k19
Active Member
- Messages
- 2,968
- Reaction score
- 18
Bears losing patience with Benson`s holdout
Associated Press
Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith is losing patience with the contract holdout of first-round draft pick Cedric Benson.
``We`re trying to get our football team ready,`` Smith said after the team`s practice Sunday. ``A player we had pegged to be a big part of it isn`t here.
``There`s no way for me to sugarcoat it any more. He needs to get into camp. Hopefully that will get done soon.``
Benson was the fourth pick in the April draft. The running back has held out longer than any Bears draft pick since wide receiver David Terrell in 2001.
Before Sunday, Smith hadn`t appeared overly concerned about Benson`s absence because the team reported for training camp a week earlier than most teams. Smith still hasn`t ruled out Benson`s participation in the preseason opener in the Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins if he can get signed and into camp soon.
``We`re definitely to the point of, `Hey, Cedric, we need you in camp now,``` Smith said.
The Bears made Benson`s agent Eugene Parker a contract offer on July 22, but the sides have not talked since then.
LaMont Jordan is ready to show the Oakland Raiders what he can do as a full-time starter.
A backup the last four years to 2004 rushing leader Curtis Martin with the New York Jets, Jordan signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Raiders this past offseason. In doing so, he stepped out of Martin`s shadows and into the spotlight with the team that had the league`s worst running game last season.
Coach Norv Turner and several players spent the first few days of camp at Napa, Calif., toasting Jordan`s arrival, knowing how well the running back does could very well dictate how well the entire offense does.
``He`s obviously a real talented guy,`` Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins said. ``He played behind Curtis and didn`t really get to show what he can do, but he`s going to be the featured back here and he`s going to get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do.``
Oakland rushed for just 1,295 yards as a team in 2004, a number topped by eight individual backs around the league. Jordan, on the other hand, rushed for 479 yards and two touchdowns on 93 carries for the Jets.
At Latrobe, Pa., Tommy Maddox, the Pittsburgh Steelers` starting quarterback when training camp started last season, became agitated at questions that he might not be their backup this season.
Maddox, a starter for most of the 2002 season and all of 2003, is expected to compete with Charlie Batch to back up Ben Roethlisberger, whose 13-0 regular-season record was easily the best in NFL history by a rookie quarterback.
Maddox is signed to an affordable contract - his base salary of $750,000 is modest by quarterback standards - and he offers the Steelers a proven passer should Roethlisberger be hurt. Batch, a former starter with the Lions, is more mobile than Maddox and is four years younger than Maddox, who turns 34 in September.
Earlier in the day, Hines Ward became the Steelers` first major holdout in 12 years, keeping his promise not to report to training camp without a contract extension that would make him one of the NFL`s top-paid wide receivers.
Once Ward missed the reporting deadline, Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said negotiations were over until Ward shows up - something the four-time Pro Bowl receiver has insisted that he won`t do without a new deal.
``The policy has always been that, if a player is under contact, he has to be in camp for any negotiations to go forward,`` Colbert said. ``Without the player here, there won`t be any exchange.``
Ward has one year remaining on a contract worth $1.66 million this season.
At Oxnard, Calif., the Dallas Cowboys` two first-round draft picks practiced for the first time after signing five-year contracts.
Defensive end Demarcus Ware, the 11th overall pick, signed a $13 million deal which includes $10 million in guaranteed money. The deal for Marcus Spears, another defensive end taken 20th overall, was for $9.3 million, with $6.7 million of that guaranteed.
Both Ware and Spears are both expected to be immediate contributors for the Cowboys, who are making the switch to a primary three-man defensive front.
Arizona agreed to a six-year, $23.5 million contract extension with receiver Anquan Boldin through the 2010 season.
The Cardinals also agreed to terms with second-round draft pick J.J. Arrington, hours before the team opened training camp at Prescott, Ariz. That left first-round pick Antrel Rolle as the team`s only unsigned draft pick.
Safety Sean Taylor reported to Commanders training camp at Ashburn, Va., ending an offseason in which he snubbed his coaches and got arrested in Florida.
Taylor sported a different look and different attitude. He smiled as reporters walked with him and even paused in his car to gave one photographer extra time to take his picture - a gesture unimaginable when Taylor was boycotting the media for much of last year.
Kansas City agreed to terms on a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Derrick Johnson.
Johnson, an All-American at Texas who received the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football, was selected 15th overall in the draft.
Atlanta signed first-round draft pick Roddy White to a five-year, $7.35 million deal. The wide receiver from UAB missed the first six days and nine practices of training camp before agreeing to terms.
Buffalo offensive lineman Ross Tucker missed his third practice because of a sore back.
Coach Mike Mularkey said the team had placed Tucker on the physically unable-to-perform list prior to the start of camp, which opened Saturday. Mularkey listed Tucker as day-to-day, noting the player can be taken off the list at any time.
Starting right tackle Mike Williams missed his second straight practice after hurting his hamstring on Saturday. He`s also day-to-day.
Former Southern California receiver Mike Williams remained a no-show at Lions training camp.
Williams led the Trojans in receiving yards (1,314) and touchdowns (16) as a sophomore in 2003, but has not played competitive football since.
Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress participated in both practice sessions at Albany, N.Y., a day after leaving the field with a hyperextended right knee.
Burress admitted being concerned because he had never suffered an injury to his knees. He said the knee felt sore Sunday morning, but that after getting treatment and riding a stationary bike he was ready to get back on the field.
Carolina will honor the late Sam Mills by retiring his No. 51 at halftime of their Aug. 13 preseason game.
Mills died April 18 after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. The five-time Pro Bowler with the New Orleans Saints and the Panthers played three seasons in Carolina.
Associated Press
Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith is losing patience with the contract holdout of first-round draft pick Cedric Benson.
``We`re trying to get our football team ready,`` Smith said after the team`s practice Sunday. ``A player we had pegged to be a big part of it isn`t here.
``There`s no way for me to sugarcoat it any more. He needs to get into camp. Hopefully that will get done soon.``
Benson was the fourth pick in the April draft. The running back has held out longer than any Bears draft pick since wide receiver David Terrell in 2001.
Before Sunday, Smith hadn`t appeared overly concerned about Benson`s absence because the team reported for training camp a week earlier than most teams. Smith still hasn`t ruled out Benson`s participation in the preseason opener in the Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins if he can get signed and into camp soon.
``We`re definitely to the point of, `Hey, Cedric, we need you in camp now,``` Smith said.
The Bears made Benson`s agent Eugene Parker a contract offer on July 22, but the sides have not talked since then.
LaMont Jordan is ready to show the Oakland Raiders what he can do as a full-time starter.
A backup the last four years to 2004 rushing leader Curtis Martin with the New York Jets, Jordan signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Raiders this past offseason. In doing so, he stepped out of Martin`s shadows and into the spotlight with the team that had the league`s worst running game last season.
Coach Norv Turner and several players spent the first few days of camp at Napa, Calif., toasting Jordan`s arrival, knowing how well the running back does could very well dictate how well the entire offense does.
``He`s obviously a real talented guy,`` Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins said. ``He played behind Curtis and didn`t really get to show what he can do, but he`s going to be the featured back here and he`s going to get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do.``
Oakland rushed for just 1,295 yards as a team in 2004, a number topped by eight individual backs around the league. Jordan, on the other hand, rushed for 479 yards and two touchdowns on 93 carries for the Jets.
At Latrobe, Pa., Tommy Maddox, the Pittsburgh Steelers` starting quarterback when training camp started last season, became agitated at questions that he might not be their backup this season.
Maddox, a starter for most of the 2002 season and all of 2003, is expected to compete with Charlie Batch to back up Ben Roethlisberger, whose 13-0 regular-season record was easily the best in NFL history by a rookie quarterback.
Maddox is signed to an affordable contract - his base salary of $750,000 is modest by quarterback standards - and he offers the Steelers a proven passer should Roethlisberger be hurt. Batch, a former starter with the Lions, is more mobile than Maddox and is four years younger than Maddox, who turns 34 in September.
Earlier in the day, Hines Ward became the Steelers` first major holdout in 12 years, keeping his promise not to report to training camp without a contract extension that would make him one of the NFL`s top-paid wide receivers.
Once Ward missed the reporting deadline, Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said negotiations were over until Ward shows up - something the four-time Pro Bowl receiver has insisted that he won`t do without a new deal.
``The policy has always been that, if a player is under contact, he has to be in camp for any negotiations to go forward,`` Colbert said. ``Without the player here, there won`t be any exchange.``
Ward has one year remaining on a contract worth $1.66 million this season.
At Oxnard, Calif., the Dallas Cowboys` two first-round draft picks practiced for the first time after signing five-year contracts.
Defensive end Demarcus Ware, the 11th overall pick, signed a $13 million deal which includes $10 million in guaranteed money. The deal for Marcus Spears, another defensive end taken 20th overall, was for $9.3 million, with $6.7 million of that guaranteed.
Both Ware and Spears are both expected to be immediate contributors for the Cowboys, who are making the switch to a primary three-man defensive front.
Arizona agreed to a six-year, $23.5 million contract extension with receiver Anquan Boldin through the 2010 season.
The Cardinals also agreed to terms with second-round draft pick J.J. Arrington, hours before the team opened training camp at Prescott, Ariz. That left first-round pick Antrel Rolle as the team`s only unsigned draft pick.
Safety Sean Taylor reported to Commanders training camp at Ashburn, Va., ending an offseason in which he snubbed his coaches and got arrested in Florida.
Taylor sported a different look and different attitude. He smiled as reporters walked with him and even paused in his car to gave one photographer extra time to take his picture - a gesture unimaginable when Taylor was boycotting the media for much of last year.
Kansas City agreed to terms on a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Derrick Johnson.
Johnson, an All-American at Texas who received the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football, was selected 15th overall in the draft.
Atlanta signed first-round draft pick Roddy White to a five-year, $7.35 million deal. The wide receiver from UAB missed the first six days and nine practices of training camp before agreeing to terms.
Buffalo offensive lineman Ross Tucker missed his third practice because of a sore back.
Coach Mike Mularkey said the team had placed Tucker on the physically unable-to-perform list prior to the start of camp, which opened Saturday. Mularkey listed Tucker as day-to-day, noting the player can be taken off the list at any time.
Starting right tackle Mike Williams missed his second straight practice after hurting his hamstring on Saturday. He`s also day-to-day.
Former Southern California receiver Mike Williams remained a no-show at Lions training camp.
Williams led the Trojans in receiving yards (1,314) and touchdowns (16) as a sophomore in 2003, but has not played competitive football since.
Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress participated in both practice sessions at Albany, N.Y., a day after leaving the field with a hyperextended right knee.
Burress admitted being concerned because he had never suffered an injury to his knees. He said the knee felt sore Sunday morning, but that after getting treatment and riding a stationary bike he was ready to get back on the field.
Carolina will honor the late Sam Mills by retiring his No. 51 at halftime of their Aug. 13 preseason game.
Mills died April 18 after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. The five-time Pro Bowler with the New Orleans Saints and the Panthers played three seasons in Carolina.