| 29 July 2010
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is trying to create news out of a great, big bunch of nothing today.
Although Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the second overall pick in the draft, has made clear his desire to report on time for training camp, we're hearing that talks between the team and Suh's agents are moving slowly.
No shit things are progressing slowly, as they are for over 3/4 of the damn NFL.
According to NFL.com, as of tonight, Thursday 7/29, a total of six 1st round picks have agreed to contracts. SIX. The highest selection to sign the 9th overall pick, Rolando McClain with the Raiders. The rest are from pick 19 on down. (Note from Al: The Eagles signed 13th overall pick Brandon Graham late tonight, so the new number is seven...but the point still stands)
So to claim in the headline "Signs point to Suh holdout," is damn silly. For it to be truly factual (something not always found on a rumor mongering site), there should be 26 different headlines with "Signs point to (Insert name of 1st round pick) holdout."
More than anything, the one reason 1st round picks are biding their time is due to the Rams not yet signing Sam Bradford. The number one overall pick is the biggest domino. Once he signs, the dominoes fall, agents see were their players should be slotted, and agree to contracts rather quickly.
In fact, Florio debunks his own story when he says as much later in the piece.
It's now believed that Barnes and Parker will wait to finalize Suh's deal until Bradford works out his contract.
No. Damn. Kidding.
That's so far beyond obvious its no longer obvious..to Florio, anyway.
I'm not totally confident Suh, and for that matter, Jahvid Best, are going to sign by Satruday. Though I'm not as concerned for Best, as his job is relatively simple: Take ball, see hole, run through hole with ball. There's more of an NFL learning curve in the case of defensive tackle, which is why Suh needs to get into camp on time. Unfortunately for the Lions and their fans, Suh's agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, have a track record (re: Crabtree, Michael) of being morons during negotiations.
But the Lions themselves have a good track record of dealing with moronic agents, and getting their picks to camp on time (what the picks do once they get to camp has been the problem). So I'm giving the Lions the benefit of the doubt.
Seriously.
In regard to signing draft picks, regardless what clueless national writers may believe, the Lions really have earned it.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
