The father of Ravens top draft pick Duane Starks said he expects negotiations to get serious soon and expects his son to appear in training camp before the end of the week.
Starks, a cornerback out of the University of Miami, missed his sixth day of training camp yesterday, but his father, the Rev. Willie Starks, said he doesn't believe the negotiations have reached an impasse. The Ravens are offering Starks, the No. 10 pick overall, a multi-year deal worth nearly $8.5 million.
"I don't think Pat Moriarty [Ravens chief financial officer] has been serious, and from what I've been hearing from Art Modell, he isn't serious yet, either," said the senior Starks. "I really don't think we're too far away. We're hoping to get in before the week is over."
Moriarty said the Ravens haven't budged much from their initial offer, similar to a year ago, when linebacker Peter Boulware held out for nearly six weeks as the team's top pick.
Drew Rosenhaus, Starks' agent, reiterated that Starks would not be slotted simply because several players ahead and behind him in the draft have signed.
"You sit home wondering what you're missing, how far you've just dropped behind because you've missed another day and what the reporters are writing about you," Boulware said. "Each day you wake up and hope the contract gets done. It's a very agonizing period.
"I would advise him to get a fair deal, but the quicker it gets done, the better. Once the persons in front of you and behind you sign, then your contract is pretty much set. You might as well sign unless you're going to get something ridiculous."
Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' vice president of player personnel, said he expects to work out several cornerbacks today. The Ravens were close to signing free-agent receiver Ray Crittenden yesterday, but he failed his physical, Newsome said.
Other views
Rosenhaus once represented running back Erict Rhett and linebacker Ray Lewis. Both have since switched agents, with Rhett doing so after a prolonged holdout two years ago when he was with Tampa Bay. Despite the similar situation with Starks, Rhett said Rosenhaus should be held entirely accountable for Starks' holdout.
"Drew's going through a different situation with Duane than he did with me. There is a big business side to the [NFL] now; that's Drew's job," Rhett said. "It's up to [Starks] to make the final decision. Drew just advises him and tells him what to do in this situation. But Duane controls his own destiny."
Lewis said Starks may be in a difficult position, making it hard for him to end his holdout. "There's really no advice I can give to him," Lewis said. "I don't know exactly his situation. Duane's in a very neutral position. Drew knows what he's doing; he's trying to get [Duane] a good deal.
"But with an agent, you have to know how to handle yourself. It's a professional situation, and it's hard to deal with."
When Rhett held out in 1996, it hurt his standing with the Buccaneers and may have caused him to lose his starting job last season to Warrick Dunn. But he doesn't foresee the holdout being as detrimental to Starks' career.
"He'll be all right," Rhett said. "He's been playing cornerback his whole life. As soon as he gets in here, he'll be fine. He had a good minicamp with us. I'm sure Drew will get Duane in camp at just the right time.
Lewis didn't sound as confident, though. "I don't know why he's holding out," he said. "I don't know why people hold out. Obviously for more money, but I don't understand it."
Plenty of receivers
The addition of Floyd Turner last week gives the Ravens five receivers with NFL experience and rookie Patrick Johnson, who is nearly a lock to make the team.
Besides starters Michael Jackson and Jermaine Lewis, the Ravens have Turner, James Roe and Ryan Yarborough at the position. Most NFL teams only keep five receivers on their active rosters, meaning one of the five veterans may be cut at the end of camp.
Yarborough, who caught 16 passes for 183 yards in his first season in Baltimore last year as a backup to Lewis in the slot, may be the odd man out. He said he's not feeling any extra pressure to perform at a higher level, though.
"If I go out there and show what I can do, then things will take care of themselves," Yarborough said. "I'm just concerned about what I do. Other guys like Floyd, how they do doesn't bother me."
Yarborough said he has improved his game from last season, enough so that he is optimistic about the 1998 season. "I'm more comfortable with the offense this year," he said. "The off-season helped a lot. I watched a lot of film and lifted weights. I'm prepared."
No fun being a Monarch
Third-string quarterback Wally Richardson played for the London Monarchs of NFL Europe this past summer and lived to tell about it. After being named the Monarchs' starting quarterback for the season opener, Richardson was pulled after the first half. He didn't see action again until the sixth game of the season, and was benched again until the 10th and final game, when Josh Huraco, formerly of the Broncos, went down with an injury.
"I was very disappointed on the field," Richardson said. "I didn't play that badly to warrant getting pulled after one half. It was a very trying time. I kept wondering, 'What did I do that was so wrong?' I knew that being good enough [to earn playing time] wasn't the problem. I have the talent."
Overall, Richardson completed 19 of 43 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, and had two interceptions with the Monarchs. Despite the lack of playing time, he said there were benefits from playing in Europe.
"I learned how to persevere and play through adversity," he said. "I also got to throw the ball more -- even though it wasn't in a game -- than I would have if I were simply attending off-season workouts [with the Ravens].
"Besides, I'm a young quarterback and I was looking for the opportunity to get some playing experience."
Asked if he would return to Europe next summer if the Ravens asked him, Richardson said: "No, I'm not going again. The next time I go to Europe will be for pleasure."
Camp update
Seeing stars: The most bone-crunching hit of the day was administered by fullback Roosevelt Potts, who collided with safety Bennie Thompson, knocking off Thompson's helmet. Thompson may have been still dizzy on his next play, on the punt team, when he jumped offside. Potts is Thompson's roommate. Pleasant dreams, Bennie.
Rich and famous: The Ravens' security crew forced the media to move from in front of the tents near the practice fields so the VIPs could view the action, but other fans still had their views obstructed. When a member of the public relations staff was asked why one group received preference over the other, he cracked: "Hey, that's life."
King of thunder: Offensive tackle Orlando Brown is on a roll. He's now 3-for-4, as in three fights in four days of camp. The victim yesterday was outside linebacker Chris Buxton. Brown's nickname: Zeus.
Play of day: Cornerback Rod Woodson ran with receiver Floyd Turner on a post pattern and then picked off the pass with one hand.
Great effort: Running back Tony Vinson took a swing pass in the left flat, but linebacker Tyrell Peters stripped him of the ball, then outhustled him to recover it.
Bad day at office: Rookie free-agent linebacker William Morris was blasted several times during the pass-rush period, then was beaten by tight end Scott Richards for a long touchdown pass.
Pub Date: 7/28/98