The Bengals first round pick, USC linebacker Keith  Rivers, will miss two more practices (7 total) on Thursday and there are no signs of a resolution in the immediate future.

The franchise has a long-history of rookie holdouts.  In fact, since 1997 the only two first-round picks who were at Bengals camp on Day 1 were WR Peter Warrick (2000) and QB Carson Palmer (2003).

This year's negotations are a bit more tricky because of the potential of 2010 being an uncapped year. 

The New Orleans Saints  signed defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis on Wednesday, the seventh overall pick in the draft, leaving just two players unsigned -- Rivers and Jacksonville defensive end Derrick Harvey.

The difference between the contracts for No. 7 overall Ellis and No. 10 overall Jerod Mayo of New England shows why Nos. 8 (Harvey) and 9 (Rivers) are unsigned. Ellis’ five-year deal could be worth up to $49 million and includes $19.5 million guaranteed. Mayo’s deal is for five years, as well, and is worth a maximum of $18.9 million with $13.8 million guaranteed. There is a financial gulf, according to Mark Crunette of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

At least Rivers is a linebacker, so it should be easy for him to pick up things quickly. Still, how does a player that supposedly has so much to do with your defense's success in '08 not have a contract at this point?