Uh-Oh Lewis has had it.

[walzav29]

On Bengals.com Lewis said the following

I think we’ve really fought very hard to eliminate these kind of actions around here and it’s a shame that it occurred,” Lewis said. “We have other guys who have chosen to be here and we’ve eliminated selfishness that occurs. I’ve said it many times. If that’s what it comes down to, a dollar here a dollar there, they’re on the wrong football team. This football team will never, ever be guided by one guy. . .We’re not going to be compromised by one player or one person and that’s not going to change.

“That’s been important. It’s important to the guys who sit in these chairs every night that we do not change that because we believe in that,” said Lewis in a room that doubles as the team’s meeting space here at Georgetown College. “It’s been proven around the league that’s what wins.”

Lewis reiterated that he feels the club has “given in every way,” to Pollack’s agents, and “then it’s not good enough.”

It sounds crazy, but you've seen with Dillon and Takeo that he won't hesitate to send you packing. It just got interesting. I hope it doesn't turn ugly.

[ArmyBengal]

This is about as ugly as I see this one going. Pollack will be in camp sooner or later, but God this pisses me off. I hope the Bengals don't give an inch. It would be a shame to go through all of this just to give him what he wants !!!

WHODEY !!!

[skyline]

Go Marvin...good stuff. I enjoyed reading that.

[markymark69]

Bravo Marvin!!!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Something needed to be said, this is beyond ridiculous for a 17th over-all pick to be holding out at this point.

I didn't think Pollack was the type who was all about the $, thought he was a football player, a humble Christian Mr. good guy type.

So much for that, no one's making him retain his agents.

Bring back Hardy!!!

[walzav29]

I have to agree with him. You never want your team to have a tail wags the dog situation. Just ask ask the Eagles. Could you imagin dealing with that nightmare there? Keep your pimp hand strong Marvin.

[bengalboomer7]

Why would you wanna piss off the guy that controls how much you play

[Ickey44]

I read somewhere that his agents have the most holdouts in the past five years. Why would you hire them knowing that?

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I read somewhere that his agents have the most holdouts in the past five years. Why would you hire them knowing that?

More than Drew Rosenjackss?

[Ickey44]

More holdouts for rookies, yes.

[BlackJesus]

I have a job for him when Pollack arrives

[alleycat]

Wow! It actually looks like the Bengals are taking the high ground on this one - and can!! I loved the Pollack pick, and thought we were going to get a team guy like everyone else, but Marvin just bitch slapped him good. This was a GREAT MOVE and way overdue. This will galvanize the rest of the team and help add to that Team first mentality, in part because I think Marvin was earlier so clearly IN LOVE with Pollack. Sometimes you have to kill your darlings for the good of the whole. If Pollack doesn't sign by tomorrow and come in very repentant, he's going to ride the pine all year out of Lewis' spite for him. God, every time I see or hear Marvin, I just love him more.

[The Big Orange]

Something needed to be said, this is beyond ridiculous for a 17th over-all pick to be holding out at this point.

I didn't think Pollack was the type who was all about the $, thought he was a football player, a humble Christian Mr. good guy type.

So much for that, no one's making him retain his agents.

Bring back Hardy!!!

So true, Shula...

Most people who call themselves "christians" are more canniving, greedy, and in general just flawed as people who don't.

I know this is a general statement and it doesn't apply to many, many people, but guys who wear there "christianity" on their sleeve or as a part of the political platform, watch out for these guys.

This probably seems strange from a man of the cloth (little chuckle there), but seeing as many "christians" as anyone, I have had this proved to me more times than I can count.

For Pollack's next act...televangelist (the professional wrestlers of Christendom)

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I think everyone who is putting Pollack down will be put in their place once he does get on the field. In true Bengals fashion, our first round pick won't do squat his first year in the league. Carson Palmer sat out his first season, and it paid off. Chris Perry was injured his first season, but it looks like he might end up worth it after all. David Pollack, who most of you complaining about him were trying to coin a name for him a few months ago, is holding out, but next season will be a stud.

[Kazkal]

re

[Kazkal]

I still say it's too early to judge we know nothing about the deal,I want pollack to have been signed before camp just like the next guy but it diden't happen.

PS,most of us are probbley thinking what a selfish prick just take the money but really if you were in his case you'd be doing the same thing though theres a reason yer not none of us are even worthy of being a undrafted free agent

[bengalboomer7]

:blink:BJ< does that horse have a prosthetic leg?

Am I the only one that noticed taht

[BengalBax]

Pollack can drop dead. Screw him. I hope he goes on a crusade somewhere and never comes back. Redneck piece of crap.

[DesperateDerelict]

does that horse have a prosthetic leg?

WTF? Eye Exam time - that horse has 4 healthy legs, and if the breeder is licky, he has a fifth, too.

[Kirkendall]

I think everyone who is putting Pollack down will be put in their place once he does get on the field.

That's not in question, and no one has questioned his athletic ability. It's the fact he's not here is what's in question. It's the attitude Pollack has... not the skill he has.

Marvin's comments big time reflects the attitude most have about Pollack "I think we’ve really fought very hard to eliminate these kind of actions around here and it’s a shame that it occurred. We have other guys who have chosen to be here and we’ve eliminated selfishness that occurs."

[Stripes]

Pollack can drop dead. Screw him. I hope he goes on a crusade somewhere and never comes back. Redneck piece of crap.

Strong words. I am as frustrated as anyone that this hasn't been worked out yet, but good grief. Whenever he is on the field playing football, and he is sacking 10+ people every year, I hope you'll retract that death wish. Justin Smith held out much longer than Pollack has, and despite a slow start to his career, he is a very good contributor to this football team.

[HoosierCat]

Well...just to add more fuel to the fire...Barron at 19 has a deal that tops out at $11 million...oh boy...

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...B5?OpenDocument

Barron's contract with Rams could bring him $11 million

By Jim Thomas

Of the Post-Dispatch

08/14/2005

Alex Barron's five-year deal with the Rams is worth $9.2 million. But if Barron qualifies for an incentive and two escalators in the contract, he could earn as much as $11 million.

According to information obtained by the Post-Dispatch, Barron's deal includes no signing bonus. But it features $5.5 million in guaranteed money - a figure that does not include a $1 million roster bonus Barron will receive this week, and thus is all but guaranteed.

There are many other wrinkles, explaining in part why it took so long for Barron, an offensive tackle, to sign. Technically, it's a four-year contract. But it includes a $4.9 million option bonus for the fifth year that the club must exercise no later than March 15 of next year.

Because the bonus must be paid after only one season, and because so much of the contract is guaranteed, it's almost a certainty that the Year 5 option will be exercised.

Assuming the option is exercised, Barron's base salaries will be as follows:

2005: $230,000.

2006: $310,000.

2007: $617,500.

2008: $925,000.

2009: $1,235,500.

Add on the $1 million roster bonus, and the $4.9 million option payment to those base salaries, and that gets you to the $9.2 million total.

Because of complications involving the NFL's collective bargaining agreement this year, many first-round contracts have been structured in a similar fashion, with no signing bonus.

Roster bonuses, option bonuses, and designated guaranteed money have taken the place of the signing bonus. In the past, signing bonus money was the only part of NFL contracts that was guaranteed.

Barron was selected by the Rams with the 19th overall pick in the draft. The players taken immediately before and after Barron have similarly structured deals:

Minnesota defensive end Erasmus James has a five-year, $9.2 million deal that also includes no signing bonus, a $1 million roster bonus, and a $4.9 million option payment.

But the James deal includes more guaranteed money ($5.8 million to Barron's $5.5 million), and can grow to $12.6 million if James reaches a variety of incentives and escalators. James was selected No. 18 overall, one spot ahead of Barron.

One spot behind Barron at No. 20 overall, Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears signed a five-year, $8.3 million deal that includes no signing bonus, a $1 million roster bonus, and a $4.6 million option payment.

Spears' deal also includes more guaranteed money than Barron ($5.7 million to Barron's $5.5 million), but can grow to only $9.35 million if Spears reaches an incentive tied to playing time and certain team or individual statistics.

Barron has three avenues to stretch his contract from the basic deal of $9.2 million to its maximum of $11 million:

He gets a one-time incentive of $350,000 if he plays in 35 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps this season, or plays in 45 percent of the snaps in either 2006, '07, '08, or '09. But that's only half of the incentive. For him to get the $350,000, the Rams also must improve their ranking in one of the following statistical categories over the previous season: completion percentage, sacks allowed, or takeaway-giveaway differential.

Over the course of five seasons, this incentive should be relatively easy to reach.

Barron's base salary in 2009 can grow - or escalate - by a maximum of $250,000 in an escalator triggered by selection to a Pro Bowl.

In another escalator clause, Barron's 2009 base salary could grow by $1.25 million if he reaches 80 percent playing time twice during the 2005, '06, and '07 seasons. He can also get there if he averages 80 percent playing time between the 2005 and '08 seasons.

Given the fact that offensive linemen hardly ever rotate in a game - as opposed to the defensive line - this escalator will be obtainable if Barron becomes a starter and stays healthy.

Interestingly, his contract impasse may make it more difficult to achieve the $1.25 million escalator. Barron is scheduled to participate in his first training camp practice this morning, after missing more than two weeks of camp.

Coach Mike Martz has stated on more than one occasion that Barron won't be ready to start the season opener Sept. 11 in San Francisco because of the missed time. If true, that will affect Barron's ability to reach the 80 percent level in playing time this season.

Traditionally, the Rams have tried to resist contracts laden with incentives and escalators. But the league-wide trend is toward such features, which reward players more for performance than draft position.

[Kazkal]

Pollack can drop dead. Screw him. I hope he goes on a crusade somewhere and never comes back. Redneck piece of crap.

Strong words. I am as frustrated as anyone that this hasn't been worked out yet, but good grief. Whenever he is on the field playing football, and he is sacking 10+ people every year, I hope you'll retract that death wish. Justin Smith held out much longer than Pollack has, and despite a slow start to his career, he is a very good contributor to this football team.

Good post TD,nice to see not everyone has turned in too a lunk head

[wittbengal29]

are his agents not letting him break any silence or am i not looking in the right places...

now that marvin has commented as strongly i would hope pollack will have some sort of rebuttle, i mean does he really believe in what his agents are doing? or is he really not the great guy we heard about, and all these stories of him being grounded, etc. just fabricated...

i mean if this "team clause" is really an issue why doesnt he step up and reiterate he wants to be a bengal and tell his agents to sign it, it sounds to me like there must be something going on we might not have all the information about this situation/debacle...

i hope once he signs he still gets his share of boos at PBS for the weak incentives it sounds like he is holding out for (quote marvin's press conference "dollar here dollar there")

i hope someone stands up for him and can clarify the situation from his perspective...

[Stripes]

Pollack can drop dead. Screw him. I hope he goes on a crusade somewhere and never comes back. Redneck piece of crap.

Strong words. I am as frustrated as anyone that this hasn't been worked out yet, but good grief. Whenever he is on the field playing football, and he is sacking 10+ people every year, I hope you'll retract that death wish. Justin Smith held out much longer than Pollack has, and despite a slow start to his career, he is a very good contributor to this football team.

Good post TD,nice to see not everyone has turned in too a lunk head

Thanks Kaz, appreciated.

Post number 200 :player: