McGahee Holdout Could Be Lengthy

All signs indicate running back Willis McGahee, the Buffalo Bills first-round draft choice, may be in for a long holdout. The sticking point in contract negotiations is the signing bonus. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports the Bills have offered a $4 million bonus, but they would like to pay it out incrementally based on McGahee's recovery and productivity.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus has balked at the notion, and would like for his client to get all his bonus money up front, and you can't blame him for trying to get a deal comparable to the guys drafted around McGahee. I realize the injury makes this an unprecedented situation, and he may not play until November, if at all. And I understand the Bills are trying to protect themselves should he not fully recover, but they should not have selected him in the first round if they were that concerned about his recovery. McGahee was selected with the 23rd pick overall and he should be paid as such. Discuss it on the football forum...