Maclin still missing
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Maclin still missing
Bob Brookover
Another morning workout has been completed without rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin taking part today.
Jim Steiner, the St. Louis-based agent who represents Maclin, said Monday night that he felt "some progress" had been made in his talks with Eagles consultant Andrew Brandt, but a team source painted a different picture earlier this morning.
"I guess if you go from ridiculous to slightly less ridicculous you can call that real progress," the source said.
Maclin, who is expected to see significant playing time this season, is the Eagles' only unsigned player. The rookies have two more scheduled workouts -- one this afternoon and another tomorrow morning -- before the remaining veterans report to camp tomorrow afternoon.
As of this morning only four of the 32 first-round picks had signed and none of them were wide receivers. The Eagles, however, were one of only nine teams overall and one of two in the NFC that have already started practices.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said there was "no progress" on the talks with Maclin and reiterated how important he thinks it is for the rookie to report to camp.
Guard Stacy Andrews practiced again this morning, but Reid said he was still unsure if the Eagles' first free-agent signing of the offseason would be ready for Friday's first full contact session at Lehigh. Andrews is returning after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in January.
"We will see," Reid said. "We're going to take it real easy on him and stay in communication with him. I'm not going to force anything. If he doesn't feel like he's comfortable being in a team activity at that time, then we won't do that. We'll just gradually bring him along. As long as the swelling stays out of it, then you have to trust the player to tell you the truth and he's in a good place with that right now."
I thought there wasn't much leeway given the rookie poll and the fact that all the other rookies have signed?— libertyof76- i hardly blame maclin, but the agent representing him. there is no excuse why he isn't signed before camp. so what if no other wr is not signed yet from this past year's 1st round draft. be a team player and be at camp with or without a contract!— PhilliGuy
- I believe participating in team activities without a contract is a violation of the CBA--so the NFLPA wouldn't allow it.— reils
- What I want to know is why this consultant Andrew Brandt is working on this and why was he hiking in the mountains late last week instead of getting Maclin's deal done so the young man was in camp on time.— Reizorc
Comment removed.- If you people read the article then you understand only four 1st round rookies have signed so far. That being the top 3 picks and someone else. Maclin and his agent are keeping low until either the Eagles decide to pay him what he wants or until the market for rookie wide receivers is set. I wouldn't expect him to sign until Heyward-Bay or Crabtree gets a deal. They went before him in the draft and he will know where he stands at that point in terms of $$$. Unless the Eagles make a an offer he can't refuse. Which we all know aint gonna happen.— Atlas
- Liberty - practically none of the 1st rounders have signed. Maclin's agent is holding him back from signing because he wants to see what the guys near him get paid and try to get just a little more. That way he can sell that to future prospects. But given the pay scale you mentioned, the difference will not be that much to what he would get if he signed immediately. The big difference is the dwindling chance of him getting sigificant playing time this year as the holdout continues.— danF
- How hard is it to sign the 19th pick? This really doesn't make much sense.— jbruder02
- How hard is it to sign the 19th pick? This really doesn't make much sense.— jbruder02
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- I had thought the same thing libertyof76 but I heard, maybe it was SalPal, explain that there is beyond the pool (which does limit base compensation) actually a fair amount of room for teams to give performance bonuses too. ANd players want the "falling off the log" bonus and team wants real performance for the money. Apparently can be real money. Maybe thats an issue. I hope its not that Banner doesnt want to spend the whole pool...— DoctorW
- wow, holding out and he hasn't even proven anything yet....— misch32
- This is 100% Maclin's issue. He's the agent's boss in the contract negotiations. Past history tells us what? We're not working in a vacuum here. The Eagles have a long history of making fair offers and getting draft picks in on time. When the Eagles' representative characterizes the agent's position as ridiculous, there is a major issue brewing. Another idiot agent wasting time and costing his client long term money to make a name for himself. This is all about the agent. Mcalin needs to wake up and instruct his agent to make a deal. The agent works for Maclin.— MikeP
- There has to be a problem coming from the agent on this one. I'm not an Eagles fan so I'm not sure about their history when it comes to signing draft picks, but usually it's not very hard to sign the 19th pick. The problem usually comes in the top 10. 19th pick usually gets a 10 or 12% bump in salary that the 19th pick from last year got.— jbruder02
- You can look at the 19th pick in 2008, or the 3rd WR signed last year for some guidance as to what Maclin will get, but this deal is not likely to get done until other 2009 1st-rounders near pick 19 get signed. So far, only two rookies picked above Maclin have signed, both QBs: http://backseatfan.com/index.php/2009/05/2009-nfl-draft-rookie-signing-status/— M-star
- If this is going on a month from now, then the worrying can start. Other then that this is typical for NFL Rookies, somebody already stated that majority have not signed, so what is to worry about for now?— cote32
- If my memory srves me correctly the only other 1st Rounder in the Reid era that missed time in camp due to contract issues was Bunkley...we all saw how his rookie year worked out for him. I really hope they get this done before the 'real' practices start on Friday...— ChazzLCamino
- He looks like Jerry Rice.— Stephen_Niksa
- Honestly if you were Maclin you'd wait too. God forbid you go to training camp without a contract and tear your ACL...there goes you're career.— Cadiz215
- When nearly all 1st round picks aren't signed, you have to blame the NFL and players association. They're obviously doing something wrong to force this to happen year in and year out. The process needs to be reviewed and changed to create a better process. Don't blame Maclin for trying to get what he deserves, we'd all do the same.— Philly Dom
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- It seems a little ridiculous. There have to be parameters in this situation. Why can't both sides arrive at a reasonable solution. He is a very talented player and if he is not in camp, that is all wasted. He has to be here and show that he belongs. He should tell his agent to settle right away.— Horlet
- Greed. Simple greed. Instead of feeling honored by playing for a pro team these kids think its their right to demand a high salary. There should be a fixed salary for ALL rookies. On their second year they can base their salary on their on the field performance.— psyrus
- Hey PhilliGuy, Maclin CANNOT report to camp without a contract, league and CBA rules. That said his agent should get it done.— livengrin
- This is why the league needs to change the rules and have a designated salary for all rookies, which increases as time and productivity go up. All sports need to adopt this. If the rookies don't like it, give them a roofing hammer, a bucket of nails and tell them to have a nice life in the real world.— cptjoe
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- Another dumb kid with a "know it all" agent.— craig123
- It has alot to do with Crabtree, until he signs, nobody is gonna sign. If 1st rounders sign before him, and crabtree gets mondo money b/c of his potential talent, the signee's will realize they missed out on more money.— ewitkows
- It looks like the Heyward-Bey deal is done. Hopefully Crabtree and Maclin are soon to follow.— NB174
- The other picks have to be signed first, especially the WRs in front of him...its not Maclin or his agent, its the way the process is set up...Maclin is or will be part of the NFLPA and you don't go stirring the pot right out of the gate...— PoppiDamus
