Pollack signs today?

[Kazkal]

Bengals | Deal with Pollack is Close

Tue, 2 Aug 2005 22:49:44 -0700

Chick Ludwig, of the Dayton Daily News, reports agent Ken Kremer is reportedly in Cincinnati attempting to finalize a contract agreement for Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft pick LB David Pollack. The anticipation then built to a crescendo when WLW-AM's Andy Furman interviewed Pollack before the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves Tuesday evening, August 2. Wearing a Braves ball cap, Pollack said the deal was imminent and he was eager to get a contract signed so he could get to training camp. "I know I'm going to sign a five-year deal," Pollack told Furman, adding that the holdup was the signing bonus. "I've just got to make sure I'm taken care of."

PS,dammit can't edit title

[bengalsLB]

thank u jesus!!!!!!

[HairOnFire]

"I know I'm going to sign a five-year deal," Pollack told Furman, adding that the holdup was the signing bonus. "I've just got to make sure I'm taken care of."

I now tip my cap towards the Joisey shore. Nice call.

[Kazkal]

8-3-05, 6 a.m.

BY GEOFF HOBSON

GEORGETOWN, Ky. _ The Bengals’ push for five-year deals in the second- and third-rounds didn’t escape the attention of a locker room that noticed how they are trying to keep their young team together, but the agents for first-rounder David Pollack left campus Tuesday night without a deal. . .

After being called “instrumental,” in helping get the Odell Thurman deal done, head coach Marvin Lewis chewed out his team in the middle of Tuesday’s lone practice (the eighth of camp) by whistling play dead and then calling all players and coaches into the middle of the field. Still, backup quarterback Jon Kitna says this offense is two weeks ahead of last training camp. . .

Spoke to soon >_<

[jjakq27]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../508030334/1066

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Pollack, agent in town to work toward a deal

Top pick appears slotted for about $2M per season

By Mark Curnutte

Enquirer staff writer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - The signing Tuesday of second-round pick Odell Thurman leaves first-round pick David Pollack as the only Bengals player unsigned and not yet in training camp.

Pollack, the 17th overall pick, a linebacker from Georgia, is holed up in Greater Cincinnati and awaiting word when he should report.

His agent, Ken Kremer, came to town Tuesday to conduct face-to-face negotiations with the Bengals. Team executive vice president Katie Blackburn is handling Pollack's deal.

Pollack's desire for more guaranteed money than the Bengals are offering is believed to be holding up his deal.

Twenty-two of the 32 first-round picks were signed or had agreed to terms with their teams as of 7 p.m. Tuesday. Players drafted Nos. 9-16 are all in. Pollack, Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (No. 18) and Rams offensive tackle Alex Barron (No. 19) are unsigned.

At No. 16, defensive end Travis Johnson received a five-year, $10.2 million deal from the Texans. Twentieth pick Marcus Wears, a defensive tackle with the Cowboys, signed a five-year, $9.35 million contract.

It's safe to assume Pollack's deal will fall somewhere in between, but closer to Johnson's contract.

[AMC]

When he arrives he is going to tear it up on the field!

I knew Erasmus James wouldn't be any help..They are waiting on Pollack.

SHould be done today....If not I will be perturbed!

[HoosierCat]

"I know I'm going to sign a five-year deal," Pollack told Furman, adding that the holdup was the signing bonus. "I've just got to make sure I'm taken care of."

I now tip my cap towards the Joisey shore. Nice call.

Thanks, but I was just repeating Hobson's speculation. Fortunately for me it looks like he actually knew what he was talking about this time...so props to Geoff.

Now: given that last year's guy in Pollack's spot, Shawn Andrews, had a deal with about 72% guaranteed coin (including a $1 million option bonus on the final year) and Travis Johnson's is about 75% guaranteed according the reports, and Pollack's deal should come in at around $9.5 million total...that would mean the two sides are squabbling over, at most, about $300k. (Assuming, of course, that the Bengals aren't lowballing the guaranteed coin and Pollack isn't asking for an outsized amount.) If that's the case, they need to split the difference and get the deal done.

[HairOnFire]

Thanks, but I was just repeating Hobson's speculation. Fortunately for me it looks like he actually knew what he was talking about this time...so props to Geoff.

That's fine, but I like to give credit when I think it's due. Besides, I had read Hobson's remarks and had discounted them due to my reluctance to believe that Pollack's holdout is based upon the matter of a couple hundred thousand bucks of upfront money. After reading DP's remarks that no longer seems to be the case....prompting me to respond with a little Beetle Baily styled profanity.

&%$/#@!!!!!

Oh, and it's not like this mornings O'Dell articles didn't throw me a bone when they went into some detail about Thurmans camp agreeing to the 5th year only after the Bengals reduced the percentage of snaps played needed to trigger incentives. There's even a line in the Cincy Post update that links Thurman's contract to team performance rankings.

[HairOnFire]

After being called “instrumental,” in helping get the Odell Thurman deal done, head coach Marvin Lewis chewed out his team in the middle of Tuesday’s lone practice....

So I guess we can now ignore that stupid rant about Marvin being uninvolved in contract negotiations.

I think if I were pushed a bit I could probably rattle my brain and remember which poster offered that line of crap. Then again, why bother?

[derekshank]

So the Bengals haven't gotten him into camp over a signing bonus? I very much doubt he is asking for anything outrageous. Just give in a little and get him into camp! I'm sure the Brown family has some coin to spare. Get the deal done!

[semiotter]

Thats great news!! I hope he is as good as they hope

[DesperateDerelict]

Doesn't this depend on how much is left in the Bengal's rookie pool? I'd hate to see Marvin lose a draft pick (ala Denver Donkeys this year) by exceeding our allotment.

[schweinhart]

Per Hobson

"The five-year deals (and corresponding lower salary cap hits) are also important in the light of the fact that several key contracts are up after the next two seasons, such as the entire offensive line, Pro Bowl cornerback Tory James, and defensive end Justin Smith."

I believe Hobson is closing in on the importance of lowering the 2006 cap hits through 5 year contracts for Thurman and Henry as well as the 4 yr deal for Ghiaucic.

While Pollack is a guarnateed 5 yr deal from the get go, what seems more at stake is not a few 100k difference between the sides in guaranteed money but how that money is structured and the terms behind it.

The Brown Clan has taken an excellent tack this year IMO to max the rookie pool cap out w/ the Pollack signing because it looks like they're really prioritizing the 2006 season. The 2 sides might be a few 100 k apart but I say what's really holding the deal up is something more like an 6-figure option bonus in 2007 that would be guaranteed unless a trade is made.

That way Pollack's 2005 cap hit could be frontloaded w/ a roster and performance bonus to max the rookie pool while at the same time lowering the 2006 cap hit by a couple 100k.

[BengalszoneBilly]

PS,dammit can't edit title

I can. What's wrong with it?

BTW, I hope the news about Pollack is true!

[UK Bengal]

his agents gone home with no deal being done

[Kazkal]

"STALEMATE: Tom Condon and Ken Kremer, the agents for first-rounder David Pollack, have apparently left town after not making much progress on a deal."

Ok this blows inless their trying to fool us and sign out of no where and greene leaves on sunday no? >_<

[HoosierCat]

The 2 sides might be a few 100 k apart but I say what's really holding the deal up is something more like an 6-figure option bonus in 2007 that would be guaranteed unless a trade is made.

That way Pollack's 2005 cap hit could be frontloaded w/ a roster and performance bonus to max the rookie pool while at the same time lowering the 2006 cap hit by a couple 100k.

Could be. In his Reds game comments, Pollack specifically referred to the signing bonus. The way I read that (again, assuming that the Bengals aren't just being cheap and Pollack isn't just being greedy) is that the teams wants to give him less bonus money up front (i.e. to sign) and more in the form of roster bonuses, workout bonuses and option bonuses. I'm sure cap implications play a role in whatever structure they're trying to get him to agree to.

In that case, tho there might not even be the few 100k difference; both sides may be in agreement on total dollars and total guaranteed dollars...but, say, Pollack's side wants a $4 million signing bonus while the Bengals want to give him $2 million to sign and $500k in annual roster bonuses in '06-'09.

Who knows? Bottom line is that with Pollack's agents leaving town without a deal...looks like this could go on a while...

[DontTakeAkili]

I guess a small (teeny tiny) bright side to all this mess is that if there is one position that we can stand a holdout at, it would have to be linebacker...

Like I said, a VERY SMALL bright side.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Landon Johnson will do just fine out there, and hopefully makes Pollack regret what he's doing some and give -in.

If this goes on very long looks like Pollack might just be a pass rushing/situational player going into the season? If he misses another week or two, not sure how he could possibly catch up at a new position and be ready until some time in the middle of preseason if that...who knows.

[derekshank]

Pollack needs to learn from the mistake of Philip Rivers last year. He got in too late, and Brees played lights out... something Landon Johnson is very capable of doing.

Especially considering that Pollack is changing positions, you have to think that each day he holds out the more likely he won't be our opening day starter. I guess from a team standpoint it's all good, because Landon will play his natural position fine, but I like the idea of LJ being the very solid backup for all 3 LB positions.

I actually think that even if Pollack got into camp tonight, Johnson would be the better choice for the opener at Cleveland, but DP has to get some reps in sometime... regardless Marvin will make the right choice, but Pollack and his agents might be making the choice for him right now.

P.S. I'm not saying this is all Pollack's fault. I'm sure the Bengals front office is being stingy, but we need this guy to get in there, and holding out isn't helping anybody.

[ArmyBengal]

I actually think that even if Pollack got into camp tonight, Johnson would be the better choice for the opener at Cleveland

I was thinking the same thing. This would better improve our chances at that quick start with a proven player, but agree that DP is going to get in sooner or later. Come to think of it, it won't matter, it's the Browns !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Kazkal]

I just want pollack in camp so he can pick greenes brain apart >_<

ohwell I'm off to get rdy for work mybe ill come home tonight and he'll be signed

/cry

[Kirkendall]

However. If Chucky B is installing a position for Pollack more attuned to his pass rushing ability, do you think Landon could fulfill that role? I mean Pollack is a proven pass rusher, whereas Landon is not. I'm not saying Landon couldn't do it, but it ponders the question if he could fulfill a role that's more designed for Pollack's abilities.

[Kazkal]

I think if landon was unblocked he'd do fine as a pash rusher lol. but even if a RB got in his way i see it being problem.

[Kirkendall]

I think if landon was unblocked he'd do fine as a pash rusher lol. but even if a RB got in his way i see it being problem.

I do too, and again, I'm not ripping on Landon at all. I think he should be our starter until he's uprooted -- and the fact Marvin named Thurman over Johnson before O'Dell was EVEN SIGNED and WHILE Landon was hurt, irks me a little.

However, we don't know how much Pollack's spot (plays accustomed to his abilies) are integrated into the over scheme of the play and this could be me just adding to the conversation, nothing else.

Furthermore, for all we know Landon could do better than Pollack anyway.

I do know that Pollack needs to get his freakin' ass in camp NOW!