<img src="http://www.thecfl.net/images/pressman/bridges.JPG" width="274" height="283" alt="Dwayne Bridges" title="Dwayne Bridges" align="right">Quarterback [b4144c34]Dwayne Bridges[/b4144c34] of the Fargo Boxcars has said he will not report to training camp unless the team gives him a new, long term contract. Bridges is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie, and is scheduled to make $2.34 million in salary in 2008, which gives him a cap cost just under $4 million. In comparison, most of the other top quarterbacks in the CFL have cap costs in the $9-$11 million range.

Two other players are also holding out: CB [b4144c34]Nathan Unknown[/b4144c34] of the Huntington Beach Capitalists is one of them, and he isn't happy with his franchise tag and $4.5 million salary. The other hold out is Durham Bulldogs' SS [b4144c34]Tony Cook[/b4144c34], who is asking for a 4-year deal worth $8.5 million.

Looking at the rookies, only seven 1st round draft picks have signed contracts:
#3 - T [b4144c34]Craig VanEck[/b4144c34], Atlantic City Phantoms
#12 - G [b4144c34]Kelvin Battle[/b4144c34], Charleston Monitors
#14 - CB [b4144c34]Riddick Slatus[/b4144c34], Durham Bulldogs
#15 - CB [b4144c34]Lamont Gott[/b4144c34], Boise Stampede
#16 - G [b4144c34]Ross Poplawski[/b4144c34], Tucson Toros
#21 - QB [b4144c34]Nolan Shannon[/b4144c34], Tampa Bay Torpedoes
#32 - T [b4144c34]Casey Huxtable[/b4144c34], Denver Dynomite

We're VERY happy to get [b5a53a4b]Nolan Shannon[/b5a53a4b] into the fold early... I hope that solid Training Camp time and maybe some snaps in pre-season could convince me that he should have the starting job this year.

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No love for the #1 pick? He's signed his exorbitant contract!