Reedy: Deal Doesn't Look "Bright" For Jermaine Gresham By Weekend's End

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 30, 2010 2:03 PM EDT in Contracts Comment 21 comments

We're trying to keep our eye out on any news regarding Jermaine Gresham's holdout. It's one of those Bengals-related (bad) obsession of ours. Latest reports suggest that we'd be fools to be optimistic in seeing one by the end of the weekend. However, Geoff Hobson speculates that the company representing Gresham could be trying to get a deal done with another first rounder first. It's not like Gresham is waiting or anything. Either way, it's time for us to put on our patient caps for the time being and just wait. Maybe help a certain reader who just turned 21 celebrate one of the best birthdays of his life. Sorry BcBengalFan. But that's it for big birthdays.

In the meantime, one thing we can do is speculate and observe on what the players around the 21st pick are receiving. Today, two players signed contracts. Kareem Jackson's deal has set the ceiling and Brian Bulaga's deal with the Packers has helped provide a clearer picture of the floor.

All contracts are five-year deals.

#	Overall Pick	Team	Deal
19	Sean Weatherspoon	Falcons	17.5 Million; $10.5 Million guaranteed
20	Kareem Jackson	Texans	16.3 Million (max); $10.35 M guaranteed
21	Jermaine Gresham	Bengals
22	Demaryius Thomas	Broncos
23	Bryan Bulaga	Packers	14.75 Million; $8.76 Million guaranteed

Recently we took a wild guess that Gresham's deal could be in the neighborhood of $13.7 million with $9 million guaranteed. Yea, kind of whiffed on that one.

Bengals History of Holdouts

In a recent posting talking about the potential of a Gresham holdout (with me whiffing yet again saying I didn't expect one), we quickly examined how signings typically work in the first round and where Gresham would fit in. Just for kicks and giggles, here's the chart of the team's most recent first rounders and when they signed (or the length of their holdout).

Year	Player	Pick	Length of Hold Out
2010	Jermaine Gresham	21st	?
2009	Andre Smith	6th	Held out 30 days
2008	Keith Rivers	9th	Held out 10 days
2007	Leon Hall	18th	Missed a practice on the first day of Training Camp
2006	Johnathan Joseph	24th	Signed first day of camp.
2005	David Pollack	17th	Held out 19 days
2004	Chris Perry	26th	Held out 11 days
2003	Carson Palmer	1st	Signed two days before the NFL Draft.
2002	Levi Jones	10th	Signed first day of camp
2001	Justin Smith	4th	Signed one day before first regular season game.

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Comments

I cant be the only one

that cant wait until the new CBA puts in a frigging rookie cap/wage scale, so all this hold out crap will end.

My three favorite things in the world in no particular order: My wife, sex with my wife, and The Cincinnati Bengals

by Kabash on Jul 30, 2010 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by jim0ijk on Jul 30, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

+2

by BamaBengal on Jul 30, 2010 7:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Come on...

Just give him a little bit more than Bulaga and call it good. Not like we don’t have the money looking at the earlier post concerning the team salary.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jul 30, 2010 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, but looking at the bright side, we have one veteran TE coming back healthy, and another 2nd year guy who is probably equally a talented receiving prospect at the position. We won’t be completely lost if he doesn’t sign in the near future.

This is our year!

by Carsonorbust on Jul 30, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Steelers fans don’t have a starting QB, Ravens fans don’t have a single starting CB, Browns fans have to live in Cleveland, and this is all us Bengals fans have to worry about.

That said, sign the g.d. papers guys.

by Jaegner on Jul 30, 2010 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder what we are offering?

by TCfromDubVee on Jul 30, 2010 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Kareem Jackson's contract is now updated

Five-year, $16.3 million max and $10.35 million guaranteed.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 30, 2010 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

I WILL DRIVE DOWN TO CINCINNATI AND PUNCH KATIE BLACKBURN IN THE FACE.

by Craig Conrad on Jul 30, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Are we really shocked?

In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman...An Avid Reader of Cincyjungle.com

by TennBengalfan on Jul 30, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

LET'S DOUBLE TEAM HER.

*In a totally non-sexual way.

She sucks at signing rookies.

"Before I write I let my mind go blind and let the Lord do His thing. " -Tupac Shakur

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it looks like work." -Thomas Edison

by sexsalad on Jul 30, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Happy Birthday Bc

In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman...An Avid Reader of Cincyjungle.com

by TennBengalfan on Jul 30, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

I'm guessing

$15.5 mil w/ $10.5 mil will end up being Jermaine’s numbers.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jul 30, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

whoops, I meant $10 mil guaranteed

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jul 30, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, was thinking 15.5 and 9.5, which is pretty much halfway between the numbers that are up there.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Jul 30, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand not wanting to overpay

On the other hand, no team is as good when players miss camp as they are when players are in camp.

And a team that isn’t as good increases its chances of picking higher in the following year draft. Higher picks who will be paid even more money when they hold out.

Pay now and get them in camp or pay more later when the draft picks are higher.

by StLBengal on Jul 30, 2010 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

Slotting

I’ve never understood how slotting works. I mean, you can’t slot until a few picks are signed – and if you can’t sign a pick until you have the reference of the slots…uh, you get my point hopefully. Anyway…

It may be frustrating that this process takes so long, but if you look at past contracts you’ll see why teams and agents negotiate hard. For example, the average increase in guaranteed money for ‘09 draft picks was 12% compared to ’08. But some teams way overshot that (>20% for NYJ and OAK) and others managed to keep it flat (0% for CIN) or even lower the amount (-11% for KC). The increases depend on the position but mainly just for QB’s.

I’m sure the Bengals are using Mack’s contract as their reference (which was a better deal for CLE than it was for Mack) and Gresham’s agent is using the Pettigrew deal since he was picked one slot earlier and plays the same position. Mack’s deal was only a 4% whereas Pettigrew got 14% more. Now you see the dilemma.

It’s still not an excuse to wait this long before reaching an agreement. You need your young players in camp so they can integrate with their team and learn as much of the playbook and tendencies of their teammates as possible.

by bengaljohnboy on Jul 30, 2010 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Confused

Why would the Bengals be so successfully proactive with everyone this off season, but yet not be as equally proactive with Gresham? I don’t get it. They have done incredibly well so far, and have shown that they obviously want to win. Why would Gresham be the only one with whom they hold back? It makes no sense. They have wasted no time acquiring players that they wanted. Why is there a problem with this one player?

by justRick on Jul 30, 2010 7:10 PM EDT reply actions