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