Contract talks between the Atlanta Falcons and former MSU star T.J. Duckett’s agent, Joel Segal, resumed Tuesday after being postponed because of injuries the running back suffered during a fight in Ionia County last week.
“We’re back to negotiations,” said Tico Duckett, the brother of Atlanta’s first-round draft pick. “It was just a formality.”
Falcons chief administrative officer Ray Anderson halted talks Monday morning because team officials were unsure of how serious T.J. Duckett’s injuries were. Police said the football star was attacked by three men July 23 after a Nelly concert in Ionia.
“There were all kinds of reports as to what happened,” Falcons spokesman Steve Rodriguez said. “So they were stalled because the team wanted to make sure he was OK before continuing with negotiations.”
The Falcons sent national scout Mike Hagen to East Lansing to meet with Duckett, Segal and a local physician. Monday night the Falcons learned through Hagen that Duckett is capable to practice.
“He’s 100-percent ready to play,” Tico Duckett said. “He’s ready to be a Falcon.
“We’re just being patient and when we get a mutual agreement he’ll be ready to go.”
Although T.J. Duckett may be ready to get in pads, contract negotiations might still be a problem.
In a statement released Monday by the Falcons, Anderson said Duckett’s agent is asking for a contract “significantly higher than where he was drafted.”
Cleveland Browns running back William Green, the 16th overall selection - two picks before Duckett - held out for five days before signing a five-year contract worth about $7.8 million.
Duckett is the only player who hasn’t reported to Atlanta’s training camp, which started Thursday, because of ongoing contract talks. Team officials have declined to comment on when he might be signed.
The Ionia County Sheriff Department said Duckett was struck in the face with a bottle during a scuffle with three young men after the Greater Ionia Fair concert. T.J. Duckett lost a tooth and received several stitches.
No arrests have been made, although Sheriff Dwain Dennis said his department is investigating the possibility the incident was racially motivated. The report said the three men who fought Duckett were white.
The sheriff department said Duckett “sufficiently” ended the fight by defending himself and using a cell phone to call 911 for help.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Romando J. Dixson can be reached at dixsonro@msu.edu.
