No big deals for NFL rookies
Signings are few and far between
By Jerome Solomon, Globe Staff | July 23, 2005
The Patriots, Dolphins, and Bears welcome rookies to training camp this weekend, but as of yesterday, all was quiet on the NFL first-round draft choice front.
The Patriots' top pick, Logan Mankins (No. 32 overall), will sign for significantly less than quarterback Alex Smith, the first overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers, but because Smith has yet to agree to a deal, the market isn't set.
Another reason for the holdup is the collective bargaining agreement. The favored method of signing players to six-year deals that allowed signing bonuses to be spread over that period for salary cap purposes isn't available because the labor agreement ends in 2008.
Still, with training camps at hand, a host of deals should be consummated in the next week. Just 10 of the 101 players picked in the first three rounds had signed.
''If you look at it from a historical standpoint, it's similar to the last few years," said agent Neil Cornrich, who represents safety Dustin Fox, the Minnesota Vikings' third-round pick. ''Expect the number of signings to increase dramatically in the coming days.
''The teams dictate when the players will sign, and the teams generally tend to get it done prior to training camp. And there's a trickle-down effect."
Cornrich said Fox, the nephew of former Patriots star Tim Fox, would almost certainly be under contract by the time the Vikings open camp next Friday, as ''negotiations are proceeding smoothly."
As one of the last teams to report, the Vikings have the luxury of taking a wait-and-see approach. And with the hefty signing bonuses shelled out each year, teams like to hold onto their funds as long as possible.
The Patriots have been forced to be more expeditious because of their early reporting date.
''It's been slow around the league," said agent Kevin Omell, who represents seven picks from the April draft. ''Teams don't really come down to business until there's that training camp deadline right around the corner . . . some urgency."
Although big-money high picks usually sign near training camp, Omell said he's been surprised at the lack of movement with second-day picks (fourth through seventh rounds).
Just three of Omell's clients -- the Patriots' Ellis Hobbs (20th pick of the third round) and two seventh-round picks -- have signed. His second-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round clients remain unsigned.
Hobbs reported with the Patriots' rookies Wednesday, then agreed to a deal to begin camp on time. With six of its seven 2005 draft picks under contract, the Patriots have the best signing percentage in the league.
Only Mankins has yet to join the fold, but sources familiar with the negotiations said a deal is likely in the near future.
Mankins was the last pick of the first round, as was tight end Benjamin Watson in 2004. After an extended holdout, highlighted by the firing of his agent, Watson eventually agreed with the Patriots to a six-year contract that included a $2.7 million signing bonus.
Mankins said shortly after he was drafted he didn't envision a holdout anywhere near the situation Watson fell into a year ago.
''We're not too worried about that; we think [Mankins's contract] will be done before camp begins," a team source said.
The Patriots' rookies hit the practice field Monday, but unlike minicamp, unsigned players are not allowed to participate.
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