NFC North High Picks

[Rastak]

Damn, as Waldo pointed out in another thread, it seems the 1st round guys are really signing at a slow pace this year. Here's an interesting take by PFT.com.

A league source tells us that the attempt by agent Eugene Parker to bust the slotting system for receiver Michael Crabtree, the tenth overall pick in the draft, is contributing to the sssslow pace of contracts at the top of the draft.

Per the source, other agents are watching and waiting the Crabtree negotiations, curious as to whether Parker busts the formula. (Mike Klis of the Denver Post made a similar observation earlier today.)

The reason is simple. If Crabtree gets more than what he's supposed to get at No. 10, then other players will try to get even more, based on the contract Crabtree actually gets at No. 10.

And this gets back to the reality that CAA and Athletes First represent, between them, 14 of 32 first-round picks. Success by Crabtree would have a magnified impact for these two mega-agencies.

And so those two mega-agencies could be inclined to hold their guys out until Crabtree signs.

The only problem? As we hear it, the Niners won't flinch on this one.

Then again, it's hard to believe much of anything that we hear when it comes to first-round contracts.

What the hell is the deal with Parker? His guy didn't get picked top 3 so tough shitski. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

[pbmax]

Parker is not afraid to hold his guys out of camp, he has a history of this. I am sure that is part of his selling point for a recruit. He is playing the leverage he believes he holds because of the breathless asessments of Crabtree's physical ability. He will argue that the injury is no longer a concern.

And don't believe all the hype at PFT that this never works. It has (not a good percentage, but its not unheard of). Better odds for QBs but Braylon Edwards busted the slotting system with the Browns and caused headaches for years with the number 3 pick.

[Rastak]

Parker is not afraid to hold his guys out of camp, he has a history of this. I am sure that is part of his selling point for a recruit. He is playing the leverage he believes he holds because of the breathless asessments of Crabtree's physical ability. He will argue that the injury is no longer a concern.

And don't believe all the hype at PFT that this never works. It has (not a good percentage, but its not unheard of). Better odds for QBs but Braylon Edwards busted the slotting system with the Browns and caused headaches for years with the number 3 pick.

Yea, it sure does work on occassion. I know when McKinnie held out for the Vikes, he sat out for several weeks into the season and he got his cash....just what they were trying to get from the start.



edit: Changed the title. The Lions also have a pretty important pick which is unsigned with Delmas.

[Rastak]

Nice list of 1st round picks and their agents and status from PFT.com


Signing status of 2009 first-round picks

Posted by Mike Florio on July 27, 2009 7:42 PM ET
Here's a real-time look at the status of the first-round picks in the 2009 draft, including the name(s) of their agents.

1. Lions: QB Matthew Stafford (Tom Condon/Ben Dogra); signed April 25.

2. Rams: OT Jason Smith (Ben Dogra/Michael Lartigue); unsigned.

3. Chiefs: DE Tyson Jackon (Eugene Parker); unsigned.

4. Seahawks: LB Aaron Curry (Andy Ross/Mike Sullivan); unsigned.

5. Jets: QB Mark Sanchez (David Dunn/Andrew Kessler); signed June 11.

6. Bengals: OT Andre Smith (Alvin Keels); unsigned.

7. Raiders: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Tom Condon/Ben Dogra); unsigned.

8. Jaguars: OT Eugene Monroe (Sanat Shah); unsigned.

9. Packers: DL B.J. Raji (David Dunn/Mark Humenik/Joby Branion/Justin Schulman); unsigned.

10. 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree (Eugene Parker); unsigned.

11. Bills: DE Aaron Maybin (Joel Segal/Chafie Fields); unsigned.

12. Broncos: RB Knowshon Moreno (Tom Condon/Ben Dogra); unsigned.

13. Redskins: LB Brian Orakpo (Ben Dogra/Michael Lartigue); unsigned.

14. Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ben Dogra/Tom Condon); unsigned.

15. Texans: LB Brian Cushing (Tom Condon/Ben Dogra); unsigned.

16. Chargers: LB/DE Larry English (Todd France); unsigned.

17. Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman (Ken Kremer/Ron Freeman); unsigned.

18. Broncos: DE Robert Ayers (Tony Agnone/Edward Johnson/Richard Rosa/Noel LaMontagne); unsigned.

19. Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin (Ben Dogra/Jim Steiner); unsigned.

20. Lions: TE Brandon Pettigrew (Sean Howard); unsigned.

21. Browns: C Alex Mack (Tim Younger/Marvin Demoff); signed July 25.

22. Vikings: WR Percy Harvin (Joel Segal); unsigned.

23. Ravens: OT Michael Oher (Jimmy Sexton); unsigned.

24. Falcons: DT Peria Jerry (Bus Cook); unsigned.

25. Dolphins: CB Vontae Davis (Todd France); unsigned.

26. Packers: LB Clay Matthews (David Dunn/Mark Humenik/Joby Branion/Justin Schulman); unsigned.

27. Colts: RB Donald Brown (David Dunn/Mark Humenik/Joby Branion/Justin Schulman); unsigned.

28. Bills: C Eric Wood (David Dunn/Mark Humenik/Joby Branion/Justin Schulman); unsigned.

29. Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks (Peter Schaffer); unsigned.

30. Titans: WR Kenny Britt (Todd France); unsigned.

31. Cardinals: RB Chris Wells (Adam Heller/Brian Kopp); unsigned.

32. Steelers: DL Evander "Ziggy" Hood (Andy Ross/Mike Sullivan); signed July 25.

[pbmax]

Parker is not afraid to hold his guys out of camp, he has a history of this. I am sure that is part of his selling point for a recruit. He is playing the leverage he believes he holds because of the breathless asessments of Crabtree's physical ability. He will argue that the injury is no longer a concern.

And don't believe all the hype at PFT that this never works. It has (not a good percentage, but its not unheard of). Better odds for QBs but Braylon Edwards busted the slotting system with the Browns and caused headaches for years with the number 3 pick.

Yea, it sure does work on occassion. I know when McKinnie held out for the Vikes, he sat out for several weeks into the season and he got his cash....just what they were trying to get from the start.



edit: Changed the title. The Lions also have a pretty important pick which is unsigned with Delmas.

Good example. And I think it set McKinnie back a ways, did it not? I am sure teams have stats on how behind a players at certain positions can get, and how much money that could cost them on the second contract. I wounder if it is worth the risk of holding out?

Brady Quinn was absent for a good section of camp and is still trying to land the starters gig with the Browns.

[Rastak]

I think it set him back for sure PB.

Is it worth it? As a general statement I would say not in the short term. Depends on the position of the player and the difference in financial terms. That's a lame "no answer" but it really depends. In some respects I would think not. Hit the ground running, get that second, hugely lucritive contract.

[Rastak]

Favre drama now subsiding, still no deals on the NFC North's top picks.


Word is the Vikings are close on RT prospect and 2nd round pick Phil Loadholt. Nor word on Delmas or the Packers 2 picks.

[Lurker64]

With Mack and Hood done (and Wood close), Harvin, Matthews, and Pettigrew (among other picks in the 20s) shouldn't be too far off.

Raji worries me. There's probably going to be a significant number of holdouts lasting long into several teams' camps (Maybin and Crabtree particularly), that we may not get the big man for a week or so.

[pbmax]

Yes, the second round has been falling like dominoes. The end of the 1st round won't be far behind.

[SnakeLH2006]

Yeah...it happens in dominoes....as most years past echo the same with 1st rounders...So what is the estimation of Raji's and Matthew's contracts? Anyone have some insight on what to expect, as this is damn interesting.

[Rastak]

Looks like Harvin, Pettigrew and Raji are left. Not sure what the Harvin holdup is since both guys around him are signed.

[Lurker64]

Looks like Harvin, Pettigrew and Raji are left. Not sure what the Harvin holdup is since both guys around him are signed.

Maybe agents this year are trying to see if they can establish a "position premium for wide receivers"? With the ridiculous deal that DHB got (20% more than the guy in the same slot from the year before), and with Crabtree's agent holding him out for top 5 money, and with the Eagles and Maclin being far, far, far apart in terms of compensation, there might just be a problem signing WRs this year.

[Rastak]

Looks like Harvin, Pettigrew and Raji are left. Not sure what the Harvin holdup is since both guys around him are signed.

Maybe agents this year are trying to see if they can establish a "position premium for wide receivers"? With the ridiculous deal that DHB got (20% more than the guy in the same slot from the year before), and with Crabtree's agent holding him out for top 5 money, and with the Eagles and Maclin being far, far, far apart in terms of compensation, there might just be a problem signing WRs this year.

That and "if not for his failed drug test he would have been top 10" type of argument agents like to make. Wideouts have enough trouble as rookies. The dude should take his slot and get to camp. That kind of goes for Raji too. The guys around him are getting a big increase, unless the Pack plays hardball, if it's ballpark then take it and start working on the second, bigger money contract.

[Lurker64]

That and "if not for his failed drug test he would have been top 10" type of argument agents like to make.

Yeah, that argument definitely doesn't make a lot of sense.

"If my client wasn't suck a knucklehead, he would be entitled to more money!"

"Is your client a knucklehead?"

"Yes, but..."

"Then why should he be entitled to more money?"

I mean, you don't get paid for your talent. Your talent gets you drafted, and where you get drafted determines what you get paid. Your talent helps determine your performance, which gets you paid by way of incentives and your second and subsequent contracts.

It's not like everybody in the first round isn't about to get handed enough money to retire on.

[Lurker64]

Thinking more about this, I think that Harvin's agent could be up to something sinister since the contract for Harvin should be very simple at this point.

Minnesota was a team that needed help selling out some of their games last year. There was a lot of optimism invested by a lot of Vikings fans in the potential for signing a certain HoF quarterback. When said QB decided to remain retired, it was sort of a downer in Vikingland. So in order to sell tickets and jerseys, the Vikings could really use some sort of exciting good news (more than usual), so Harvin has a lot of value there.

Not only that, but the head coach of the Vikings is on a seat that, if it's not hot it is warming considerably, and the OTAs have certainly revealed that the Vikings have big plans for Harvin this year, and are relying on his contributions to add excitement to an offense that, were it not for their superstar RB, would be a lot less "kick ass" than originally advertised. The more reps Harvin misses in TC, the less they're able to do with him during the season.

So by not signing for the predictably simple contract that his slot would imply (less than the guy ahead of him, more than the guy behind him), Harvin is in a good position to play the "top 10 talent" card and wait for the front office and/or the head coach to become desperate enough to give him a sizeable raise over what he ought to receive.

Now I'm not saying this is necessarily Harvin's modus operandi, but there are many things about the kid that seem to imply that he has priorities that are somewhat unusual and may not entirely align along a "team-first" axis.

I idly wonder if the fact that the majority of the first round is holding out at this point will motivate both the owners and the NFLPA at the upcoming CBA talks, as the current system really gives the agents potentially too much power, and the agents are represented by neither the NFLPA nor the NFL, and so it may well be in the interest of both negotiating parties to make it simpler and less contentious to sign draft picks.