Potential Holdouts

Training camps are opening around the league and that means players will start sweating it out in the summer heat getting ready for the regular season.

Some fantasy owners are doing a little sweating of their own because there are some prime-time players out there who are threatening to hold out for better contract deals. (Or, in the case of Marc Bulger, at least musing about the possibility of holding out.)

Some of the pre-camp grumblings might have you wondering what to do with a player on your team or when draft time rolls around. Here's a rundown on some of the holdout situations around the league.

Larry Johnson, Kansas City

Obviously, LJ is the biggest story in terms of holdouts. Johnson wants his rookie deal re-worked and is reportedly asking for somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 to $90 million over eight years. The Chiefs are saying that they are willing to listen to trade offers for one of the league's most dominating RBs, who is entering his fifth NFL season. It should be noted that Johnson has not said with certainty that he won't be in camp when the team convenes July 27, but he did say with a bit of mystery that reporters "won't be able to find me" when recently asked about attending. One team that has been mentioned as a possible suitor for Johnson is Green Bay, a move that would shore up the Packers' questionable running attack, caused by Ahman Green's departure.

If you have Johnson in a keeper league, then all you can do is hold on to him and hope for one of the two best outcomes: a quick resolution to the problem by having his contract redone by the Chiefs or a quick trade to another team, ensuring that he won't miss any playing time. (You can also entertain trade offers for Johnson from other owners in your league, but the offer better be a damn good one.) If your league is starting from scratch and you have, say, the second or third pick in your draft, then you have a few options. One, take Johnson and just hope that the situation doesn't turn completely sour, causing your first pick to miss considerable playing time. Second, bypass Johnson and take Steven Jackson or Shaun Alexander, leaving the potential headache and/or stress for another owner. Of course, if you have a lower draft pick and LJ is still available - for example, the fourth or fifth pick - it becomes more difficult to pass on him. In fact, common sense dictates that he should be taken no lower than sixth in any draft. No matter your dilemma, keeper league or draft position, stay tuned to FFToolbox.com and other sources for updates.

Marc Bulger, St. Louis

One of the league's and fantasy world's top QBs caused a bit of a stir when he stated on a Sirius Satellite Radio interview, "I don't want to rule anything out," when asked about holding out if he did not receive a new contract before the season started. Bulger's comment no doubt sent a bit of a chill down the spine of any owner who has the captain of "The Greatest Show on Turf" on a keeper team. From all indications, however, the possibility of Bulger holding out is slim and reports out of St. Louis are that he will have a new contract before the regular season starts (if not before training camp starts July 26).

Brady Quinn, Cleveland

Oh, to be young, handsome, athletically gifted, and comically spurned. Quinn, the darling of just about every pre-draft analyst - Will he go to the Browns at No. 3? (No.) Will he go to the Dolphins at No. 9? (Uh, that was another no.) - lasted until pick No. 22 when the Browns mercifully put an end to his on-screen embarrassment. Now, there are insinuations that Quinn and his agent will hold out for Top 10 money because, I guess, that's where Mel Kiper said Quinn should have been drafted. Actually, their thinking is that Cleveland gave up a second-round pick in 2007 and a first-round pick in 2008 for the chance to take Quinn with the 22nd pick in 2007 and given the great possibility that the Browns will once again have a top-10 pick in 2008... well, I think you can follow their logic.

Except for the fact that it's not really all that logical. He was taken in the bottom third of the first round in 2007 and he should receive a contract that corresponds to his placement. In all honesty, of what great concern is this to fantasy owners? Not much. If Brady Quinn goes in your draft, your league is undoubtedly keeper- or dynasty-oriented and a deep one at that. Besides, even without a holdout, Quinn is in for a battle to get on the field before 2008. Charlie Frye is not a great QB, but he was serviceable last year for the Browns before he got hurt and the team did take steps during the offseason to shore up that pathetic offensive line. And perhaps Jamal Lewis has one more solid season in him, taking the pressure off the QB position in Cleveland. Holdout or not, fantasy owners should not count on Quinn for anything more than taking up a roster spot in 2007.

As of July 23, only three first-round draft picks have inked deals with their teams, but no other rookie besides Quinn has made noise about not signing before the season starts. Obviously, fantasy owners want to see guys who might make an immediate impact, such as JaMarcus Russell, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Anthony Gonzalez, among a few others in camp as soon as possible so that there is no concern about a slow start once the season begins for real.

If you are in a league that drafts individual defensive players, the only players that are rumored to be in possible holdout patterns are New England cornerback Asante Samuel and Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs.

Samuel recently commented that he will wait until Week 10 of the NFL season - the deadline for being considered for free agency next season - before showing up to play for the Patriots. Hmmm, the last Patriot to play this game with the organization - Deion Branch - ended up in Seattle. While Samuel's importance to New England seems rather clear - he is their best CB - the Patriots don't seem to be in a big hurry to get him signed.

Briggs is in a bit of a different situation. No one will make the mistake of calling him the best Bears' LB since he plays next to a guy named Urlacher, so Chicago will have a more laissez-faire attitude toward meeting Briggs's demands.

From a team defense perspective, the Bears are considered a top-three defense with or without Briggs, while the Patriots might lose a spot or two without Samuel.

by Jack Clifford, Monday, July 23, 2007