Jeremy Maclin isn’t getting off to a good start so far as he holds out of camp, but he had a major turn for the better yesterday even though he and his agent Jim Steiner had nothing to do with it.
The Raiders signed their first round draft pick wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. The young wide out who played at Maryland University, got $23.5 million guaranteed and a total of $38.5 million in the deal.
This will help Maclin and the Eagles narrow the parameters of their negotiations.
It would also help if wide receiver Michael Crabrree, who was drafted after Heyward-Bey was signed by the Niners.
Les Bowen of Philly.com reports that “Team sources seemed to think the gap was narrowing, and that the rising number of slots being filled in above and below Maclin should speed the process.”
I don’t think all of this is Maclin’s fault because a lot of the other teams started camp later than the Eagles. Their draft picks weren't in as urgent a situations as Jeremy to sign their deals.
It probably wasn’t an accident that the Birds started a few days before most of the other teams because the Birds know this puts more pressure on Maclin to sign for less.
Still, the young man needs to get in here ASAP if he wants to have a strong start to his career.
