http://www.bengals.com/press/news.asp?iCurPage=0&news_id=3077
Pollack in fold
8/17/2005 - 10:20 a.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
<TABLE width=90 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>
Pollack: Saga ends</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>David Pollack and the Bengals ended their 19-day stalemate Wednesday when he signed a five-year deal that can be worth as much as $13 million, said one of his agents in the office of IMG. The guaranteed money is believed to be $7.65 million.
Pollack, the 17th pick in the first round out of Georgia, continues his transition from All-American defensive end to NFL strong-side linebacker after missing all 24 sessions of training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College. The club is to break camp after Wednesday morning’s practice, and confirmed the signing with Pollack appearing later at a 2 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium news conference. He's expected to make Thursday’s trip for the second preseason game against the Redskins.
It was a holdout that rarely spilled into the public. Head coach Marvin Lewis replaced Pollack as No. 1 on the depth chart with Landon Johnson last week, and then in last Monday’s news conference he offered his harshest words yet when Lewis said the dispute went against the team culture he has cultivated in his three seasons as head coach.
“I think we’ve really fought very hard to eliminate these kind of actions around here and it’s a shame that it occurred,� Lewis said. “We have other guys who have chosen to be here and we’ve eliminated selfishness that occurs. I’ve said it many times. If that’s what it comes down to, a dollar here a dollar there, they’re on the wrong football team. This football team will never, ever be guided by one guy. We’re not going to be compromised by one player or one person and that’s not going to change.�
Much of the stalemate, the next-to-last in the first round, appeared to center on guarantees and escalators, with the escalators potentially stretching the overall deal from $10 million to $13 million. Now the big question is how long it will take Pollack to get back to where he was during the spring voluntary camps.
When Johnson moved to strong, it gave the middle backer job to Pollack’s fellow Georgia rookie, Odell Thurman, a guy that Pollack insisted was ahead of him because he hadn’t moved positions.
It’s been 55 days since Pollack left the club’s final spring coaching session and ended Lewis's one-on-one tutoring sessions. How Monday’s words affect the relationship remains to be seen. But they were a paragraph in the blizzard of praise Lewis unleashed on Pollack’s motor and work ethic during the spring, believing his talent and determination make the position switch possible.
Lewis even said that Pollack was ahead of the All-American end he helped develop into a Pro Bowl backer, Baltimore’s Peter Boulware. Plus, Pollack’s fierce desire to succeed became a big factor in drafting him and the Bengals doubt the holdout has harmed that. “I’m not going to be a Pro Bowl guy right now,� Pollack said in June. “I’m trying to speed up the process. My biggest fear is being the weakest link. I don’t want to be the weakest. I want to know my stuff so that doesn’t happen.� <!--- Main Content End --->
Pollack in fold
8/17/2005 - 10:20 a.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
<TABLE width=90 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>
Pollack: Saga ends</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>David Pollack and the Bengals ended their 19-day stalemate Wednesday when he signed a five-year deal that can be worth as much as $13 million, said one of his agents in the office of IMG. The guaranteed money is believed to be $7.65 million.
Pollack, the 17th pick in the first round out of Georgia, continues his transition from All-American defensive end to NFL strong-side linebacker after missing all 24 sessions of training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College. The club is to break camp after Wednesday morning’s practice, and confirmed the signing with Pollack appearing later at a 2 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium news conference. He's expected to make Thursday’s trip for the second preseason game against the Redskins.
It was a holdout that rarely spilled into the public. Head coach Marvin Lewis replaced Pollack as No. 1 on the depth chart with Landon Johnson last week, and then in last Monday’s news conference he offered his harshest words yet when Lewis said the dispute went against the team culture he has cultivated in his three seasons as head coach.
“I think we’ve really fought very hard to eliminate these kind of actions around here and it’s a shame that it occurred,� Lewis said. “We have other guys who have chosen to be here and we’ve eliminated selfishness that occurs. I’ve said it many times. If that’s what it comes down to, a dollar here a dollar there, they’re on the wrong football team. This football team will never, ever be guided by one guy. We’re not going to be compromised by one player or one person and that’s not going to change.�
Much of the stalemate, the next-to-last in the first round, appeared to center on guarantees and escalators, with the escalators potentially stretching the overall deal from $10 million to $13 million. Now the big question is how long it will take Pollack to get back to where he was during the spring voluntary camps.
When Johnson moved to strong, it gave the middle backer job to Pollack’s fellow Georgia rookie, Odell Thurman, a guy that Pollack insisted was ahead of him because he hadn’t moved positions.
It’s been 55 days since Pollack left the club’s final spring coaching session and ended Lewis's one-on-one tutoring sessions. How Monday’s words affect the relationship remains to be seen. But they were a paragraph in the blizzard of praise Lewis unleashed on Pollack’s motor and work ethic during the spring, believing his talent and determination make the position switch possible.
Lewis even said that Pollack was ahead of the All-American end he helped develop into a Pro Bowl backer, Baltimore’s Peter Boulware. Plus, Pollack’s fierce desire to succeed became a big factor in drafting him and the Bengals doubt the holdout has harmed that. “I’m not going to be a Pro Bowl guy right now,� Pollack said in June. “I’m trying to speed up the process. My biggest fear is being the weakest link. I don’t want to be the weakest. I want to know my stuff so that doesn’t happen.� <!--- Main Content End --->
