Keith Rivers Signed

[HoosierCat]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/04/...lose-to-a-deal/

RIVERS, BENGALS CLOSE TO A DEAL

Posted by Mike Florio on August 4, 2008, 8:35 p.m. EDT

After a somewhat protracted holdout created by some outlandish deals done at the No. 6 and No. 7 spots in round one, a league source tells us that the Bengals are close to a contract with linebacker Keith Rivers, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.

Rivers could be at practice as soon as Tuesday morning.

We’re told that the two sides have come up with a creative way to bridge the gap between the floor for the contract, the deal between the Pats and linebacker Jerrod Mayo at No. 10, and the unknown ceiling that would have been provided by a deal between the Jaguars and defensive end Derrick Harvey, the No. 8 pick in the draft.

[HAPPYJAQ]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/04/...lose-to-a-deal/

RIVERS, BENGALS CLOSE TO A DEAL

Posted by Mike Florio on August 4, 2008, 8:35 p.m. EDT

After a somewhat protracted holdout created by some outlandish deals done at the No. 6 and No. 7 spots in round one, a league source tells us that the Bengals are close to a contract with linebacker Keith Rivers, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.

Rivers could be at practice as soon as Tuesday morning.

We’re told that the two sides have come up with a creative way to bridge the gap between the floor for the contract, the deal between the Pats and linebacker Jerrod Mayo at No. 10, and the unknown ceiling that would have been provided by a deal between the Jaguars and defensive end Derrick Harvey, the No. 8 pick in the draft.

He must've caught wind of Brandon Johnson and hopefully it's too late for Rivers to compete for a starting spot in Week 1. Johnson seems extremely hungry and I love that. I'm tired of the Bengals drafting players who put themselves first. He's already slotted to be a millionaire....What's the point in arguing over a few thousand more?

[BengalszoneBilly]

About f**kin' time.

[commish118]

It is what it is. He is going to be a great player for us. I wish he was here to get the work in but he has been to all the voluntery camps and by all reports has been working very hard and picking things up quickly. If he gets in this week we'll be fine.

I think the hardest thing for us to deal with as fans: this is BIG BUSINESS for the players and the team. For us it is pure sports.

[COB]

It is what it is.

Yep. These guys are professional football players. That means they play for the money. As much of it as they can get. Complaining about a professional athlete doing everything necessary to maximize his pay is like complaining about the sun coming up in the morning.

Naive fan: "It's almost like this guy's in it for the money!"

Reality: "Check me out some time."

[HoosierCat]

What's encouraging (and also suspicious) about this report is the part about the agent and team getting "creative." The Bengals definitely aren't known for creativity when it comes to contracts. So if if it's true, that might be a piece of good news for both now and the future.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I've researched this.....The NFL draft pool is slotted and are guaranteed an 11% increase from the previous year's salary at the same slot in the draft. What really got the Bengals is #7 pick Sedrick Ellis' contract. He signed 5 year contract worth as much as 49 million, with 19.5 million in guarantees, while the #10 pick Jerod Mayo signed a 5 year, 18.9 million dollar contract, with 13 million guaranteed. Last year's #9, Tedd Ginn, got 5 years and 19.6 million, with 13 million guaranteed. That's almost a 7 million dollar difference in guaranteed money between this year's #7 pick and this year's #10 pick (and last years pick at the same spot in the draft). With Harvey still unsigned, Rivers will probably get somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 years and 14-16 million, which will still be a difference of more than 1-3 million from last year's same position (and this year's #10 pick). Basically, he's holding out for an extra 12k - 37k per pay day, over the course of 5 seasons.

[Sandwedge]

About f**kin' time.

Thanks Billy, I spent 4:04 minutes on your post and forgot what this thread was all about!!! Btw I vote for Blakely!! Yum, yum!!!

As for Rivers, if he's here, great!!! If not, oh well!! Life will and it must go on...

[derekshank]

It is what it is.

Yep. These guys are professional football players. That means they play for the money. As much of it as they can get. Complaining about a professional athlete doing everything necessary to maximize his pay is like complaining about the sun coming up in the morning.

Naive fan: "It's almost like this guy's in it for the money!"

Reality: "Check me out some time."

Yeah... I'm not happy about the holdout. I wish they could have found some way to get this done weeks ago... but it's no different than anyone else. People think that athletes should play completely for the love of the game - and that teachers should do their job for free because of the reward of seeing kids learn, and doctors should waive their fees because they are humanitarians.

Yep... people like to get paid for their services. He may have hurt himself more than he's helped himself with this holdout - but no one can begrudge him his right to be a good capitalist and get every cent he can for his work.

[Kazkal]

t's too late for Rivers to compete for a starting spot in Week 1. Johnson seems extremely hungry a

I'll pass on that and take best player for the job.

[kevinc1129]

Great to hear that it's almost done.

If he gets in and takes care of business, there is no way it's too late for him to start in Week 1. Johnson has looked good, but nothing has been decided yet, you can count on that. If Rivers comes in prepared to work and gets everything down, he'll be the starter.

[BengalszoneBilly]

About f**kin' time.

Thanks Billy, I spent 4:04 minutes on your post and forgot what this thread was all about!!! Btw I vote for Blakely!! Yum, yum!!!

You're welcome sir. Sorry to derail you with my sig.

[ArmyBengal]

To claim immediately following the draft how happy people were with the Rivers pick and saying they couldn't wait to see him play, then stating they hope he screwed himself out of playing week #1 is f*cking retarded. How about just hanging in there (whether you like it or not) and look forward to seeing what the best LB in the draft will do for this defense.

Am I pleased with the holdout ?? No, but then again I've never had to worry about my multi million dollar contract either, so I will defer and just be happy that it's almost over and hope he progresses quickly. The coaches all said how quickly Rivers was picking up the defense and how much of a study of the game he was. So while I'm a little disappointed he's not in yet, I'm not going to suddenly become a supporter for Brandon Johnson being the starter week #1.

Here's to hoping we see Rivers blowing people up and SOON !!!

WHODEY !!!

[GregCook]

To claim immediately following the draft how happy people were with the Rivers pick and saying they couldn't wait to see him play, then stating they hope he screwed himself out of playing week #1 is f*cking retarded. How about just hanging in there (whether you like it or not) and look forward to seeing what the best LB in the draft will do for this defense.

Am I pleased with the holdout ?? No, but then again I've never had to worry about my multi million dollar contract either, so I will defer and just be happy that it's almost over and hope he progresses quickly. The coaches all said how quickly Rivers was picking up the defense and how much of a study of the game he was. So while I'm a little disappointed he's not in yet, I'm not going to suddenly become a supporter for Brandon Johnson being the starter week #1.

Here's to hoping we see Rivers blowing people up and SOON !!!

WHODEY !!!

Yeah this will all be forgotten come Sunday in the fall. He'll no doubt be starting at the beginning of the season or shortly afterwards. We're kind of thin at LB it terms of talent, so this guy starts automatically.

Hey whats up with Ahmad Brooks? This guy is going from starting Mike last season to camp fodder.

[kingwilly]

Hey whats up with Ahmad Brooks? This guy is going from starting Mike last season to camp fodder.

hmm...been thinking about this myself. it is either he is not "fully" recovered from his groin issue

<or>

his "incident" is hanging over his head.

maybe a little of both.

starter last year to thrd-string? that is quite a slide.

As for Rivers, here they sit again jamming up their r1 talent before they even get started. did any of us expect anything less?

[Thurmanation]

About f**kin' time.

Thanks Billy, I spent 4:04 minutes on your post and forgot what this thread was all about!!! Btw I vote for Blakely!! Yum, yum!!!

You're welcome sir. Sorry to derail you with my sig.

I'm thinking Mrs. Chicago has my vote

[rwalling]

If this follows historical form, the first round holdout will now proceed to pull or strain something that costs him most/all of his rookie season.

[TJJackson]

More to form, the rookie who holds out this long is of near-zero value to his team for the remainder of the year, regardless of health

[ThortonMelon]

If this follows historical form, the first round holdout will now proceed to pull or strain something that costs him most/all of his rookie season.

This is just not true. People think this because alot of rookie QBs holdout and then struggle. But rookie QBs that dont holdout usually struggle too. Yes, Akili Smith heldout and he had a bad rookie year. His rookie year was also the best year of his career. Akili would have been a bust whether he held out or not. Alex Smith didnt hold out and he had one of the worst rookie years of any QB ever.

People also point to players like Cedric Benson, Ryan Sims or Wendell Bryant as evidence that a holdout leads to a poor rookie year, but those are just bad players. They were bad as rookies and continued to be bad in subsequent years after a full participation in training camp. There isnt any evidence that players that holdout have worse rookie years than players that sign on time. On the contrary, many players that have held out have had good or great rookie years.

-Last year I believe that Dwayne Bowe of the Chiefs was the last to sign (if not last, then very near last) and he was the best rookie reciever in the NFL, by far. Levi Brown also had a nice rookie season after a long holdout.

-Ronnie Brown's best season was his rookie season after a month-long holdout.

-Justin Smith's best year of his career was his rookie year in which he signed the day before the first regular season game.

-L. Tominson held out for 32 days and had an outstanding rookie season.

[fattyjay]

More to form, the rookie who holds out this long is of near-zero value to his team for the remainder of the year, regardless of health

That's the problem most of us have with holdouts. It's not like in any of these cases the player who is holding out goes on to become the ROY. I mean honestly if they are worth an 11% increase over the previous year's pick then shouldn't they have better production?

[TippCityRick]

I'll believe it when I see it. I don't put alot of faith in anything PFT has to say.

[Wraith]

AS much as I hate to admit it Florio is often right, he called Pollack about a week before he retired, he accurately called all of the Henry and Thurman issues. Whomever he has as sources he often scoops the major networks and even scoops Hobson (though thats because Hobson is Mike Brown's bobo). I suspect we will see a resolution to this holdout today

[ThortonMelon]

More to form, the rookie who holds out this long is of near-zero value to his team for the remainder of the year, regardless of health

That's the problem most of us have with holdouts. It's not like in any of these cases the player who is holding out goes on to become the ROY. I mean honestly if they are worth an 11% increase over the previous year's pick then shouldn't they have better production?

Plenty of guys that holdout go on to win ROY.

-Shawne Merriman had a well publicized holdout and won ROY.

-Edgerrin James missed 3 weeks of training camp and won ROY.

-Adrian Peterson heldout for 3 days and won ROY.

-There were some saying the Justin Smith should have won ROY (8.5 sacks and 54 tackles as a rookie) and we all remember how long his holdout was.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

More to form, the rookie who holds out this long is of near-zero value to his team for the remainder of the year, regardless of health

That's the problem most of us have with holdouts. It's not like in any of these cases the player who is holding out goes on to become the ROY. I mean honestly if they are worth an 11% increase over the previous year's pick then shouldn't they have better production?

Plenty of guys that holdout go on to win ROY.

-Shawne Merriman had a well publicized holdout and won ROY.

-Edgerrin James missed 3 weeks of training camp and won ROY.

-Adrian Peterson heldout for 3 days and won ROY.

-There were some saying the Justin Smith should have won ROY (8.5 sacks and 54 tackles as a rookie) and we all remember how long his holdout was.

Notice those guys are RB's or situational pass rushers with limited responsibilities. Merriman and Smith were set loose on QB's with a somewhat limited game plan - Pollack was the same way.

A LB has to know the entire defense, be a 3 down guy, and has much more responsibilities than even a RB would. I think that is the concern.

[ThortonMelon]

More to form, the rookie who holds out this long is of near-zero value to his team for the remainder of the year, regardless of health

That's the problem most of us have with holdouts. It's not like in any of these cases the player who is holding out goes on to become the ROY. I mean honestly if they are worth an 11% increase over the previous year's pick then shouldn't they have better production?

Plenty of guys that holdout go on to win ROY.

-Shawne Merriman had a well publicized holdout and won ROY.

-Edgerrin James missed 3 weeks of training camp and won ROY.

-Adrian Peterson heldout for 3 days and won ROY.

-There were some saying the Justin Smith should have won ROY (8.5 sacks and 54 tackles as a rookie) and we all remember how long his holdout was.

Notice those guys are RB's or situational pass rushers with limited responsibilities. Merriman and Smith were set loose on QB's with a somewhat limited game plan - Pollack was the same way.

A LB has to know the entire defense, be a 3 down guy, and has much more responsibilities than even a RB would. I think that is the concern.

Actually Shawne Merriman is an OLB, just like Kieth Rivers. Justin Smith was not a situational pass rusher, he was an everydown DE. Edgerrin James was not a typical grind-it-out RB, he is a RB that is used extensively in the passing game. This is much more difficult to pick up. That reminds me of Chris Perry, who had his best season as a rookie (catching passes, not running the ball from a handoff) after a 2 week holdout.

How do you explain Dwayne Bowe's excellent rookie year after his long holdout? WR is a much more difficult position to adjust to than OLB.

I dont think there is any solid evidence that holding out makes for a bad rookie year. Rivers was 3 1/2 year starter at USC. He also participated in practices with the Bengals in May and June. He'll be just fine this year.