Progress on Gresham Front UPDATE: Deal Coming in Next 24 Hours?

by BeerRun on Aug 1, 2010 5:20 PM EDT

Update: Following tonight's practice, bengals.com's Geoff Hobson says Gresham could be in camp by tomorrow morning.

With Jermaine Gresham slotted at No. 21 in the first round, there was some buzz after Sunday’s practice that the Bengals were hoping they could get something done in the next 24 hours and get him to Georgetown College in time for Monday’s 7 p.m. practice.

Make it happen, Katie.

OP: So tweets The Enquirer's Joe Reedy.

Some progress being made. Maybe something the next couple days

With the Chargers signing RB Ryan Matthews today, Gresham is one of just seven unsigned first-round picks.

Reedy also reports that Antonio Bryant, Andrew Whitworth and Carlos Dunlap are among those not participating in tonight's practice, going on now.

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Concerning

I wish they would stop dragging their feet on this. A skill position player needs to be there everyday. I wonder if Katie asked him how much money he really needs.

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

A. Freaking. Men.

I don’t care how NFL-ready Jermaine is, he really needs to be there already.

by Craig Conrad on Aug 1, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah we always complain about the front office structure, or lack thereof. But seriously, running a franchise thats worth hundred of millions like a bait and tackle shop is ridiculous. The slot has been set and no deal is done. That tells me they had no base price to begin with.

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Or maybe, I don't, know...they could SET THE SLOT WITH A PRICE THEY LIKE BEFORE IT'S DONE FOR THEM.

Same conversation every freaking July. It’s getting so old.

by Craig Conrad on Aug 1, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I know, it really is.

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. This sure is getting old. Gresham needs to be out there in pads right now. On a positive note though, Hobby was reporting good things about Coffman (not that he would report bad things), and we know that Kelly will be ready. We’re not as screwed at TE as we were last year.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Aug 1, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Um

Isn’t Coats still hanging around somewhere though?

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

for once, i think we can safely say he’s training camp fodder.

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

by Raging Clue on Aug 1, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm still sticking by my idea that Coats can compete for the FB position.

It seems Fui will get it but if not Coats can be FB and emergency TE.

"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 Aug 1, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Coats = Danger

I agree. If Coats sticks around, it probably won’t be as a TE. however, as long as Coats is sticking around our TE position will not be safe. The sooner he gets cut (or moved to FB) the better.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Aug 1, 2010 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

He has awful hands.

TE isn’t an option.

"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 Aug 1, 2010 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

what is the freaking problem....numbers 20 and 22 are signed......Gresham needs to be in camp.......GET IT DONE

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Aug 1, 2010 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

The problem is...

…that there’s no accountability in the front office. It’s not like anyone is going to get fired if guys are late to camp and thus don’t contribute like they should.

by BeerRun on Aug 1, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if they wanted to fire anyone

The only person to fire is Katie. Mike wouldn’t do that.

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly Beeruns point

by quickslant on Aug 1, 2010 7:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS?????

Um, should be in the next couple of hours, if not minutes. THE SLOT IS SET. He makes less than 20, more than 22. SWEET BABY JEEBUS THIS ISN’T THAT HARD!

by Phil Francis on Aug 1, 2010 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

I know

Its a different of a couple million. That is NOT much in pro football terms. They want the most, you want the least (especially with Mike), so you meet in the middle and play some football.

by Jcon77 on Aug 1, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Someone (I forget who) made a good point about his offers.

The money is probably set, they’re probably arguing over what the incentives will be set at.

"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 Aug 1, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

The problem might not be the price...

Like with Andre Smith, it is in the team’s best interest to get the language and terms of the contract right the first time around. It would be nice to see Gresham in practice… but the organization should first cover it’s own butt before agreeing to anything. After all, the team is more important than any one individual.

I do still hope they get the deal done soon, however.

by SnapCount80 on Aug 1, 2010 8:02 PM EDT reply actions

bingo.

they were genius in the way they got smith’s deal worded.

but generally once a player is slotted, the holdout is about incentives, what needs to be done to reach them, contract length, etc. also his agent has a lot of 1st round clients as well.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Aug 1, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I do give the Browns a hand re: Andre's contract, I really do. Covered it quite well, especially with the reports we're hearing.

Wouldn’t it have been better to sign a guy like Oher though, who’s actually making a valuable contribution to the team other than at the lunch line?

How about protecting Carson Palmer on his drops, rather than protecting your pocketbook when a guy screws up and gains a thousand pounds, Mike?

by Craig Conrad on Aug 2, 2010 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions

to be fair, prior to the draft, there were just as many concerns about oher (and i’m talking national media, not geoff hobson) and his work ethic as there were about andre.

it’s just like the desean jackson thing; people on this site like to pretend that desean jackson wasn’t considered a problem child leading up to the draft, and considering the situation with chad at the time, the team didn’t want another potential headache.

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

by Raging Clue on Aug 2, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions