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Dez Bryant is the first first-round pick to agree to a deal with his team. The 24th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft agreed to a five-year, $11.8 million deal on Thursday that includes $8.3 million guaranteed. Since the Cowboys begin training camp tomorrow, this deal means he will be able to report on time.
Why am I mentioning this? Well, Bryant's agent is Eugene Parker, who is one of the agents that represents Ndamukong Suh. Although Parker has been involved with many holdouts in the past (see below), Bryant wanted to report on time and that is what ended up happening. Suh has also made it known that he wants to report on time, so hopefully Parker and Roosevelt Barnes, Suh's other agent, make sure that's what happens. - The one thing that does concern me a little bit is this tidbit from the Detroit Free Press:
I'm not going to start panicking until the first practice begins and Suh isn't on the field. I have faith in him that he will make sure his agents get something done on time, so unless he isn't out there next Saturday when practice begins, there's no reason to start stressing too much.There’s good news and bad news about the Lions’ history of having rookie draft picks hold out for more money.
The good news? The last first-rounder who missed significant time in training camp as a holdout was cornerback Bryant Westbrook, the fifth overall pick in 1997.
The bad news? His agents were Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker — the same agents for Suh, whom the Lions picked No. 2 overall this year.
- When Suh does end up signing, Pigskinology projects he will get a deal that includes slightly more than $38 million guaranteed. Matthew Stafford, by comparison, got close to $42 million guaranteed, and one unnamed agent stressed that Suh shouldn't get more than that.
Jahvid Best, by the way, is projected to receive close to $7 million guaranteed. Contract negotiations for him are at the "very early stages," according to his agent."If the Lions are smart, they are going to say 'Hey look Suh, this is the deal,' and of course the agent is going to fight it for a while, but if the Lions go over Stafford with guaranteed money they are stupid. Why would you give a second-overall pick, who is a defensive tackle, more than your franchise quarterback who was taken No. 1? There is no reason to. Even if the economy was up, you don't do it. That doesn't mean Suh shouldn't get a great deal, because he should get a great deal. But he shouldn't get more than Stafford."
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