Cederic Benson Holdout

[albionmoonlight]

Looks like it has reached the really nasty stage. While I am sure that this will all be resolved before he has to reenter the draft, I had a sense that he would be trouble when I saw him at the draft. Someone from ESPN interviewed him after he was picked and he just seethed with anger at the whole draft process and what he felt was undue poking and prodding by the teams deciding whether to draft him. Didn't seem like a real happy camper.

I have nothing against Bears fans, but I kind of hope that he stays held out now. I've never seen a top pick re-enter the draft, and it would be kind of interesting to see that play out. Besides, I think that Thomas Jones will be just fine this year.

[timmynausea]

He did seem pretty upset at the draft.

[Icy]

Why is he holding out? i haven't read about it yet.

[Raiders Army]

I think that Mike Williams has set a precedent. He only played for a couple of years at USC, didn't play at all last year, and was still picked top 10 in the draft. Even Maurice Clarett got picked in the third round. Benson could sit a year and hope to get picked by a better team.

That being said, Mike Williams played a "good guy" the past year at USC. He didn't complain, etc., which I'm sure was attractive for NFL teams. Benson, on the other hand, could potentially be another Ricky Williams or Terrell Owens.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

He did seem pretty upset at the draft.

He was pretty upset that he was being compared to Ricky Williams. Then he goes and acts like him

[Lathum]

what's up with texas running backs?

[Raiders Army]

I don't remember a cover with him dressed up in a wedding gown.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Icy

Why is he holding out? i haven't read about it yet.

Money.

[Huckleberry]

The dumbest thing about all this is people saying he's acting like Ricky Williams. Williams signed a ridiculously cheap contract where he would have had to have been an All-Pro to see any good money with the Saints.

Benson is doing the exact opposite.

[stevew]

How far apart is he with the Bears? If they are offering like 10 million in guarantees, and you think you're worth 18 million, its one thing, but if the difference is only a few 1-2 million, sign the damn contract and play by now. You lose more money by not playing in the long run.

I think the real problem is benson's agent, who is also Hines Ward's agent. This guy wants to be Rosenhaus, but he aint. Apparently his holdout bullshit got a good contract for Andre Wadsworth a few years back, and he thinks it will work again.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

The dumbest thing about all this is people saying he's acting like Ricky Williams. Williams signed a ridiculously cheap contract where he would have had to have been an All-Pro to see any good money with the Saints.

Benson is doing the exact opposite.

I agree. Had he played for any school other than Texas, the Ricky comparisions would not be out there. It is a very superficial connection.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Poor the Bears. First they lose Grossman and now they are embroiled in a nasty contract dispute with their first round pick. This is sad. I can barely hold back the tears. I feel so terrible for them. However will I go on?

[CraigSca]

I wouldn't worry about Benson - if he's good enough, people will forget he held out like this and consider him god, just like John Elway. And no, I still haven't forgiven that jerk.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

John Elway

Yeah, I hate that bastard, too.

[Solecismic]

I'm sure he's read the studies that show that a RB's career is much shorter than that of any other position, and it's based on number of carries. So he probably figures a holdout causes very little long-term damage.

Maybe he's looking at the 2006 draft, comparing himself favorably to DeAngelo Williams, and thinking he'll go #3, behind Leinart and Ferguson.

[MrBug708]

Not a chance Bensen would go 3rd next year. Not with Reggie Bush/Lendale White coming out

[Honolulu_Blue]

To look on the bright side (which I hope there isn't one), Barry Sanders didn't sign his first contract until like a few days before the first regular season game. He had a decent career. All is not lost (though I hope it is).

[rkmsuf]

not only that but are you going to take a guy like that and jeopardize a first round pick on a position that really isn't in high demand

[rexallllsc]

Originally Posted by Lathum

what's up with texas running backs?

They get their ass-kissed for years and it spoils them.

[nilodor]

Originally Posted by stevew

How far apart is he with the Bears? If they are offering like 10 million in guarantees, and you think you're worth 18 million, its one thing, but if the difference is only a few 1-2 million, sign the damn contract and play by now. You lose more money by not playing in the long run.

I think the real problem is benson's agent, who is also Hines Ward's agent. This guy wants to be Rosenhaus, but he aint. Apparently his holdout bullshit got a good contract for Andre Wadsworth a few years back, and he thinks it will work again.

I don't remember the numbers exactly but from what I've heard it works out that the guy picked ahead of him is getting 16 million, the guy behind him is getting 14 million and the bears are offering 15 million.

The hold out is because Benson wants to be slotted off what Phillip Rivers received last year, which is stupid because quarterback are not counted in slotting. The other reason that has been floating around is benson is worried that this will be his only chance at a big contract because of what happened to Edge and Alexander, where their teams said that they were too old to get big money over a long term deal.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by nilodor

I don't remember the numbers exactly but from what I've heard it works out that the guy picked ahead of him is getting 16 million, the guy behind him is getting 14 million and the bears are offering 15 million.

The hold out is because Benson wants to be slotted off what Phillip Rivers received last year, which is stupid because quarterback are not counted in slotting. The other reason that has been floating around is benson is worried that this will be his only chance at a big contract because of what happened to Edge and Alexander, where their teams said that they were too old to get big money over a long term deal.

Damn, 15 million sounds like 'big money' to me ...

[dixieflatline]

Originally Posted by nilodor

The other reason that has been floating around is benson is worried that this will be his only chance at a big contract because of what happened to Edge and Alexander, where their teams said that they were too old to get big money over a long term deal.

To expand on this. From what I hear(semi-inside source) they are fairly close on total money but not close on the distribution of the funds and also not close on the length of the contract. Benson is looking for a 4 year deal tops and the bears want 5 years. Part of the reason Angelos came out last week and said they weren't going to give him more money than their current offer is because he knew they were close on that front and could say that to look tough.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by nilodor

I don't remember the numbers exactly but from what I've heard it works out that the guy picked ahead of him is getting 16 million, the guy behind him is getting 14 million and the bears are offering 15 million.

The hold out is because Benson wants to be slotted off what Phillip Rivers received last year, which is stupid because quarterback are not counted in slotting. The other reason that has been floating around is benson is worried that this will be his only chance at a big contract because of what happened to Edge and Alexander, where their teams said that they were too old to get big money over a long term deal.

Edge and Alexander are still making, what, like 8 million this season each? Obviously not as good as having a 4-5 year deal with major bonus's, and little chance of being cut due to a massive cap charge.

[Galaxy]

The NFL needs to take a page from the NBA and have rookie contracts set.

[mhass]

$17 million guaranteed is the current offer.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

The NFL needs to take a page from the NBA and have rookie contracts set.

Agreed.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

The NFL needs to take a page from the NBA and have rookie contracts set.

Supposedly this will happen (at least, it's moderately likely) in the next CBA.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by mhass

$17 million guaranteed is the current offer.

OH, IT'S A PROFIT DEAL!!

[bhlloy]

As long as that's all they take from the NBA I'd be ecstatic.
I wonder what effect it would have on the overall standard of play in the league as I bet every year very serviceable veterans get cut to fit a higher priced rookie into the team. Or is that overestimating things?

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

As long as that's all they take from the NBA I'd be ecstatic.
I wonder what effect it would have on the overall standard of play in the league as I bet every year very serviceable veterans get cut to fit a higher priced rookie into the team. Or is that overestimating things?

Not really. I don't imagine that the CBA cap for rookies would be low enough to make much of a difference on that. I would guess it would be the same kind of money that rookies are getting now per year, save maybe shorter contracts to allow them to negotiate a new contract earlier. It will at least prevent hold-outs in the rookies first camp (which basically is one of the most important camps of a players career).

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

Not really. I don't imagine that the CBA cap for rookies would be low enough to make much of a difference on that. I would guess it would be the same kind of money that rookies are getting now per year, save maybe shorter contracts to allow them to negotiate a new contract earlier. It will at least prevent hold-outs in the rookies first camp (which basically is one of the most important camps of a players career).

Note that there is ALREADY a rookie cap that limits how much each team can spend. The problem (?) right now is that teams have discretion on how to divvy that pool money up among their picks, which leads to some picks making outrageous demands. Teams don't have the flexibility they used to, but the players do.

I'd love to see a formalized slotting system that specified exactly how much and for how long each pick's contract is. There is already an informal system that works well for most picks, but a handful of bad apples mess it up. Formalize it and not much will change except that a handful of the bad apples (say, Philip Rivers last year) will just sign the contract, while whiners like Benson can still choose not to sign and wait for next year's draft to hope a better situation comes along.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Note that there is ALREADY a rookie cap that limits how much each team can spend. The problem (?) right now is that teams have discretion on how to divvy that pool money up among their picks, which leads to some picks making outrageous demands. Teams don't have the flexibility they used to, but the players do.

I'd love to see a formalized slotting system that specified exactly how much and for how long each pick's contract is. There is already an informal system that works well for most picks, but a handful of bad apples mess it up. Formalize it and not much will change except that a handful of the bad apples (say, Philip Rivers last year) will just sign the contract, while whiners like Benson can still choose not to sign and wait for next year's draft to hope a better situation comes along.

Ummm...I know about the cap "pool", and what you are describing is what we were talking about. If the money was officially "slotted," I really doubt players like Benson would be willing to sit a year.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

Ummm...I know about the cap "pool", and what you are describing is what we were talking about. If the money was officially "slotted," I really doubt players like Benson would be willing to sit a year.

I don't see the problem. If he sits the year there is no way he get's close to the current offer next year. He's a nutball if he sits out and the Bears saved themselves 15 million bucks.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

Ummm...I know about the cap "pool", and what you are describing is what we were talking about. If the money was officially "slotted," I really doubt players like Benson would be willing to sit a year.

Okay. It looked like you were discussing possibly having rookies get less money, and I don't think that's the case.

[Raven Hawk]

This guy's a jackass. Trade him. Trade him now.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Raven Hawk

This guy's a jackass. Trade him. Trade him now.

Concur.

[cubboyroy1826]

From what i understand from a good source the agent has in no uncertain terms said this deal should be done but other advisors want more. The agent said he does not push his clients either way he just gives them their options and wants them to make their owne decision. I dont know if it is family members or what. Benson is said to have gotten the last contract offer from the Bears and told his agent "I really expected more". As for the difference my source says it is 1-2 million apart and 1 year on the contract.

[Scarecrow]

According to my favorite football website: http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/footb...s/default.aspx

Holmes, Priest

Base: $660,000

Signing: $8,475,000

Other: $1,800

Tot Salary: $9,136,800

Cap Val: $2,710,014

Wonder if Benson is better than the Priest??? And why does Cederic have to ruin a perfectly great last name ??

[Coffee Warlord]

Benson has no idea how ruthless the fans are going to be to him if he DOES wind up signing in Chicago.

[Wolfpack]

I do have to stick up for my fellow alum Rivers a little bit. SD's offerings last year during his holdout were ridiculously lowball and Ricky Williams-esque in escalator clauses. True, he missed out on camp and it may ultimately have cost him any chance of starting in SD as Brees has now decided he likes his job and has done wonders with it since Rivers showed up. But, Rivers wasn't being a total pill about holding out.

[maximus]

A radio station (670 The Score) in Chicago just announced that Benson is in Chicago and has been since early this morning. They are saying that Benson is very close to signing.

[Crapshoot]

Roffle- he's a jackass for trying to maximise his value ? His career, his market value - not yours.

[dixieflatline]

Originally Posted by cubboyroy1826

As for the difference my source says it is 1-2 million apart and 1 year on the contract.

This is what I'm hearing from the bears side too. Interesting. I'm hearing that the 1 year is a MUCH bigger problem than the 1-2 mil though.

[maximus]

More news reported on 670 The Score:

Cedirc Benson has shown up at Halas Hall with his baseball agent Brian Peters and not his football agent Eugene Parker. Word is that Benson is extrememly upset with Eugene Parker (Bensons football agent). Sounds as if Benson didn not want to hold out this long and in fact it was Parkers idea. There were no negotiations today however...

[Huckleberry]

I just noticed that my post is the first time on this thread that Cedric Benson's first name has been spelled correctly.

Just funny.

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by maximus

More news reported on 670 The Score:

Cedirc Benson has shown up at Halas Hall with his baseball agent Brian Peters and not his football agent Eugene Parker. Word is that Benson is extrememly upset with Eugene Parker (Bensons football agent). Sounds as if Benson didn not want to hold out this long and in fact it was Parkers idea. There were no negotiations today however...

See, I would tend to call shenanigans on this one. I find it laughable that a holdout can last this long against a player's wishes. Especially one who has another agent who can advise him. If the guy really didn't want to hold out, he could have escalated the situation earlier, and taken steps to end it a (relatively speaking) long time ago.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

I do have to stick up for my fellow alum Rivers a little bit. SD's offerings last year during his holdout were ridiculously lowball and Ricky Williams-esque in escalator clauses. True, he missed out on camp and it may ultimately have cost him any chance of starting in SD as Brees has now decided he likes his job and has done wonders with it since Rivers showed up. But, Rivers wasn't being a total pill about holding out.

Oh, I love Rivers (I think he was definitely a top QB in the draft and can be a great NFL QB, the guy does nothing but win), and don't think the whole thing was entirely his fault. But, had he shown up, he'd probably have started and in a couple of seasons would be commanding huge money. Now he has to hope Brees falters or he gets traded, or it will be a while before he gets a chance to prove himself.

[Huckleberry]

31-17 (D1A opponents) is "nothing but win"?

[maximus]

Originally Posted by dixieflatline

This is what I'm hearing from the bears side too. Interesting. I'm hearing that the 1 year is a MUCH bigger problem than the 1-2 mil though.

You guys are hearing that the Bears only want him signed for one year? Or am I misunderstanding?

[RailsFS]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

31-17 (D1A opponents) is "nothing but win"?

Well, at a program like NC State, it is.