Not sure if this posted yet. 
Lack of injury deal same old bugaboo
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
May. 2, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals' two first-round picks, receiver Bryant Johnson and defensive end Calvin Pace, aren't expected to participate in workouts at this weekend's minicamp because of a disagreement over the injury protection agreement offered by the team.
Rod Graves, the team's vice president for football operations, is working on the situation and hopes to have it resolved by rookie camp in early June, he said.
"At a minimum, we're expecting both Johnson and Pace to be here and in our meetings," Graves said.
It will be the second consecutive year that the team's first-round pick has not participated in drills in minicamp. Last year, defensive tackle Wendell Bryant abstained from drills because of the injury protection issue.
Unlike most other teams in the league, the Cardinals do not offer injury protection that guarantees a player a contract commensurate with his draft slot if he is injured in minicamp.
It became a major issue last year with Bryant and his agent, Neil Cornrich.
Pat Dye Jr., the agent for Johnson, and Joel Segal, who represents Pace, did not return phone calls.
The Cardinals apparently have not changed their stance from last season.
The other five draft picks will participate, Graves said.
The minicamp starts with twice-daily workouts today and Saturday and just one Sunday.
Lack of injury deal same old bugaboo
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
May. 2, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals' two first-round picks, receiver Bryant Johnson and defensive end Calvin Pace, aren't expected to participate in workouts at this weekend's minicamp because of a disagreement over the injury protection agreement offered by the team.
Rod Graves, the team's vice president for football operations, is working on the situation and hopes to have it resolved by rookie camp in early June, he said.
"At a minimum, we're expecting both Johnson and Pace to be here and in our meetings," Graves said.
It will be the second consecutive year that the team's first-round pick has not participated in drills in minicamp. Last year, defensive tackle Wendell Bryant abstained from drills because of the injury protection issue.
Unlike most other teams in the league, the Cardinals do not offer injury protection that guarantees a player a contract commensurate with his draft slot if he is injured in minicamp.
It became a major issue last year with Bryant and his agent, Neil Cornrich.
Pat Dye Jr., the agent for Johnson, and Joel Segal, who represents Pace, did not return phone calls.
The Cardinals apparently have not changed their stance from last season.
The other five draft picks will participate, Graves said.
The minicamp starts with twice-daily workouts today and Saturday and just one Sunday.
