Doomsday101
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wild off-season of spending has negotiations for rookie deals moving at a snail's pace. It also has key veterans thinking about holding out of training camp.
Here's a look at some key situations to monitor this week as camps open ...
Brady Quinn — The 22nd overall pick has visions of getting paid like a top 10 selection. That's whythere is a gigantic gulf between the Browns and Quinn. In talking to sources on both sides, they aren't even close. Cooler heads better prevail here. The Browns staff wants Quinn to compete for the starting job, or at least be better ready to roll after the first quarter of the season. However, the club will simply let Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye battle it out if Quinn's holdout last more than the first weekend of camp. And in Quinn's camp, they better realize that the position of quarterback is the last one where you can afford a long holdout. And, oh yeah, he was drafted 22 overall, not tenth. You get the feeling we are looking at a long holdout here.
Joe Thomas — There's growing sentiment that Thomas is getting a bit fascinated by the negotiations with Quinn and might not want to sign on the dotted line until the franchise left tackle sees what the quarterback gets. Thomas will make more money being the third overall pick, but the question in his mind is how much more?
Poll
Robert Meachem — Talk about no leverage! The 27th overall pick showed up after the draft incredibly overweight, infuriating management. Meachem then had arthroscopic knee surgery. The former Tennessee star should just take whatever contract Saints general manager Mickey Loomis puts in front of him.
Calvin Johnson — Reports out of Detroit say the second overall pick wants $30 million guaranteed. While that's the going rate, and the Lions know Johnson is ready to step in and star right away, will the Lions be spooked by the ghosts of Charles Rogers and Mike Williams?
Adam Carriker — St. Louis got a great player and person at 13 overall. But the Rams are asking Carriker to shift to defensive tackle after starring at defensive end during his stay at Nebraska. In talking to Carriker this off-season, he is excited about the move. But he did chuckle when I asked if his agent would take the position switch into account during negotiations.
Tony Ugoh — Indy traded up to nab what Colts president Bill Polian called the "perfect fit for left tackle in our system." Well, with Tarik Glenn's stunning decision that he is retiring, the learning curve for Ugoh has officially been expedited. And his agent knows it, too.
There are a plethora of first-round picks who will likely be asked to start on opening day for teams thinking seriously about the playoffs. This list includes Patrick Willis (San Francisco), Jon Beason (Carolina), Reggie Nelson (Jacksonville), Anthony Spencer (Dallas), Darrelle Revis (Jets), Levi Brown (Arizona) and Ben Grubbs (Baltimore). None of these players or their teams can afford a hold out.
With Josh McCown at quarterback, the Raiders can afford a minor holdout from top overall pick Jamarcus Russell.
Additionally, monitor these talks. The Vikings really need Adrian Peterson to run the ball. The Packers need Justin Harrell to stop the run. And Aaron Ross (Giants), Leon Hall (Bengals), and Michael Griffin (Titans) are major players for their respective teams in stopping the pass.
Veterans
Larry Johnson — The more you talk to Chiefs players, the more and more you hear that a holdout is likely. And with a Swiss cheese offensive line and Brodie Croyle at quarterback, the last thing the Chiefs need is their star running back absent from camp. Kansas City management, for some strange reason, is reluctant to pay Johnson LaDainian Tomlinson-type money. Tomlinson, for the record, thinks Johnson is one of the elite players in this game and deserves it.
Marc Bulger — The Rams' signal caller has been quiet since his exclusive interview with us on Sirius NFL Radio, during which he didn't rule out a holdout. It's a very simple equation here: either pay Bulger like a top five quarterback or Gus Frerotte could be getting the early reps in Rams camp.
Pete Kendall — This is a tough one to handicap. I don't believe the Jets will cut or trade the guard. But Kendall is a man of conviction and told us that a holdout is an option.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7051224
Here's a look at some key situations to monitor this week as camps open ...
Brady Quinn — The 22nd overall pick has visions of getting paid like a top 10 selection. That's whythere is a gigantic gulf between the Browns and Quinn. In talking to sources on both sides, they aren't even close. Cooler heads better prevail here. The Browns staff wants Quinn to compete for the starting job, or at least be better ready to roll after the first quarter of the season. However, the club will simply let Derek Anderson and Charlie Frye battle it out if Quinn's holdout last more than the first weekend of camp. And in Quinn's camp, they better realize that the position of quarterback is the last one where you can afford a long holdout. And, oh yeah, he was drafted 22 overall, not tenth. You get the feeling we are looking at a long holdout here.
Joe Thomas — There's growing sentiment that Thomas is getting a bit fascinated by the negotiations with Quinn and might not want to sign on the dotted line until the franchise left tackle sees what the quarterback gets. Thomas will make more money being the third overall pick, but the question in his mind is how much more?
Poll
Robert Meachem — Talk about no leverage! The 27th overall pick showed up after the draft incredibly overweight, infuriating management. Meachem then had arthroscopic knee surgery. The former Tennessee star should just take whatever contract Saints general manager Mickey Loomis puts in front of him.
Calvin Johnson — Reports out of Detroit say the second overall pick wants $30 million guaranteed. While that's the going rate, and the Lions know Johnson is ready to step in and star right away, will the Lions be spooked by the ghosts of Charles Rogers and Mike Williams?
Adam Carriker — St. Louis got a great player and person at 13 overall. But the Rams are asking Carriker to shift to defensive tackle after starring at defensive end during his stay at Nebraska. In talking to Carriker this off-season, he is excited about the move. But he did chuckle when I asked if his agent would take the position switch into account during negotiations.
Tony Ugoh — Indy traded up to nab what Colts president Bill Polian called the "perfect fit for left tackle in our system." Well, with Tarik Glenn's stunning decision that he is retiring, the learning curve for Ugoh has officially been expedited. And his agent knows it, too.
There are a plethora of first-round picks who will likely be asked to start on opening day for teams thinking seriously about the playoffs. This list includes Patrick Willis (San Francisco), Jon Beason (Carolina), Reggie Nelson (Jacksonville), Anthony Spencer (Dallas), Darrelle Revis (Jets), Levi Brown (Arizona) and Ben Grubbs (Baltimore). None of these players or their teams can afford a hold out.
With Josh McCown at quarterback, the Raiders can afford a minor holdout from top overall pick Jamarcus Russell.
Additionally, monitor these talks. The Vikings really need Adrian Peterson to run the ball. The Packers need Justin Harrell to stop the run. And Aaron Ross (Giants), Leon Hall (Bengals), and Michael Griffin (Titans) are major players for their respective teams in stopping the pass.
Veterans
Larry Johnson — The more you talk to Chiefs players, the more and more you hear that a holdout is likely. And with a Swiss cheese offensive line and Brodie Croyle at quarterback, the last thing the Chiefs need is their star running back absent from camp. Kansas City management, for some strange reason, is reluctant to pay Johnson LaDainian Tomlinson-type money. Tomlinson, for the record, thinks Johnson is one of the elite players in this game and deserves it.
Marc Bulger — The Rams' signal caller has been quiet since his exclusive interview with us on Sirius NFL Radio, during which he didn't rule out a holdout. It's a very simple equation here: either pay Bulger like a top five quarterback or Gus Frerotte could be getting the early reps in Rams camp.
Pete Kendall — This is a tough one to handicap. I don't believe the Jets will cut or trade the guard. But Kendall is a man of conviction and told us that a holdout is an option.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7051224
