After what amounted to a 10-day holdout from Bengals training camp, the ninth overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft, Keith Rivers, has reported to Georgetown Kentucky with a six-year contract.
Rivers missed 12 practices while his agent, David Dunn, negotiated for a larger increase in salary in comparison to last year's ninth pick, Ted Ginn Jr.
Hints of the contract agreement surfaced when the former University of Southern California linebacker was spotted on the campus of Georgetown College.
The husband-and-wife front office duo of Katie and Troy Blackburn agreed on a contract with Dunn via telephone late Tuesday night.
"I credit Katie and Troy for sticking with it in a difficult situation," Dunn said. "Keith was chomping at the bit the whole time because he wanted to be with his teammates. He's thrilled. Both sides were definitely motivated."
According to Profootballtalk.com, the main issue in the holdout was the percentage increase Rivers should earn should earn in comparison to last season's ninth pick. The Bengals offered an eight percent increase while River's agent wanted a double-digit increase.
With attainable triggers for playing-time bonuses the contract comes out at roughly $23 million. That is $4 million more than the next pick in the draft in Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo. The sixth year of the contract includes a voidable option belonging to the player that would make the fifth year the final of the deal.
The holdout cost Rivers valuable time to adjust to the defensive scheme being installed by new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald. Rivers' absence has allowed former Cardinals' linebacker Brandon Johnson to make a strong impression on the coaching staff.
"The three best linebackers are going to play," FitzGerald said. "Brandon Johnson is a candidate to be one of the three best."
Zimmer also said that Rivers would not be running with the first-team defense during Monday's Preseason opener against the Packers. Previously, the coaching staff had acknowledged Rivers was expected to start at the weak-side linebacker spot.
Rivers realized what he missed while being away from camp but remains realistic.
"Practice is everything; even the first meeting is missing too much time," Rivers said. "But at this level it's a business and you have to let things run its course."
Bob Strickley can be reached at strickley.3@osu.edu.
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