upcoming minicamp. Sherman excused the 15th-year veteran from the last minicamp to allow him to tend to personal matters at his home in Mississippi.

The presumption is Favre will take part in some of the workouts at the seven-day minicamp because his annual charity softball game is June 5 at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. "I have to call him and talk to him," Sherman said. "Yeah, pretty much (I have made a decision). But, I'll wait until we get to that point to talk about it in public."

[Hoov]

well of course he wants a new contract, otehrwise no need for him to hire a new agent. dont think he is a starting back though. im thinking he's jumping on the rosenhaus bandwagon, thinking just because drew has gotten good deals for others that hell be able to help him get a big payday. dont see it happening, but you never know.

[JackMagist]

Well of course Davenport wants a new contract. I'm sure he got enough calls being a RFA that he has a pretty good feeling of what his value is. He is just going with a proven agent in Rosnehaus.

And for his part Rosenhaus sounds like he is simply doing his job for his client. In this case I have no problem with how he is doing business thus far.

[LeonDixson]

At least they're just looking for an extension (yes I know he would probably get a new bonus out of it) and not trying to tear up a contract that still has 2 or more years on it, and start over. Taken in isolation, this action would go completely unnoticed. I don't find anything wrong with this one, especially since they have said there would be no holdout involved.

[k19]

A month into a 1 year deal and he already wants to rework it to a long term deal????? They should tell him "Talk to us in 11 months and next time figure out what you want ahead of time" or better yet tell him "go crap in a closet"

[Hoov]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

Well of course Davenport wants a new contract. I'm sure he got enough calls being a RFA that he has a pretty good feeling of what his value is. He is just going with a proven agent in Rosnehaus.

And for his part Rosenhaus sounds like he is simply doing his job for his client. In this case I have no problem with how he is doing business thus far.

yeah, im starting to think rosenhaus is not quite the bad guy everyone makes him to be. why should he turn down a client ? im thinking that disgruntled players are zeroing in on him because he is the guy that will negotiate and play hardball for them. possibly it is the players being jerky and hiding behind their agent. and he is willing to do that for them.

[Hoov]

Originally Posted by k19

A month into a 1 year deal and he already wants to rework it to a long term deal????? They should tell him "Talk to us in 11 months and next time figure out what you want ahead of time"

yeah, i wish more teams would be like the eagles in that regard.

[JackMagist]

Originally Posted by Hoov

yeah, i wish more teams would be like the eagles in that regard.

Actually the Eagles policy as I have seen it stated is that they will not negotiate with any player who has more than one year left on their contract. Davenport has only one year on his so even the hardball playing Eagles would be willing to talk with him.

This is as respectable of a set of negotiations as I have seen reported and it is just good business to have these discussions. It would keep Davenport in GB where he seems to like it and keep him from hitting the FA market where the Pack would likely lose him. Davenport is just giving GB the opportunity to make him an offer and sew things up long-term. If the Pack wants to keep him they can work out a deal now instead of in the more cutthroat world of free agency. And since he is not holding out they have a year to talk. I would expect them to cut a new deal by midseason if the salary cap will handle it during the season.

[Hoov]

Originally Posted by JackMagist

Actually the Eagles policy as I have seen it stated is that they will not negotiate with any player who has more than one year left on their contract. Davenport has only one year on his so even the hardball playing Eagles would be willing to talk with him.

This is as respectable of a set of negotiations as I have seen reported and it is just good business to have these discussions. It would keep Davenport in GB where he seems to like it and keep him from hitting the FA market where the Pack would likely lose him. Davenport is just giving GB the opportunity to make him an offer and sew things up long-term. If the Pack wants to keep him they can work out a deal now instead of in the more cutthroat world of free agency. And since he is not holding out they have a year to talk. I would expect them to cut a new deal by midseason if the salary cap will handle it during the season.

Thanks for the info, did not know any of the facts on this one. also several good points in your post. thanks

[MinnesotaCowboy]

Wouldn't it be nice to hear of some player who says "I will honor my contract even though I feel I am underpaid at this time. My word is my bond". Can you imagine what would have happened to us poor old civilians who worked for a living going in and telling our boss that if he didn't give us the pay boost we deserved we would leave him in two weeks........most of us would still be in the poor house! I can understand the process and management hasn't helped by giving them the big back-ended contracts with huge signing bonuses knowing that would be gone at the back end of the large contracts unless they were superstars! The players just want the big signing bonus because they know they will free agents before they complete the contracts....greed on both sides.....what a way to run a business!

[5mics]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaCowboy

Wouldn't it be nice to hear of some player who says "I will honor my contract even though I feel I am underpaid at this time. My word is my bond". Can you imagine what would have happened to us poor old civilians who worked for a living going in and telling our boss that if he didn't give us the pay boost we deserved we would leave him in two weeks........most of us would still be in the poor house! I can understand the process and management hasn't helped by giving them the big back-ended contracts with huge signing bonuses knowing that would be gone at the back end of the large contracts unless they were superstars! The players just want the big signing bonus because they know they will free agents before they complete the contracts....greed on both sides.....what a way to run a business!

Well, that would be ideal. It would also be ideal if teams would also honor players' contracts and not cut them with years remaining on a contract. Teams do it ALL the time. They also will threaten a player to renegotiate a "cap-friendly deal" or be cut. So I agree with you, it cuts BOTH ways.....

[JackMagist]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaCowboy

Wouldn't it be nice to hear of some player who says "I will honor my contract even though I feel I am underpaid at this time. My word is my bond". Can you imagine what would have happened to us poor old civilians who worked for a living going in and telling our boss that if he didn't give us the pay boost we deserved we would leave him in two weeks........most of us would still be in the poor house! I can understand the process and management hasn't helped by giving them the big back-ended contracts with huge signing bonuses knowing that would be gone at the back end of the large contracts unless they were superstars! The players just want the big signing bonus because they know they will free agents before they complete the contracts....greed on both sides.....what a way to run a business!

I too like to ponder Utopian Ideals. However, we live in this real world where such situations are extremely rare, especially in multimillion dollar business dealings.