|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Surprise visitor Warrick may attend minicamp despite lack of contract
Posted: Wednesday April 26, 2000 05:33 PM
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Receiver Peter Warrick is expected for the Cincinnati Bengals' weekend minicamp, even though he's in the process of changing agents. Warrick informed the Bengals by fax last Friday that he has dropped SFX Sports as his agent. He wouldn't go into detail about his decision. General manager Mike Brown said Wednesday that the club had not heard from Warrick about his choice of a new agent. The Bengals expect to find out this weekend, when they hold their first workout Saturday on new practice fields along the Ohio River. "When we bring in all the drafted players for the minicamp, we put in front of them an authorization form and they indicate to us in writing who their agent will be," general manager Mike Brown said. "That way we know who to talk to." The Bengals don't expect disgruntled running back Corey Dillon to attend. Dillon, a restricted free agent, doesn't want to play for the Bengals anymore and is threatening a holdout. Receiver Carl Pickens, who also wants to be traded, is under contract for four more years and is required to attend. The Bengals have talked to at least two other teams about a trade, but more likely will end up releasing him before training camp. "All players under contract have the obligation to be here, and Carl is no different than the others," Brown said. "So we expect him to be here." Brown had not begun negations with agent Mike George of SFX when Warrick decided to drop him. George didn't return a telephone message Wednesday. SFX advised Warrick and helped him get in shape for workouts leading up to the April 15 draft. Warrick was disappointed that he slid to fourth, where he was drafted by the team with the worst record of the '90s. George accompanied Warrick to Cincinnati on draft day. Six days later, Warrick dropped him. The overriding question is how long it will take for the Bengals to reach an agreement with whoever becomes Warrick's new agent. Quarterback Akili Smith, their No. 1 pick last year, missed virtually all of training camp because of an impasse. It's not unprecedented for a high draft pick to be unclear about his agent after the draft. Running back Edgarin James didn't have an agent when he was chosen fourth overall last year by Indianapolis. He eventually chose Leigh Steinberg, who negotiated a seven-year deal worth $49 million.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
