Dont discount the disservice done by Al Davis unto the NFL ownership and management teams. First he makes a stupid pick, then follows with stupid money.
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On the bright side, Raji plays the position where you can most easily plug a guy into or have a guy in a huddle tell him what to in a couple words.

The sooner Raji is in camp the better. ..........but I would need some hard evidence from somewhere that hold-out players are hurt more often or a hold-out's contribution early on is stunted. (QB - yes) ... All I ever hear is that this is the case but few offer examples.
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On another note:
Aaron, have you ever considered changing your ID (handle) from just plain 'Aaron" as it is now to two initials + Nagler. I don't know your middle initial but maybe something like A.D. Nagler or A.S. Nagler. It would provide you with instant credibility...... i.e. --- C.D. Angeli. LOL

Dougherty's reasonings seems like it's entirely based on speculation. Not a hint of anything from the team or agent

Aaron, great post. Totally agree with you. The Packers NEED Raji on their D line, or they'll be looking for Harrell to contribute quickly and regularly. That scares me. One thing I do hope happens with the next CBA is the agents get controlled somewhat by powers that actually CARE about football.

Ryan Grant II? Talk tough and allow the holdout to go on and then sign him for too much. Step aside Balz and TT get involved directly. If he doesn't negotiate reasonably (BJ that is), trade him now. With the defensive change, GB obviously drafted him for a reason. Get it done or get someone else in. NOW!

That's hardcore.

How many teams would love to trade at reduced value for Raji knowing GB doesn't want to deal with a hold-out any longer?? ....Why not just release him ?
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I'm always amazed at how fans get riled because of a holdout or even a rumored hold-out. ....... Which draft picks held out in 2008 & what were the effects ? Few can answer because it rarely matters.

My issue is not with Raji but rather with the system. We need a rookie salary cap because Aaron + Nagler is spot on about agents just wanting to show growth over the previous year as an indication they did not fail. Also, I'll bet Raji got a lot of grief from other players, agents and maybe the NFLPA over his comments about him having the ultimate say. I think he really wanted to do the right thing but that is very hard in the current system. I hate what these agents do to these kids. Institute a rookie salary cap. Then you can make a case you don't even need an agent for the first contract.
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Better still, institute a salary cap and make it mandatory that what would have been the agents share gets donated to the older players like Paul Horning that are walking around wounded and get squat. Now there is an idea!

The longer he holds out, the greater is my expectation towards him. Right now I'm expecting him to be a surefire starter. More five days, and he'll need to be a pro bowler. Miss more than that, and he better be Reggie White in his rookie year... Or he's gonna hear. Think Jarett Bush had a rough time? Wait and see, Mr. Raji...

Yup, the best way to solve this may be for Raji to just say "get me into camp", but look at it from his perspective-he could be looking at an extra million dollars or more if he goes ahead and caves. Forget the agency problems with player agents, he could cost himself money, and if his agent's worth his salt, he's telling him that.

Ironically, the rookie salary cap is part of the problem here. Because a player's first year comp is so small, even missing a couple game checks isn't as much as a high pick like Raji could possibly get in a better deal if he continued to hold out. To solve this problem, you need a firm slotting system like the NBA has. The problem with the NFL compared to the NBA, though, is the max salaries for different positions vary wildly, whereas an elite point guard makes pretty much the same as an elite small forward or an elite center.

It bothers me he's not there Aaron, but the flip side is what Tom says above. He could cost himself a lot of money. You get one chance to negotiate a contract, unless of course there was a rookie salary cap. I don't like what salaries have become, but I get why some rookies are not in camp as a result of what they have become. We had this debate over Ryan grant last year...football players are one knee or back injury away from being done. The average life span in the NFL is short, so getting an extra million now is important. We can all hate it, but every single one of us would do the exact same thing if we were players. We are totally full of **it if we say we would not do it.

I don't understand why most people feel that rookie salaries need to be capped. Anyone trying to get a job should be able to go for as much $ as they can. The owners aren't hurtin' for cash.
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As for the veterans... outlandish rookie salaries just end up raising EVERYONE'S value. When a vet is looking to sign a new contract don't you think their agent takes a look at what unproven players are getting? I bet those numbers are the first to come out at the negotiating table.
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Also - why are the Packers waiting to see what monroe signs for at #8? What if the jags are waiting to see what raji's gonna sign for at #9. Just seems dumb.

Woody - The issue I am addressing is once again TT allowing Balz (yes I am being sarcastic) do the negotiating with Raji's agent. A plan for the negotiation should have been worked out and delivered by TT, not some second tier negotiator. The agent is obviously waiting for mister big (TT) to get involved. Until then, he thinks he can still get a better offer. And if now you worry about his value because of despiration, maybe they should have picked someone else.

"Anyone trying to get a job should be able to go for as much $ as they can. The owners aren’t hurtin’ for cash."

Wouldn't it make sense for a college grad to have to prove themselves before they made more than the guy in the office that already does their job?
No where else in America does this happen, and it shouldn't here. Teams get ruined by missing on guys that are a crap shoot anyhow. Make it slotted salaries with no bonuses, 3 year required deals, Gaurantee the salaries and everyone is a free agent after 3 years. Solves the players bitching about servitude and the owners about exorbitant rookie salaries. Football is a business run by legitimate business men who take all the risk financially and played by guys who take all the risk physically. The Packers are as much to blame on the Raji holdout as the Raji Camp...The Packers don't want to sign him! Not untill they know what is gonna happen behind or infront....that is assinine, unfortunate, and avoidable.

I went to UW LaCrosse shortly after Tom Newberry was there. The "average income" for Geology majors skyrocketed!

All I know is Raji is blowing double teams up in Madden 10 (snagged it early), so he better come back soon!

@ Ron la Canne:

Perhaps you should lay out your scenario for Andrew Brandt and ask him how likely it is to be anywhere near accurate.

Teams keep contract negotiators on payroll for more than window-dressing. They actually expect them to negotiate contracts. I don't think GM's do much actual contract negotiating in today's NFL, and I don't think Agents across the league are "Waiting for Mr. Bigg" to get deals inked. They are dealing mostly with the guys the franchises hired to do the contracts.

Are you up late at night wondering why TT isn't rolling up his sleeves and creating workout routines and rehab programs-while instead he's letting a second-tier Strength and Conditioning coach like Dave Redding do all the work?

Just when was a deal made with Grant? If you think that was Balz you"re kidding yourself. He didn't have the authority to go that high. And just how does Brandt have anything to do with the current situation? Seems to me he hadhas his own issues with TT.

Ron,

Don't be rediculous. Of course Balz has the authority to negotiate contracts. I'm sure that TT gave him an idea of what he wants the contract to look like, but all of the day to day negotiations are done by people other than TT. It's TT's job to give guidance and final approval. Can you imagine if TT negotiated every contract and scoped out every possible prospect for trades and draft picks? It can't be done.

Ron,

Do you really think that Ted Thompson CAN negotiate a contract? Seriously?

Packerbacker pretty much hit it on the head. Yes, I'm sure Thompson is involved to the extent of setting loose parameters and being consulted on where things are at, but the actual negotiations I'm quite sure are handled by the guy who makes a good amount of money to handle such things.

Would you have me believe that Thompson knows all the details of the Salary cap? More so than Russ Ball, the guy who's job it is to manage the salary cap?

As far as Andrew Brandt, the entire point is he was a contract negotiator for years with the Packers. I'm pretty certain he could tell you if GM's sit down and hammer out contracts with agents all by themselves, as opposed to the actual contract negotiator.

How can someone have "market value" when they are not on the market?

NFL players do not have market value until they are free agents.