saint5221

Actually I hear they have agreed on six years and close money, pay out is the big issue now.
Top pick\'s deal slow to develop

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...4337816270.xml

Wednesday July 23, 2003


By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer


Progress has been slow but steady in contract talks between the Saints and top draft pick Johnathan Sullivan.

The completion of several deals in the first round has helped fuel more intense negotiations between Saints negotiator Russ Ball and Sullivan\'s agent, Len Rowe, in recent days.
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The sides are negotiating the financial terms and structure of a six-year deal, but they remained far enough apart Tuesday that General Manager Mickey Loomis is prepared for the possibility that a deal won\'t be completed when players report for training camp Friday.

Rowe declined comment.

\"I expect him to be here, but I\'ve never been optimistic that a deal will be done before camp,\" Loomis said. \"Some deals have gotten done in the first round, but they haven\'t helped that much in our case.\"

The Saints did reach agreement Tuesday on a three-year deal with seventh-round pick Talman Gardner, the No. 231 overall selection. Financial terms were not released, but the contract is expected to be worth near $940,000 in total compensation and include base salaries of $225,000 this season, $305,000 in 2004 and $380,000 in 2005.

Contract negotiations throughout the league have gone slower than normal. As of late Tuesday, only 13 of the 64 players drafted in the first two rounds, including six first-round selections, had signed contracts.

In the Saints\' case, the most relevant deal is the seven-year contract that could be worth up to $54 million that defensive tackle DeWayne Robertson signed with the New York Jets over the weekend. That contract, which included $13 million in guaranteed money during the first three years to the No. 4 overall pick of the draft, established a ceiling for negotiations with Sullivan.

The base line will be a seven-year, $25 million contract defensive tackle Ryan Sims received from Kansas City as the 2002 No. 6 overall selection.

\"We\'ve had active discussions (with Sullivan\'s agent) every day,\" Loomis said. \"He\'s got every reason to be in camp because he has the chance to be a starter.\"

Loomis said he does not expect any complications in the deals for the club\'s remaining three unsigned rookies.

A benchmark was set for second-round pick Jon Stinchcomb when Eugene Wilson, the No. 36 pick, signed a five-year, $4.1 million deal with New England this week. The deal included a $2 million signing bonus. Stinchcomb, the No. 37 pick, is expected to receive a four-year deal for similar money.

Along with Stinchcomb, deals for third-round pick Cie Grant and fourth-round pick Montrae Holland are expected to be completed today or Thursday.

Fifth-round pick Melvin Williams and sixth-round pick Kareem Kelly signed three-year contracts in June.

Gumbo

I am happy to have one more draft choice signed, but it would be nice if we could get the rest signed prior to the start of camp, or soon thereafter.