"The Browns' rookies are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday, but there hasn't been any recent progress in finalizing the contracts of first-round draft picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden, a league source told the Beacon Journal. The new collective bargaining agreement, which was adopted last summer, has streamlined the process of signing draft picks because salaries are now slotted to correspond with each selection. Still, 10 players chosen in the first round of this year's draft had not signed as of Saturday night. Five of them, including Richardson, were top-eight picks in April. Offset language is a common sticking point in negotiations involving the group of top picks that includes Richardson, the third overall selection who's in line to receive a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth about $20.4 million and start for the Browns at running back this year. Teams prefer offset language in contracts because it allows them to avoid paying a drafted player the full remainder of his salary in the event he is cut before the expiration of his four-year deal and signs with another team. Players don't want offset language because it eliminates the possibility for a scenario in which they could be paid in full by the team that drafted them, plus receive whatever salary their new team agrees to." Read more: http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/t...o-report-to-training-camp-on-tuesday-1.321865
