One of the sillier talk radio/Around the Horn topics we’ve heard this year -- and that’s saying a lot -- was the panicked discussion regarding the pace of NFL rookie signings.
The topic was born from summer news boredom and not fact. As we noted last week, the pace of rookie signings was well ahead of 2009’s pace. We wrote then:
“The first and second-round signings continue to be slow moving, but that’s not out of the norm. If that slow pace falls well behind the norm a week from now -- then we have a story.”
Eight days have passed and the pace has only picked up. The NFL notes that first-round signings are up 70% compared to this day one year ago. That number only includes deals that have been officially filed to the league, and five more contracts have been agreed to.
A few long holdouts could happen -- C.J. Spiller seems like a popular pick -- but ultimately rookie business has proceeded as usual.