| Like so many millions of young sports-crazed | | | | some seams in the defense this fall. Plexico |
| boys, in my formative years I was a baseball | | | | Burress is gone so Pittsburgh is going to need |
| card fanatic. But one thing that I never | | | | other playmakers to step up. Also his size (6'5'' |
| understood about baseball cards is why rookie | | | | 256) will make him an inviting red zone target.Mike |
| cards were always worth more money than any | | | | Nugent, K, New York JetsDoug Brien converted |
| other cards. I bring this up, because I'm equally | | | | 83 percent of his kicks in 2004, but was exposed |
| confused when it comes to rookie contracts in | | | | the after a pair of missed game winning field goals |
| the NFL.Why is it that rookies -- players who | | | | missed against Pittsburgh last January. Tough |
| haven't accomplished anything in the league are | | | | crowd. Enter the kid. Nugent won the Lou Groza |
| paid exorbitant sums of money and put in | | | | Award last fall and was prolific at Ohio State. He |
| positions to hurt their teams by holding out? Case | | | | was deemed worthy of a second round pick by |
| in point: two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady | | | | New York, the third highest a kicker has ever |
| signed a contract extension that included $32 | | | | been drafted. New York's style lends itself to a lot |
| million guaranteed, perennial All-Pro and future Hall | | | | of close games. That means Nugent will face |
| of Famer Orlando Pace signed an extension with | | | | plenty of clutch kicks this season.Matt Jones, WR, |
| $18 million guaranteed, and rookie quarterback | | | | JacksonvilleThe Jags pick of Jones 21st overall |
| Alex Smith - who was a one-year wonder at the | | | | may have been the shocker of the first round in |
| football factory that is Utah, and who hasn't taken | | | | April. He is a converted quarterback out of |
| a single snap in a regular season game - signed a | | | | Arkansas, and will be expected to step right in |
| contract that guarantees him $24 million. | | | | and contribute. Last year's No. 1 pick Reggie |
| Curious.This year featured more first-round | | | | Williams had an awful rookie season, and besides |
| holdouts and more acrimony in NFL rookie | | | | 36-year-old Jimmy Smith the Jags don't have |
| negotiations than any in recent memory. At one | | | | much of a receiving corps. Byron Leftwich could |
| point, players like David Pollack, Adam Jones, | | | | be ready for a breakout year, but if that's going |
| Roddy White and Cedric Benson were projected | | | | to happen than Jones is going to have to take |
| starters for their respective teams. However, due | | | | advantage of the mismatches (he's 6'6'', 242) he'll |
| in part to their extended holdouts, as of right now | | | | most likely face.David Pollack, LB, CincinnatiWhen |
| none of those players figure to crack the starting | | | | Pollack was at Georgia, the coaches used to have |
| lineup come Week One.The irony here is that | | | | to take him off the practice field because the |
| these players are squabbling over a slight increase | | | | offense just couldn't get anything done when he |
| in money now - and by slight I mean in | | | | was out there. He was that dominant. The |
| percentages, not in actual figures - and by doing | | | | Bengals are hoping that he can make the |
| so jeopardizing their long-term earning potential. | | | | adjustment to linebacker in their 3-4 alignment. |
| By holding out, these rookies are missing valuable | | | | Pollack held out for 20 days, which could stunt his |
| acclimation time in training camp, they're alienating | | | | growth in the early part of this season. However, |
| themselves from their coaches, teammates and | | | | he will have the benefit of playing alongside college |
| fans, and earning reputations as people who are | | | | teammate Odell Thurman. Thurman was picked |
| difficult to work with. Furthermore, the track | | | | up in the second round by Cincinnati and is also |
| record for rookies that hold out more than 10 | | | | projected as a starting linebacker for the league's |
| days is a train wreck.The NFL is in the middle of | | | | 26th-rated run defense.Alex Barron, OT, St. |
| negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. | | | | LouisWhat a spot for Barron, college football's |
| I wouldn't be surprised (and am actually hoping | | | | Outland Trophy winner last fall, to be in. He gets |
| for) a change that institutes a rookie pay scale, | | | | to apprentice next to Adam Timmerman and on |
| similar to what the NBA has in place. In the NBA | | | | the same line as Orlando Pace. Barron not only |
| system the contracts' length and worth are | | | | held out, which pissed off head coach Mike Martz, |
| figured on a graduated scale and preset based on | | | | but he missed his first practice after he signed |
| when players are picked. Starting this in the | | | | with the team - unexcused. You don't want to |
| league would effectively end NFL rookie holdouts, | | | | get in Martz's doghouse. Just ask Kyle |
| and help ensure that more money is invested in | | | | Turley.Cedric Benson, RB, ChicagoAs a Bears fan |
| accomplished NFL players as opposed to the | | | | I'm disgusted with this whole situation. As if it |
| potential-laden first-round picks that have a | | | | wasn't bad enough that we had to stare in horror |
| hit-or-miss history in the league. I don't see where | | | | at his freak out on draft day (you know, when |
| the NFLPA would have a problem with this, given | | | | he started panting, sweating, babbling and sobbing |
| that about 80 percent of the players in the league | | | | during his interview with Suzy Kolber after he |
| weren't No. 1 picks and a pay scale would mean | | | | was selected fourth by the Bears) now we have |
| more money for them.Here's a list of 10 rookies | | | | to wait for him to put his avarice aside and |
| that I expect to have a definite, tangible impact | | | | become a team player. He can make it up to me |
| on their team's fortunes this season, for good or | | | | with 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.Roddy |
| ill. I would wager that of the 10 teams that these | | | | White, WR, AtlantaWhite held out for the first |
| players represent, the ones that get the most | | | | two weeks of camp and, wouldn't you know it, |
| production from their first-year players will be the | | | | he got injured (ankle) in his first preseason game |
| ones still alive in January.J.J. Arrington, RB, Arizona | | | | after his return. I'm not saying that his injury had |
| The Cardinals are the trendy sleeper pick this | | | | any physical link to his hold out I'm just saying it's |
| season in the weak NFC West. Arrington follows | | | | bad karma. Some in Falcons camp insist that |
| in the footsteps of the NFL's leading rusher, | | | | Peerless Price is still the No. 1 receiver in Atlanta, |
| Emmitt Smith, who retired after the 2004 season. | | | | but still others surmise that he's going to get cut |
| That sounds more dramatic than it really is, since | | | | to free up cap space. The jury is still out. But it's |
| it's not like Smith actually did anything in Arizona. | | | | clear that big things are expected from White, |
| Arrington topped the 2,000-yard mark at Cal last | | | | the second wideout Atlanta has taken in the first |
| fall, and has the speed and shake to be a | | | | round in two years (Michael Jenkins in 2004).Fred |
| productive scat back. However, he is small (5'9'' | | | | Gibson, WR, PhiladelphiaOK, so T.O. being back in |
| 214 lbs.), he has fumbled twice in two preseason | | | | camp takes the onus off Gibson. However, who |
| games, and it remains to be seen whether he can | | | | knows how long that whine ass will hold up this |
| take an NFL pounding.Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas | | | | season. Regardless, the Eagles lack a No. 2 option, |
| CitySo far I've heard from several sources that | | | | and rumor has it that Gibson has looked really |
| this kid is just an animal. He was by far and away | | | | good this August in camp. He was labeled as soft |
| the best defensive player in the draft, but he | | | | during his time at Georgia, but he could blossom |
| slipped to No. 15 and fell into the Chiefs' lap. | | | | under the guidance of a team player like Owens |
| Johnson will join Sammy Knight, Patrick Surtain | | | | (just kidding).Honorable mention: Cadillac Williams, |
| and Kendrell Bell in a retooled K.C. defense. If you | | | | RB, Tampa Bay; Erasmus James, DE, Minnesota; |
| can find anyone dumb enough to take your | | | | Jammal Brown, OG, New Orleans; Daryl |
| wager, bet your mortgage on Johnson as the | | | | Blackstock, LB, Arizona; Roscoe Parrish, WR, |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year.Heath Miller, TE, | | | | Buffalo, Chris Henry, WR, Cincinnati.Doc's Sports |
| PittsburghThe Steelers have never really utilized | | | | Recent Articles:2005 Pac-10 Preview2005 SEC |
| the tight end in the passing game (average of 18 | | | | Preview2005 WAC PreviewDoc's Sports |
| catches a year since 1998). In fact, they'd rather | | | | Handicapping Service |
| have a sixth lineman than a pass catcher in the | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| TE slot. Miller could change all of that. With sure | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most |
| hands and outstanding speed, Miller could slice up | | | | trusted names in sports handicapping information. |