tr1
May-10th-2007, 04:37 AM
Here's a little article for our pals who think the ST 'sit out' is a big deal. ST's agent is Rosenhaus.
Jaguars DE doesn't sign tender, will skip offseason program
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042407/jag_9417412.shtml
By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union
Coming off a 10-sack season, Jaguars defensive end Bobby McCray believes it's time for a big payday, even though he's a restricted free agent.
McCray is skipping the Jaguars' offseason program and doesn't plan to report until he receives a long-term deal.
The Jaguars put the first-round tender of $1.85 million on McCray in March, but he has refused to sign it.
"We feel Bobby shouldn't be signing a one-year deal," said agent Drew Rosenhaus. "The answer is not just signing the tender."
Rattling off the names of several pass rushers, including Adalius Thomas and Patrick Kerney, who signed deals worth almost $40 million in free agency, Rosenhaus said: "We're disappointed we haven't gotten one with the Jaguars. Until Bobby signs, he's not going to be participating in any team functions.''
That means McCray, who hasn't been taking part in the offseason workout program, will also miss the mandatory minicamp and the 14 organized team activities the next two months. Rosenhaus said McCray can't be fined for missing the mandatory three-day minicamp because he's not under contract. All other offseason activities are voluntary.
Rosenhaus declined to say whether McCray will attend the start of training camp in late July if he doesn't receive a long-term deal.
"That is a long way off," he said.
Rosenhaus couldn't find a team willing to give up a first-round draft pick for McCray in the restricted free agent signing period, which ended last Friday.
McCray has little leverage, because even though he hasn't signed the tender, he's still bound to the Jaguars because he has played only three seasons.
If McCray continues to refuse to sign the tender, the Jaguars have the option of sending him a June 1 letter that would reduce his salary to a 20 percent raise over last year, or $480,000.
Rosenhaus declined to discuss specific numbers, but Thomas signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Patriots and Kerney signed a six-year, $39.5 million deal with the Seahawks.
If McCray gets that kind of a deal, he'd become the highest-paid player on the Jaguars.
Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, the two defensive tackles who signed six-year, $34 million deals, are the Jaguars' highest-paid players, although salaries given to free agents this offseason have skyrocketed.
Rosenhaus said McCray should get a deal "consistent with what some of the other pass rushers have received."
McCray's stance could entice the Jaguars to draft a defensive end in the first round Saturday, especially because Reggie Hayward is coming off a torn Achilles tendon.
While Rosenhaus said little progress has been made with the Jaguars, he said he hopes that after the draft, they might be more willing to negotiate.
"Sometimes teams more clearly identify what they want to do with their players after the draft," Rosenhaus said. "I'm not going to negotiate in the media, but if you look at the number of career sacks he's had and the number of games he's played [19 sacks in 47 games, including 20 starts], he's been a productive pass rusher at a very coveted position."
Paul Vance, who negotiates the contracts for the Jaguars, declined to comment on whether the Jaguars were willing to give McCray a long-term deal or want him to play for the tender this year. If McCray is on the roster for six games this season, he'll be an unrestricted free agent next year.
Rosenhaus said he's met with Vance, James "Shack" Harris, the team's vice president of player personnel, and coach Jack Del Rio.
"It's not like we haven't been trying, but we haven't made a lot of progress," he said.
McCray, a seventh-round pick from Florida in 2004, said he's not asking to be traded and wants to stay in Jacksonville.
"I love Jacksonville. I've been here for three years and I don't want to end up anywhere else," McCray said.
McCray said he's in good shape and has been working out, but declined to say where. Rosenhaus said McCray had private workouts in Jacksonville, Gainesville and Miami.
Although Rosenhaus has orchestrated some contentious holdouts, notably the one involving Terrell Owens in Philadelphia two years ago, Rosenhaus said he has a good relationship with the Jaguars.
Rosenhaus twice negotiated deals for Fred Taylor and had two of his players, quarterback Quinn Gray and wide receiver Ernest Wilford, sign tenders as restricted free agents last week.
"I had a good relationship with the front office and a lot of respect for the coaches and organization," Rosenhaus said. "The conversations have been very cordial."
McCray said he's letting Rosenhaus handle the situation.
"It's just part of business," McCray said.
Jaguars DE doesn't sign tender, will skip offseason program
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042407/jag_9417412.shtml
By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union
Coming off a 10-sack season, Jaguars defensive end Bobby McCray believes it's time for a big payday, even though he's a restricted free agent.
McCray is skipping the Jaguars' offseason program and doesn't plan to report until he receives a long-term deal.
The Jaguars put the first-round tender of $1.85 million on McCray in March, but he has refused to sign it.
"We feel Bobby shouldn't be signing a one-year deal," said agent Drew Rosenhaus. "The answer is not just signing the tender."
Rattling off the names of several pass rushers, including Adalius Thomas and Patrick Kerney, who signed deals worth almost $40 million in free agency, Rosenhaus said: "We're disappointed we haven't gotten one with the Jaguars. Until Bobby signs, he's not going to be participating in any team functions.''
That means McCray, who hasn't been taking part in the offseason workout program, will also miss the mandatory minicamp and the 14 organized team activities the next two months. Rosenhaus said McCray can't be fined for missing the mandatory three-day minicamp because he's not under contract. All other offseason activities are voluntary.
Rosenhaus declined to say whether McCray will attend the start of training camp in late July if he doesn't receive a long-term deal.
"That is a long way off," he said.
Rosenhaus couldn't find a team willing to give up a first-round draft pick for McCray in the restricted free agent signing period, which ended last Friday.
McCray has little leverage, because even though he hasn't signed the tender, he's still bound to the Jaguars because he has played only three seasons.
If McCray continues to refuse to sign the tender, the Jaguars have the option of sending him a June 1 letter that would reduce his salary to a 20 percent raise over last year, or $480,000.
Rosenhaus declined to discuss specific numbers, but Thomas signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Patriots and Kerney signed a six-year, $39.5 million deal with the Seahawks.
If McCray gets that kind of a deal, he'd become the highest-paid player on the Jaguars.
Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, the two defensive tackles who signed six-year, $34 million deals, are the Jaguars' highest-paid players, although salaries given to free agents this offseason have skyrocketed.
Rosenhaus said McCray should get a deal "consistent with what some of the other pass rushers have received."
McCray's stance could entice the Jaguars to draft a defensive end in the first round Saturday, especially because Reggie Hayward is coming off a torn Achilles tendon.
While Rosenhaus said little progress has been made with the Jaguars, he said he hopes that after the draft, they might be more willing to negotiate.
"Sometimes teams more clearly identify what they want to do with their players after the draft," Rosenhaus said. "I'm not going to negotiate in the media, but if you look at the number of career sacks he's had and the number of games he's played [19 sacks in 47 games, including 20 starts], he's been a productive pass rusher at a very coveted position."
Paul Vance, who negotiates the contracts for the Jaguars, declined to comment on whether the Jaguars were willing to give McCray a long-term deal or want him to play for the tender this year. If McCray is on the roster for six games this season, he'll be an unrestricted free agent next year.
Rosenhaus said he's met with Vance, James "Shack" Harris, the team's vice president of player personnel, and coach Jack Del Rio.
"It's not like we haven't been trying, but we haven't made a lot of progress," he said.
McCray, a seventh-round pick from Florida in 2004, said he's not asking to be traded and wants to stay in Jacksonville.
"I love Jacksonville. I've been here for three years and I don't want to end up anywhere else," McCray said.
McCray said he's in good shape and has been working out, but declined to say where. Rosenhaus said McCray had private workouts in Jacksonville, Gainesville and Miami.
Although Rosenhaus has orchestrated some contentious holdouts, notably the one involving Terrell Owens in Philadelphia two years ago, Rosenhaus said he has a good relationship with the Jaguars.
Rosenhaus twice negotiated deals for Fred Taylor and had two of his players, quarterback Quinn Gray and wide receiver Ernest Wilford, sign tenders as restricted free agents last week.
"I had a good relationship with the front office and a lot of respect for the coaches and organization," Rosenhaus said. "The conversations have been very cordial."
McCray said he's letting Rosenhaus handle the situation.
"It's just part of business," McCray said.