| Like so many millions of young sports-crazed boys, in | | | | slice up some seams in the defense this fall. Plexico |
| my formative years I was a baseball card fanatic. But | | | | Burress is gone so Pittsburgh is going to need other |
| one thing that I never understood about baseball | | | | playmakers to step up. Also his size (6'5'' 256) will |
| cards is why rookie cards were always worth more | | | | make him an inviting red zone target.Mike Nugent, K, |
| money than any other cards. I bring this up, because | | | | New York JetsDoug Brien converted 83 percent of |
| I'm equally confused when it comes to rookie | | | | his kicks in 2004, but was exposed the after a pair |
| contracts in the NFL.Why is it that rookies -- players | | | | of missed game winning field goals missed against |
| who haven't accomplished anything in the league are | | | | Pittsburgh last January. Tough crowd. Enter the kid. |
| paid exorbitant sums of money and put in positions | | | | Nugent won the Lou Groza Award last fall and was |
| to hurt their teams by holding out? Case in point: | | | | prolific at Ohio State. He was deemed worthy of a |
| two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady signed a | | | | second round pick by New York, the third highest a |
| contract extension that included $32 million | | | | kicker has ever been drafted. New York's style lends |
| guaranteed, perennial All-Pro and future Hall of Famer | | | | itself to a lot of close games. That means Nugent will |
| Orlando Pace signed an extension with $18 million | | | | face plenty of clutch kicks this season.Matt Jones, |
| guaranteed, and rookie quarterback Alex Smith - who | | | | WR, JacksonvilleThe Jags pick of Jones 21st overall |
| was a one-year wonder at the football factory that | | | | may have been the shocker of the first round in |
| is Utah, and who hasn't taken a single snap in a | | | | April. He is a converted quarterback out of Arkansas, |
| regular season game - signed a contract that | | | | and will be expected to step right in and contribute. |
| guarantees him $24 million. Curious.This year featured | | | | Last year's No. 1 pick Reggie Williams had an awful |
| more first-round holdouts and more acrimony in NFL | | | | rookie season, and besides 36-year-old Jimmy Smith |
| rookie negotiations than any in recent memory. At | | | | the Jags don't have much of a receiving corps. Byron |
| one point, players like David Pollack, Adam Jones, | | | | Leftwich could be ready for a breakout year, but if |
| Roddy White and Cedric Benson were projected | | | | that's going to happen than Jones is going to have to |
| starters for their respective teams. However, due in | | | | take advantage of the mismatches (he's 6'6'', 242) |
| part to their extended holdouts, as of right now | | | | he'll 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 to |
| lineup come Week One.The irony here is that these | | | | take him off the practice field because the offense |
| players are squabbling over a slight increase in money | | | | just couldn't get anything done when he was out |
| now - and by slight I mean in percentages, not in | | | | there. He was that dominant. The Bengals are hoping |
| actual figures - and by doing so jeopardizing their | | | | that he can make the adjustment to linebacker in |
| long-term earning potential. By holding out, these | | | | their 3-4 alignment. Pollack held out for 20 days, |
| rookies are missing valuable acclimation time in training | | | | which could stunt his growth in the early part of this |
| camp, they're alienating themselves from their | | | | season. However, he will have the benefit of playing |
| coaches, teammates and fans, and earning | | | | alongside college teammate Odell Thurman. Thurman |
| reputations as people who are difficult to work with. | | | | was picked up in the second round by Cincinnati and |
| Furthermore, the track record for rookies that hold | | | | is also projected as a starting linebacker for the |
| out more than 10 days is a train wreck.The NFL is in | | | | league's 26th-rated run defense.Alex Barron, OT, St. |
| the middle of negotiating a new collective bargaining | | | | LouisWhat a spot for Barron, college football's |
| agreement. I wouldn't be surprised (and am actually | | | | Outland Trophy winner last fall, to be in. He gets to |
| hoping for) a change that institutes a rookie pay | | | | apprentice next to Adam Timmerman and on the |
| scale, similar to what the NBA has in place. In the | | | | same line as Orlando Pace. Barron not only held out, |
| NBA system the contracts' length and worth are | | | | which pissed off head coach Mike Martz, but he |
| figured on a graduated scale and preset based on | | | | missed his first practice after he signed with the |
| when players are picked. Starting this in the league | | | | team - unexcused. You don't want to get in Martz's |
| would effectively end NFL rookie holdouts, and help | | | | doghouse. Just ask Kyle Turley.Cedric Benson, RB, |
| ensure that more money is invested in accomplished | | | | ChicagoAs a Bears fan I'm disgusted with this whole |
| NFL players as opposed to the potential-laden | | | | situation. As if it wasn't bad enough that we had to |
| first-round picks that have a hit-or-miss history in the | | | | stare in horror at his freak out on draft day (you |
| league. I don't see where the NFLPA would have a | | | | know, when he started panting, sweating, babbling |
| problem with this, given that about 80 percent of the | | | | and sobbing during his interview with Suzy Kolber |
| players in the league weren't No. 1 picks and a pay | | | | after he was selected fourth by the Bears) now we |
| scale would mean more money for them.Here's a list | | | | have to wait for him to put his avarice aside and |
| of 10 rookies that I expect to have a definite, | | | | become a team player. He can make it up to me |
| tangible impact on their team's fortunes this season, | | | | with 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.Roddy White, |
| for good or ill. I would wager that of the 10 teams | | | | WR, AtlantaWhite held out for the first two weeks |
| that these players represent, the ones that get the | | | | of camp and, wouldn't you know it, he got injured |
| most production from their first-year players will be | | | | (ankle) in his first preseason game after his return. |
| the ones still alive in January.J.J. Arrington, RB, Arizona | | | | I'm not saying that his injury had any physical link to |
| The Cardinals are the trendy sleeper pick this season | | | | his hold out I'm just saying it's bad karma. Some in |
| in the weak NFC West. Arrington follows in the | | | | Falcons camp insist that Peerless Price is still the No. 1 |
| footsteps of the NFL's leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, | | | | receiver in Atlanta, but still others surmise that he's |
| who retired after the 2004 season. That sounds | | | | going to get cut to free up cap space. The jury is still |
| more dramatic than it really is, since it's not like Smith | | | | out. But it's clear that big things are expected from |
| actually did anything in Arizona. Arrington topped the | | | | White, the second wideout Atlanta has taken in the |
| 2,000-yard mark at Cal last fall, and has the speed | | | | first round in two years (Michael Jenkins in 2004).Fred |
| and shake to be a productive scat back. However, | | | | Gibson, WR, PhiladelphiaOK, so T.O. being back in |
| he is small (5'9'' 214 lbs.), he has fumbled twice in two | | | | camp takes the onus off Gibson. However, who |
| preseason games, and it remains to be seen whether | | | | knows how long that whine ass will hold up this |
| he can take an NFL pounding.Derrick Johnson, LB, | | | | season. Regardless, the Eagles lack a No. 2 option, |
| Kansas CitySo far I've heard from several sources | | | | and rumor has it that Gibson has looked really good |
| that this kid is just an animal. He was by far and | | | | this August in camp. He was labeled as soft during his |
| away the best defensive player in the draft, but he | | | | time at Georgia, but he could blossom under the |
| slipped to No. 15 and fell into the Chiefs' lap. Johnson | | | | guidance of a team player like Owens (just |
| will join Sammy Knight, Patrick Surtain and Kendrell | | | | kidding).Honorable mention: Cadillac Williams, RB, |
| Bell in a retooled K.C. defense. If you can find anyone | | | | Tampa Bay; Erasmus James, DE, Minnesota; Jammal |
| dumb enough to take your wager, bet your | | | | Brown, OG, New Orleans; Daryl Blackstock, LB, |
| mortgage on Johnson as the Defensive Rookie of | | | | Arizona; Roscoe Parrish, WR, Buffalo, Chris Henry, |
| the Year.Heath Miller, TE, PittsburghThe Steelers | | | | WR, Cincinnati.Doc's Sports Recent Articles:2005 |
| have never really utilized the tight end in the passing | | | | Pac-10 Preview2005 SEC Preview2005 WAC |
| game (average of 18 catches a year since 1998). In | | | | PreviewDoc's Sports Handicapping Service |
| fact, they'd rather have a sixth lineman than a pass | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| catcher in the TE slot. Miller could change all of that. | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| With sure hands and outstanding speed, Miller could | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |