I don't think this is that big of a deal. Im confident theyll get all 3 signed, and in here before TC starts. Thats the real deadline here.
It would have been nice but I have a feeling they will all be signed in time for day 1 of training camp.
I think the media is making more out of this than it really is. Ireland never said "We will have all draft picks signed by July 1st guaranteed." He said he hoped to get them signed and that they would work towards it. It's not so simple though. And I don't see a hold out from 2nd and 3rd round picks. If TC starts and they're still not signed then we can start casting stones at Ireland.
The agents always use this ploy to get more concessions and they usually get some which is why they do it in the first place. However they have to tread a fine line between getting a better deal and annoying the front office A slotted system is the only way to avoid that
Yea, not a big deal at all. I'd be more concerned if we still had to sign Jake, but fortunately we got that done before the draft.
July 1st was a good goal but I bet even Ireland knew it wasn't going to happen when he said it. No biggie...still plenty of time to get 'em in.
The league should regulate this practice. Too much valuable time is missed for unsigned rookies. Just look at Jason Allen's stunted development.
Ireland On signing Merling, Henne, and Langford: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/...008/07/02/ireland_you_just_wish_you_coul.html “We didn’t get it done by July 1, but that doesn’t mean we’re not around the corner. I don’t think we’re going to have any problem getting all three of them done. This time of year is like any other business, it slows down a little bit around the July 4 holiday. … But as soon as the seventh rolls around it’s going to be business as usual, and we’ll try to get these guys wrapped up here before too long.”
