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Deal not close for Packers, Raji
Posted by Mike Florio on August 2, 2009 1:30 PM ET
The Green Bay Packers and defensive lineman B.J. Raji continue to be at odds regarding a rookie deal.
As Tom Pellisero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has pointed out, nothing is imminent between the player and the team.
On Saturday, Pelissero reported that it'll be "at least a couple days" before a deal gets done.
On Sunday, linebacker Clay Matthews said that Raji is "champing at the bit" to work the thing out. (Based on his size, we assume that Raji also has been champing at the bear claws, too.)
The obvious problem is that the two of the three picks directly in front of Raji (Andre Smith at No. 6 and Eugene Monroe haven't signed) and the three picks directly behind him (Michael Crabtree at No. 10, Aaron Maybin at No. 11, and Knowshon Moreno at No. 12) haven't signed yet.
Then there's the reality that Raji is represented by Athletes First, the same firm that had last year's ninth overall pick, Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers. If the agents do too good of a deal in comparison to last year's contract at the same slot, Rivers might feel miffed. And if they don't do good enough of a deal at No. 9 this year, they might be leapfrogged by Crabtree.
Regardless of how it all works out, Raji already is eating more than the bit and/or the bear claws.
He's eating his words.
"There will be no problem, as far as holding out on my end," Raji said in June. "I'm a rookie but from what I've been told, holdouts are not necessarily a good thing.
"Especially a rookie coming in, you can't afford to miss a week or two of training camp, especially when you're trying to find a way to get on the field. Yeah, that's my agency, but I'm in control, not the other way around."
We're not sure who's in control at this point. But the bottom line is that Raji is missing time that he'll never be able to make up.
Al Davis drafts DHB at 7. Crabtree was "hurt". Value "dropped" because of that (sure) Crabtree agent tells Crabtree, you are better than DHB. Crabtree: Ya, I'm better than DHB. Agent tells Crabtree, "You were hurt." Crabtree: "Ya, I was hurt."
Or Dunn tells Raji that this is what is being said. Or the 8 hole agent is telling Monroe that this is what Raji's agent is saying to Raji that Crabtree's agent is saying to Crabtree, etc. etc. etc.
AND THEY ARE ALL not moving because the AGENTS cannot afford to be the one making the mistake of "caving too early" and they are ALL advising their clients that the potential for a MUCH larger contract exists.
They HAVE to in order to not get their client to be the first to cave. Even if Monroe and his agent do "blink first", the problem will be that Crabtree/agent/Al Davis/DHB I deserve better than him$$$ problem...
COUPLED with...
The Mike (I am a great football player but a complete dumbass when it comes to pressuring my player to get his ass into camp) statements about what HE did when He HELD OUT TWICE, thereby exacerbating the whole friggin' thing. The problem is, the 49ers really don't need that arrogant little twerp in camp in the first place...we need Raji's butt in camp for sure.
COUPLED WITH all EXCEPT Crabtree and his agent get a FREE PASS to hold out without everyone flipping out because it is all Crabtree's "FAULT"...regardless of the truth of it, they can increase the pressure by doing NOTHING. Witness the posts blaming our FO, for example.
The young man needs to learn his position, and when I saw his press pass autograph on the internet the other day I almost started crying like Crabtree does.
Raji seems like a fine young fella, but when he signed that autograph...
Well, I am nervous for the future, let me tell you.
Boston College = The Eagles.
His autograph? (The card sold on e-bay, you can google it, I don't have the heart right now)
"Sore Eagles"
I think I'm going to be sick now.
lol
Edit-
OK -- Monday morning--I'm off "rant mode", at least temporarily.
For those that think we have a receiver corp, you can ignore this edit...for everyone else, here is the press pass pic:
Get to camp, B.J. --- Hurry!