Jump to content

New York Times Article On John Abraham Situation


YJF

Recommended Posts

Abraham Still Unsigned as Jets' Deadline Passes

By RICHARD LEZIN JONES

Published: March 17, 2005

John Abraham, the Jets' Pro Bowl defensive end, has not yet signed the one-year contract offer given to him as a franchise player, his agent said yesterday, a move that keeps Abraham from taking part in the team's off-season workout program.

Abraham's agent, Anthony J. Agnone, said that his client was unhappy that he could not reach an agreement on a long-term deal with the Jets and that he was still weighing whether or when to sign the offer.

Under N.F.L. rules, Abraham and the Jets had until yesterday to negotiate a long-term deal or face a moratorium until July 15 on further contract talks.

If an agreement is reached before mid-July, the Jets would be prevented from using the franchise designation on any other player for the duration of Abraham's contract.

"Are you disappointed that you didn't sign a long term deal? Absolutely," Agnone said. "But that's not the end of it."

Although the Jets have retained Abraham's rights as a franchise player, he is not officially under contract and therefore cannot work out at the team's complex. The Jets' off-season workout program begins April 4.

Agnone said that Abraham had not ruled out signing the offer sheet before contract discussions resume, which would enable him to begin workouts with the team.

It is not uncommon for franchise players - in keeping with the gamesmanship that often surrounds contract negotiations - to delay the signing of their one-year contract offers. As of yesterday afternoon, hours before the start of the negotiating moratorium, half of the 12 players who have received the designation this year had failed to sign the one-year pacts.

Those players who do not sign their contract offers sometimes do so as a precursor to a training camp holdout. Although Agnone did not rule that out in Abraham's case, he said that it was premature to discuss that as an option.

"We've got a lot of time to think about that," Agnone said.

Abraham, whose contract expired at the end of last season, received the franchise player designation last month, meaning that next season he will earn the average of the top five salaries at his position - or about $6.7 million. League rules do not require him to sign the offer sheet until late summer.

Even though Abraham has been designated a franchise player, he is free to negotiate with other teams. However, the Jets have the right to match any offer for Abraham. If the Jets decline to match, they could receive two first-round picks in the N.F.L. draft as compensation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agnone said that Abraham had not ruled out signing the offer sheet before contract discussions resume, which would enable him to begin workouts with the team.

It is not uncommon for franchise players - in keeping with the gamesmanship that often surrounds contract negotiations - to delay the signing of their one-year contract offers. As of yesterday afternoon, hours before the start of the negotiating moratorium, half of the 12 players who have received the designation this year had failed to sign the one-year pacts.

Those players who do not sign their contract offers sometimes do so as a precursor to a training camp holdout. Although Agnone did not rule that out in Abraham's case, he said that it was premature to discuss that as an option.

"We've got a lot of time to think about that," Agnone said.

.

This is the key part of the article.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have we considered that Abraham may just be functionally illiterate and is unable to sign? Has anyone checked this possibility out?

Yeah but he went to South Carolina. Isn't than an Ivy League school? LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:lol: South Carolina has produced MANY world-famous scholars, like JonEJet for instance. :shock:

remember in the simpsons when it appears Lisa will have no money for college - Homer assures lisa that she can go to the best college... in South Carolina

"I will NOT be a gamecock!!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...