AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBaker, Lofton entering “Holdout Zone”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With less than 30 hours before the Falcons open training camp, the team has officially entered the ‘Holdout Zone’.
After turning the first round upside down with the $72 million signing of quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons appear to be waiting for the market to settle around left tackle Sam Baker (21st overall) and second round middle linebacker Curtis Lofton.
It’s not big deal if they don’t report with the rest of the squad between 2-5 p.m. on Friday, but it’s absolutely imperative that both of the rookies are on the field at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the first practice.
Both could land starting spots, but need the action so they can earn their spots and win the respect of the veterans and the coaching staff.
Signings in the middle of the first round have been slow. Detroit signed Gosder Cherilus, the 17th pick, to a five-year deal. Baltimore signed quarterback Joe Flacco, to a five-year, $30 million deal.
Last season’s 21st pick, safety Reggie Nelson, signed a five-year deal worth $9.55 million with Jacksonville.
Baker’s agent and the Falcons have been mum all week, but Ben Dogra’s firm, Creative Arts Agency, worked well with the Falcons on the Ryan deal and know the importance of Baker being in camp on time.
The end of the first round is settled with tight end Dustin Keller, the 30th pick, signing a 5-year, $12 million deal with the New York Jets.
Safety Kenny Phillips, the 31st pick, signed a five-year deal worth $11.15 with the New York Giants.
Lofton is represented by local super agent Todd France of F.A.M.E (France Athlete Management Enterprises), who also has a good working relationship with the Falcons.
Last season’s 37th pick, safety Eric Weddle, signed a four-year contract with San Deigo that included $2.5 million in guarantees.
Expect the signings to pick up over the next 30 hours as the Falcons can not afford to left Baker and Lofton slip into the ‘Holdout Zone.’
Can the Falcons afford to let the market settle or must they be proactive and get these rookie deals done?
(Join Falcons beat writer Steve Wyche for a live two-hour blog as the team prepares to open its 2008 training camp. Wyche will be online Friday from noon-2 p.m. to answer your questions about this year’s team.
Comments
By joe white
July 24, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
baker and lofton needs get their butts in camp on opening day.Why are their agents and them waiting to get a contract signed?Lets get the deal done get their butts in camp and start this season off right.We going back to playoffs this year.GO FALCONS!!!!!!
By tapate
July 24, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
I can’t read jibberish. Just sayin’…
By A Falcon fan
July 24, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
The one the must sign is Baker. He and his agent know that and that’s probably why there’s no deal yet. Not time to panic, but I hope the deal gets done today or tomorrow. Signing Lofton is less important at this point.
By chc4
July 24, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
I hear Lofton is considering an offer from the Australian Rules Football League.
By Milton Jeff
July 24, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Just another example of un-proven, pre-madonna athletes who want the money on the table first before they show up to camp. This is what disgusts me about the NFL. Prove yourself..then get paid. You gonna be making more money than some of us will ever see in our lifetimes. Quit being a pansy.
By Pete
July 24, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Holdouts or late signings are due to greedy, pathetic agents who……..in the long run will be responsible for ruining professional sports. It WILL happen, probably in the next 6 to 8 years.
By Astro Joe
July 24, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Is Rick Sund doing the negotiating? ASG paying the salary? If not, then I expect that all will be well.
By Off topic
July 24, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
I apologize for my earlier post. I assumed the limited commenting on the Falcons blog was due to the author. It is not. Lea Donsky, interactivity manager, explained that the automatic posting was turned off because of the nastiness of the comments during the Vick troubles. I am sorry Steve. And, thanks to the AJC, Ms. Donsky in particular for being so responsive. Your reasoning for changing the commenting feature for that blog is certainly understandable.
Sincerely, Peyton Walters
By Great Falconi
July 24, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Milton Jeff,
In case you didn’t know, a player coming into camp without a contract has very little protection if he gets hurt. Players get hurt in training camp, so they might as well have a freakin’ contract in place in order to have some amount of security.
The Falcons will get these guys in. Neither one of them is a “pre-madonna” (which, by the way, is one of the funnier malaprops I’ve seen on these blogs).
By Blaze
July 24, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
It’s imperative that both Sam Baker & Curtis Lofton gets into camp on Day 1!!! Not only does their development rely on it but also the cohesiveness of their respective units (OL & LB)
Baker will be working alongside 2nd year Guard Justin Blalock on the leftside & he needs the reps against Abe to protect Redman/Ryan’s backside.
Lofton, more than likely will be placed inside so Brooking & Boley work outside. All 3 LBs need to be in camp to make the LB formidable & help the DL.
By mars
July 24, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Actually, Milton, it’s primadonna. The two definitions include; 1) a female opera singer, and 2) a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team. Hmmm…..good call.
By ATLplayer
July 24, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
A FALCON Fan, Curtis Lofton is the projected starting middle linebacker and Baker is the projected starting Left Tackle…they are both important!!!!!!!! It’s going to be a loooooooong season either way.
By Clown Scientist Panda Man Pretend Monster Toucher Hello What Is Porridge, Exactly?
July 24, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
LOL @ “pre-madonna”.
By Sun Tzu 7
July 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
This isn’t a suprise.
When we gave Ryan the recordbreaking contract what did you think Baker was going to do? Did you seriously think he was going to give us a discount?
When we signed Ryan to that deal I had a feeling Baker’s negociations were going to be a little more tricky.
After all…. who is supposed to protect the new “Face of the Falcons?”
Baker and his agent have all the leverage on this one…
By eazy
July 24, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Matt got paid so should they
By Phillip
July 24, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
chc4,
that is HILARIOUS! Also, Mark Texiera is taking offers from the “Yakult Swallows” from the Japanese Baseball League as well.
By Boo Boo
July 24, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
I say offer them $6.55 an hour, with hundreds of thousands in incentives, should they ever actually show up, practice, and play a down of football that counts.
By Boo Boo
July 24, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
I say offer them $6.55 an hour, with hundreds of thousands in incentives, should they ever actually show up, practice, and play a down of football that counts.
By Boo Boo
July 24, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
I say offer them $6.55 an hour, with hundreds of thousands in incentives, should they ever actually show up, practice, and play a down of football that counts.
By KB
July 24, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
People understand that these men must take care of their business first. If the Falcons were so sold on them being in camp earlier, then the Falcons should have been working their agents from Day One. Men, take care of your business first because making this type on money is not a given. Handle your business……
By bill
July 24, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Just tax the oil companies!!!!
By viking65
July 24, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
This is not a big deal. both will sign soon. The bigger deal is whether or not the Falcons’ O-line can be decent this year. Usually when you rebuild, you start with the O-line, then worry about the rest. The Falcons signed a big free agent running back, drafted a promising quarterback, finally have good receivers, but still have a very suspect line. It’s hard not to worry about Michael Turner and Norwood getting banged up and Matt Ryan becoming David Carr.
By Obama
July 24, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Let them hold out for big money so I can tax the $hit out of their “windfall profits”!!!!!
By Obama
July 24, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Let them hold out for big money so I can tax the $hit out of their “windfall profits”!!!!!
By Obama
July 24, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Let them hold out for big money so I can tax the $hit out of their “windfall profits”!!!!!
By gdg73
July 24, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Maybe they are both looking at all that money Blank threw at Matt Ryan. Hell, I don’t blame either. Blank is known to over spend. Just another blog about nothing. They will both be signed sooner rather than later and will be better than anything we have at both positions, especially MLB. Lofton could play in house shoes and be a better LB than Highway 56. I can’t wait till his old, slow a* gets out-played by each of our hungry young LBs. It won’t matter though. They will still stick with his old sorry a* because he is the “heart and soul” of the defense. LOL at this sad franchise from top (Arthur Blank) to bottom (Freddie Falcon, aka Keith Brooking).
By NICK
July 24, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
A MAN WENE HAD NO HOLDOUT IN ATLANTA IN A WHILE, AND THE THANG IS OF COURSE THE PLAYERS WANT TO PLAY BUT THE COST OF ALL HOLDOUTS ARE FROM THE AGENTS ENFORCE MORE MONEY THOSE AGENTS NEED TO LET THOSE PLAYERS PLAY, AND STOP ENFORCIN HOLDOUT REAL TALK IT NEEDS TO STOP
By NICK
July 24, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
A MAN WENE HAD NO HOLDOUT IN ATLANTA IN A WHILE, AND THE THANG IS OF COURSE THE PLAYERS WANT TO PLAY BUT THE COST OF ALL HOLDOUTS ARE FROM THE AGENTS ENFORCE MORE MONEY THOSE AGENTS NEED TO LET THOSE PLAYERS PLAY, AND STOP ENFORCIN HOLDOUT REAL TALK IT NEEDS TO STOP
By NICK
July 24, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
A MAN WENE HAD NO HOLDOUT IN ATLANTA IN A WHILE, AND THE THANG IS OF COURSE THE PLAYERS WANT TO PLAY BUT THE COST OF ALL HOLDOUTS ARE FROM THE AGENTS ENFORCE MORE MONEY THOSE AGENTS NEED TO LET THOSE PLAYERS PLAY, AND STOP ENFORCIN HOLDOUT REAL TALK IT NEEDS TO STOP
By R. E.
July 24, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
It’s been a while now but that contract Ryan signed still sticks in my side like a rusty nail infection and all. WHAT A JOKE!!!!
By The Grinch
July 24, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
I do wish Ryan hadn’t been so grossly overpaid; it would make the rest of this much easier. Renardo Foster getting the snaps at LT in training camp would not be very stimulating.
By BO-BO
July 24, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
The agents are just doing their job.They owe it to their players to get as much as they can.NFL= NOT FOR LONG
By Jb
July 25, 2008 1:32 AM | Link to this
With our line, we should play the A-11 offense this year.
By Greg
July 25, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this
The Falcons know what they’re willing to pay, and the two players know what they’re willing to take. The numbers will match, or they won’t. End of story.
By marko
July 25, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
A little holding out is a normal, and annoying, part of the game. Nothing to sweat provided it does’nt last too long.
By GATORZONE
July 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Ease up. These guys will be in on time!
By ламинат
August 12, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
a Een plaatje zegt alles, toch ? o Het volledige rapport is hier te vinden. Lees natuurlijk s de blogposting. p l купить ламинат 2i
By ламинат
August 13, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
oik Een plaatje zegt alles, toch ? dwl Het volledige rapport is hier te vinden. Lees natuurlijk w de blogposting. s c Thanks for interesting post! tqj купить ламинат 6e