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As we get closer and closer to camp, I'm definitely got a feeling that Raji ends up holding out. I see a plethora of other first rounders signing deals and others are reported as being close to a new deal. I really believe the success of the new 3-4 will hinge a lot on how quickly BJ can come in and be a force so I'd hate to see this drag out. With the reports of Collins not holding out, and Matthews and Jennings inked, the off-season seems to be going a bit too smoothly...cue Twilight Zone music.

We absolutely cannot miss any practice time either because of a holdout or because of injury. A deal needs to get made today.

Yeah, we need to get him in VERY soon. I'd be afraid that he could come in to out of shape/overweight and he'd fall behind with learning the system. At least we have Matthews signed and in...

not looking good at all.


http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... 01043/1058

To his credit he has said in the past that he is very much against a holdout. It seems that we may have to wait for guys like Monroe and Crabtree to get signed before we can set the value for Raji's contract.

Whether he is against it or not he's a holdout. He missed his first practice.

MickeyDavis wrote:Whether he is against it or not he's a holdout. He missed his first practice.

Agreed. But what can he do? None of the other players drafted around him are signed. His value will be the big argument until the market dictates his worth.

Yes there is a logjam of unsigned picks but someone has to sign first. He'll make millions in guaranteed money whether he's the first of these guys to sign or the last. If it was a big deal to him not to hold out then he'd be suited up and at practice. And have millions in the bank.

This is what he said in June.

"There will be no problem, as far as holding out on my end," Raji said in June. "I'm a rookie but from what I've been told, holdouts are not necessarily a good thing.

"Especially a rookie coming in, you can't afford to miss a week or two of training camp, especially when you're trying to find a way to get on the field. Yeah, that's my agency, but I'm in control, not the other way around."

I'll start worrying if he's not signed by mid-week.

My theory is: With Maclin signed, the WRs around Raji (e.g., Crabtree) have a reference point. This leads to Raji signing by Wednesday.

Fandom wrote:I'll start worrying if he's not signed by mid-week.

I'll start worrying if they release a video of Raji as a young boy singing and dancing to Huey Lewis's "Power of Love."

I'll start worrying if they release a video of Raji as a young boy singing and dancing to Huey Lewis's "Power of Love."

Leave me alone. That was a very confusing time for me as a boy.

My Michael Jackson impressions were far better, but never filmed unfortunately.

I know its been discussed to death, but I think the most important part of the next CBA has got to be a rookie salary scale for first rounders. I don't think anyone could argue it wouldn't be good for the league. A lot of those rookie contracts end up killing the team, especially if the guy doesn't pan out. More vets are cap casualties as well because of the huge amounts of guaranteed money. Also, a lot of rookies really hurt their careers long term by not being there for training camps and falling behind right away. Most of all, its just annoying.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... 241&spln=1

According to ESPN 540's Scott Wisniewski, contract talks between the Packers and unsigned rookie B.J. Raji have "stalled."
Wisniewski says the sides are even further apart than they were before. Raji's agent may be waiting for No. 10 pick Michael Crabtree to sign a deal, but there are no indications that will happen soon. Raji was picked 9th overall. Aug. 5 - 1:27 pm et

The reports are that Crabtree wants a contract as if he was a top 5 pick and that's holding everything up. In the end they all will get guaranteed millions. This is one thing where the NBA >>>> NFL. Rookie scale, no holdouts.

So my Maclin prediction was way off. But now reading the jsonline article about all the unsigned rookies, Darius Heyward Bey and the Oakland Raiders screwed everyone. This 20% increase over last year opened a can of worms for earlier top 10 picks like Curry, later picks like Raji.

My opinion is this: why not overpay on Raji? 1) As far as I know, we have the cap space. 2) Raji is so large that, if he just lies down for every play, he is a worthwhile asset. 3) The longer we wait, the more it takes him to get into shape. So ever if we negotiated a fair price, he will develop slower, losing value.

All of this would be solved by CBA talks about rookie salaries.

Yeah, Al Davis is the biggest clown on Earth. Just die already.

I hate player hold outs. Its been a Packer curse of injuries once they sign and play.

With Raji holding out. We should go after recent released Browns DT Shaun Smith.