Top 2 Rookies Unsigned as Lehigh Looms
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Top 2 Rookies Unsigned as Lehigh Looms
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Your Eagletarian isn't quite ready to lurch out of vacation mode just yet, but with rookies scheduled to report to Lehigh a week from Monday, it seems incumbent upon us to provide an update.
Todd France, agent for second-round pick Nate Allen, said yesterday there was "nothing to report" in negotiations for a deal. Hard to remember the last time the Birds had a second-round holdout, but getting Allen in house on time is pretty important, since he will begin camp as your starting free safety.
France did not respond to a subsequent text wondering what's up with another client, running back Brian Westbrook, who still hasn't chosen a 2010 destination.
Joel Segal, agent for Eagles first-round pick Brandon Graham (and for a certain birthday-party-loving backup quarterback), thoughtfully called back to say he never talks about contract talks. But yes, Segal has noticed that first-rounders aren't signing yet, which just about has to complicate the Graham scenario. The expiring CBA apparently is going to affect first-round signings, just as it has affected everything else this year.
Last year, Segal represented two first-rounders, Buffalo defensive end Aaron Maybin, taken 11th overall, and Minnesota wideout Percy Harvin, drafted 22nd. Harvin missed only two days, which wasn't significant. Maybin missed 27 days, which kinda was significant. He ultimately was the 30th of 32 first-rounders to sign.
Segal said he rarely has a rookie holdout.
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Finally, it's a week since the World Cup ended, and I really miss Steve McManaman. Can't we work him into the Eagles Postgame Live lineup this year somehow? I'd watch.
Crossing my fingers they get these guys signed very soon!
Telling Nate Allen he's the starter, and having no competition to take that job away, kinda relegates Joe Beans and Howie Roseman to being the party of the second part, herein referred to as the clueless.— mccloudmj- There goes Banner and Lurie acting "on the cheap" again with high draft picks. It all about the profits, nor about The Super Bowl.— BG in So.Cal
- Here we go again...— amann08
- Moving up to get a guy at 13 that would have probably been there when at 23 will also be come back to haunt them during the contract negotiations!
- Actually yourdaddy! there was no way brandon graham would have been there at 23, as the giants had him targeted (as a justin tuck-clone). While he did have some teams grade him (because of short arms??!!) as a 2nd rounder, I would rather have him than pierre-paul (best known for backflips, rather than on field play).— thegloryofoldstate
- Boyz, don't get your hopes up. You know how a rookie performs in the NFL. For all intents and purposes, Kolb is a rookie. I dont see any better that 5-11...maybe 6-10. Anything over that is a bonus. If we get it great but dont expect it.— Hatfield_ham
- They'll all be there. Everybody relax.— jibberjabber
- pretty tiring reading about these greedy jocks. Revolting. No way is it about Lurie being cheap. All the power is with the agents at this point in the aMErican greedfest.— retzlaff
- mccloudmj: Clueless, and his grunt!— ItalianSausage
- Clueless Joe Beans, not you McCloud— ItalianSausage
- they will both sign, relax idiots— fman727
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Even with Allen, the secondary probably takes some steps backwards this year. They haven't been this weak in years. The best one of the bunch is too dumb/stubborn to adjust when the whole league knows how to beat him.- I don't know how much of a step back the secondary can take rustypop, considering that last year we had macho man starting and he had no clue what he was doing, Mikell was worried about covering for him, so he was off his game and Sheldon, as tough as a ball player as he was, was nagged by injuries all year long. Hanson also missed four games as well. Can the secondary really be worse this year??— jimmydugan
- Irrelevant. This is a 500% team, maybe make the playoffs and go a round. Ain't exactly a dynasty in the making, so these guys won't make much difference either way.— JonKap
- Maybe the entire group of first round draft picks are going to hold out for the entire year. I wonder what they think they'll have gained from that.— SteveS11
