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Sullivan negotiationsreach stalemate

Saints' six-year deal, $10M bonus 'final offer'


Sunday July 27, 2003


By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer


The Saints opened practice Saturday with prized rookie defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan 475 miles away in Griffin, Ga.

From all appearances, Sullivan, whom the Saints drafted with the sixth pick in this year's draft, won't be reporting to camp any time soon.

Despite intense discussions for the past week between Saints negotiator Russ Ball and Sullivan's agent, Len Rowe, the sides remain far apart in negotiations, and a prolonged holdout could be looming.

Rowe declined to comment Saturday.

"We've made our final offer, and it's more than fair," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. "He can take it or leave it. Every day he misses he becomes less valuable to us. He's going to lose his opportunity to be a starter."

The Saints have offered Sullivan $10 million in bonuses on a six-year deal, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Sullivan is believed to be asking for around $11 million in bonus money.

Sullivan is one of three top-10 picks who has not signed a contract. Baltimore quarterback Byron Leftwich, the No. 7 pick, and Baltimore defensive end Terrell Suggs, the No. 10 pick, also are unsigned.

Deals in recent days for No. 5 pick Terence Newman and No. 8 pick Jordan Gross might have only served to muddy the negotiations. Newman signed a seven-year, $33 million contract that included $13 million in bonuses. The bonus money is identical to the amount received by Dewayne Robertson, the No. 4 pick, in the seven-year, $24.6 million contract he received from the New York Jets.

Saints officials said those deals are not exemplary because both teams front-loaded the contacts with inflated signing bonuses.

Gross, meanwhile, received $10.4 million in bonuses in the seven-year contract he signed with Carolina on Friday.

This is the third consecutive season the Saints have started training camp without their top pick. Receiver Donté Stallworth missed two days of camp last season before agreeing to a six-year, $9.4 million contract. In 2001, running back Deuce McAllister held out for eight days before signing a six-year, $6.9 million deal.

"I really don't care if he (Sullivan) holds out," Loomis said. "We are going to do a deal that is right for the Saints and is fair. He has our offer. He is either going to accept it or not. That's his prerogative, but we write the checks."

Sullivan is projected to start at nose tackle. Six-year veteran Martin Chase worked with the first team Saturday. Veteran Grady Jackson also will compete at that position when he gets into condition.

Henry Ford, a nine-year veteran free agent who signed a two-year deal with the Saints on Saturday, is expected to work mainly at the other defensive tackle spot with Kenny Smith.

"Any time you draft somebody that high in the top 10, there's always negotiations," Coach Jim Haslett said.
"Sometimes they come in. Sometimes they hold out. I'm not concerned. He's not a big wideout of a defensive back. There's not a big learning curve at that position...If you're a holdout as a defensive tackle, it's probably eaiser to overcome there than other positions."




[Edited on 7/27/2003 by saint5221]