JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With the players due to report to training camp in about two weeks, the Jaguars have yet to sign any of their nine draft picks, but they're not the only team.
Eleven others have yet to sign a pick, and only one first-rounder, Carson Palmer of Cincinnati, has signed. He agreed to a deal before the draft. Only one second-rounder and three third-rounders have signed.
The problem is the rookie salary pool is flat so the teams are only offering small increases over last year.
For example, Virginia Tech's Willie Pyle, taken by Kansas City in the seventh round with the 252nd pick, signed a three-year deal for a $26,000 signing bonus. Last year, the player in that slot, Matt Murphy of Detroit, received a $25,250 signing bonus.
A $750 increase from last year's bonus isn't a cause for breaking open the champagne, but agents are settling for increases in the $1-2,000-range with the minimum base salaries in the later rounds.
Ernie Accorsi, the general manager of the New York Giants who has five players signed, said he told the rookies at a one-day seminar the team conducts that they'll make their money on their second contract if they're successful.
"Get here and play and make the money later," he said he told the rookies. "Like anybody at that age, they don't listen to people my age."
In the end, though, the agents and players have to listen. Except for the first-rounders, players can't afford to be holdouts and fall behind in camp.
Mike Sullivan, the agent for the Jaguars' second and fourth picks (Rashean Mathis and George Wrightster), said, "We expect talks to heat up in the next week or two and we don't expect any problems."
Paul Vance, who negotiates contracts for the Jaguars said, "I think you're going to see the numbers come in at about the same they were last year."
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/071203/SPTJAGUARSforWEB.shtml
Eleven others have yet to sign a pick, and only one first-rounder, Carson Palmer of Cincinnati, has signed. He agreed to a deal before the draft. Only one second-rounder and three third-rounders have signed.
The problem is the rookie salary pool is flat so the teams are only offering small increases over last year.
For example, Virginia Tech's Willie Pyle, taken by Kansas City in the seventh round with the 252nd pick, signed a three-year deal for a $26,000 signing bonus. Last year, the player in that slot, Matt Murphy of Detroit, received a $25,250 signing bonus.
A $750 increase from last year's bonus isn't a cause for breaking open the champagne, but agents are settling for increases in the $1-2,000-range with the minimum base salaries in the later rounds.
Ernie Accorsi, the general manager of the New York Giants who has five players signed, said he told the rookies at a one-day seminar the team conducts that they'll make their money on their second contract if they're successful.
"Get here and play and make the money later," he said he told the rookies. "Like anybody at that age, they don't listen to people my age."
In the end, though, the agents and players have to listen. Except for the first-rounders, players can't afford to be holdouts and fall behind in camp.
Mike Sullivan, the agent for the Jaguars' second and fourth picks (Rashean Mathis and George Wrightster), said, "We expect talks to heat up in the next week or two and we don't expect any problems."
Paul Vance, who negotiates contracts for the Jaguars said, "I think you're going to see the numbers come in at about the same they were last year."
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/071203/SPTJAGUARSforWEB.shtml
