ASHBURN, VA. (AP) - Robert Griffin III remains unsigned as the Washington Redskins open the second day of their five-day rookie camp.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Baylor was the second pick in this year’s draft. The team’s third-round selection, offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus, was also absent again Tuesday.
The two aren’t considered holdouts because training camp doesn’t officially begin until July 26. Neither can be on the field this week with their fellow newcomers until they have signed their contracts.
The collective bargaining agreement that was ratified by the NFL and the union to end last year’s lockout was supposed to make rookie deals easier to complete with a system of slotting that paid players based on their draft position. It worked well for the Redskins for their choices from the fourth through seventh rounds, all of whom were signed by early June.
Griffin is due for a four-year contract worth about $21 million, roughly two-thirds of which would be the signing bonus. The hang-up apparently is “offset” language that would govern the guaranteed money in the event Griffin is waived before the contract’s expiration.
LeRibeus’ agent, Jordan Woy, said he had been talking to the Redskins on a daily basis, but they have yet to close the deal.
Griffin’s agent, Ben Dogra, was unavailable for comment. His client attended the exhibition basketball game Monday night between the American and Brazilian men’s Olympic teams at Verizon Center in Washington.
Fourteen of the 32 first-round draft choices, including top overall pick Andrew Luck, and 12 of the 32 third-round selections remain unsigned.
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