Oakland Raiders and WR Juron Criner at Odds over Signing Bonus

Stuart Kovacs – Jul 28, 2012

With the Oakland Raiders reporting to training camp today, wide receiver Juron Criner is the only draft pick of the team that remains unsigned.

A difference of $14,000 in Criner’s signing bonus is the reason why the two sides haven’t agreed to a contract, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.

The Raiders are offering their fifth round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft $144,000. However, the former Arizona Wildcat and his agent Peter Schaffer are looking for $158,000.

The reason for Criner wanting $14,000 more than what the Raiders are offering is because he wants to stay in line with what the players drafted ahead of him are being paid.

However, Criner was pick number 33 of that round, which means he was a supplemental pick.

The NFL’s Management Council Guidelines for bonus slotting drops significantly for those who are taken in supplemental rounds.

The $144,000, which is what pick number 33 of the fifth round should be getting, is exactly what the Raiders are offering.

It is reportedly unlikely that Criner will sign with the Raiders until they meet his demands. Until then, negotiations will continue even as the Raiders begin training camp.

Criner is the only player that wasn’t drafted in the first round of this year’s draft that remains unsigned.