NFC East Notes: RG3 waiting to sign contract

Redskins training camp begins in less than three weeks, but potential franchise savior Robert Griffin III remains unsigned.

Yet the time for Washington fans to worry has not yet arrived. According to CSN Washington's Rich Tandler, the No. 2 overall pick is simply waiting until at least one top-eight pick signs before signing his own contract.

The first domino may wind up being No. 1 pick Andrew Luck, as Colts GM Jim Irsay tweeted Sunday that the team is "close" to a deal with Luck (see NFL notes). Eventually, Griffin III will receive a four-year deal worth just over $21 million, but other aspects of the contract need to be negotiated.

As Tandler points out, rookies can report about 10 days prior to the start of camp, but can't paticipate unless they are signed.

Claiborne to miss camp?
Meanwhile in Dallas, the Cowboys are facing a tougher contract situation with their top pick, cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Claiborne's agent Bus Cook told ESPN Dallas, "I have no idea," whether the No. 6 pick will sign before the start of training camp on July 25.

Claiborne remains the only Cowboys pick the team has not signed. Only two of the top 10 overall picks have signed.

Herzlich: Giants have 'bitter taste'
Apparently even Super Bowl champions can leave seasons with a bitter taste in their mouths.

This week, Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich told WEEI in Boston exactly that, saying that the team is still upset about the four straight losses it suffered from Nov. 13 to Dec. 4. That stretch included a 17-10 defeat at the hands of the Vince Young-led Eagles and a 38-35 loss to the Packers, which the Giants avenged in the divisional playoffs.

"Everyone really remembers that feeling all too well and playing just for survival just to get into the playoffs and just to do that type of thing, that’s not where we want to be at half way through the season," Herlich said, according to sportsradiointerviews.com. "We want to put ourselves in position earlier to get that playoff spot and then to repeat what we did last year at the end of the season."