Rookie Contract Progress, A Few Q's

by Arturo Bandini on May 25, 2008 11:01 AM MDT Comment 5 comments

I noticed the other day that the Miami Dolphins were almost done with signing all their drafted rookies, which has to be some kind of record. That said--and perhaps I've just not seen the news on this--how is the team coming along with signing its drafted players? I figure MattR may well know all this, but I had to ask out of sheer curiosity.

And in the interest of making this post seventy-five words long:

Forgive me if I missed this, but were all drafted players accounted for at the first week of QB Camp?
If so, does the presence of unsigned players at QB Camp indicate team-first players, good faith, and a willingness to get going, or am I reading too much into this?

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Good Questions

I am anxious to hear the answers as well. I have been watching for news for draft pick signings but have seen none.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Raplh Waldo Emerson

by firstfan on May 25, 2008 11:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

A well timed question

There was just a post over at Windy City Gridiron commenting that the Bears are usually among the first teams to sign their draftees and have signed none this year. It seems that other than Miami, most teams are moving slower this year. As I mentioned over there, I think the main reason for this is the demise of NFL Europe.

When NFL Europe existed, teams got roster exemptions for players who they sent there. Those exemptions no longer exist so every team has a hard limit of 80 players under contract. Denver is already at that limit without signing any of their picks. So for every player they sign, they have to cut one. I think this is why they are waiting as long as possible so they can evaluate the bubble players during OTA’s. While I am sure there are negotiations going on (and there may even be deals agreed to in principle) I don’t anticipate any of the drafted rookies signing until after the early July minicamp. Unfortunately I don’t have any inside info into the status of those negotiations.

Another factor is that there is a lot of “slotting” done with draft picks where agents look at the players drafted around their client as a guide for contracts. If some teams are hesitating to sign players due to roster restrictions, it will have a ripple effect through the whole league. And there also may have been some uncertainty with the consequences of the owners opting opt of the CBA, but I kinda doubt this had a major impact.

As far as I know, all the Broncos drafted players were at camp this past week. I am not sure about the next part, but I believe there is a standard insurance agreement between the teams and players in case of injury during the OTA’s before an actual contract is signed.

by MattR on May 25, 2008 5:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

I never even thought of the NFL-E angle. I tend to agree it will be July before we see the contracts.

The one thing that scares me is the money Ryan got from ATL. That’ll drive up the prices on most of the other rookies. I’m just glad that we can go off Long’s contract with Clady. Any ideas on who the agents are for Clady / Royal? This will be the first test to see if we really did draft character guys.

"On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting--died!" - George W. Cecil

by Bronco Billy on May 26, 2008 12:11 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cheers for that, Matt.

I knew you’d be on top of it, as usual. Some great points as well. I noticed on the WSG site that the idea was floated regarding a minor league here (to replace NFL Europe), which sounds to me like a great idea, though not one that will happen anytime soon.

by Arturo Bandini on May 26, 2008 9:08 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

They were trying to set up another league here with 10-12 teams in markets not served by the NFL. (Las Vegas, Birmingham, LA, etc.) They were trying to get it started this year. Haven’t heard much lately.

"On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions, who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting--died!" - George W. Cecil

by Bronco Billy on May 26, 2008 10:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs