McNeese negotiations continue

-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-Feast Fest scouters are in the process of negotiating a contract extension for Adam McNeese, who joined last year from the New York City Thanksgiving Contest (NYCTC). The Camden, Me.-based chef and his agent have agreed to a two-year extension with a $156,091 payout for Feast Fest 2014, but are at a point of contention over the salary for Feast Fest 2015. McNeese (6/25/86) wants a staggered deal with somewhere between $165,000 and $170,000 in 2015, but scouters want to give him the same $156,091 he'd receive this November.

One cause of the strife is an opt-out option McNeese has requested on his contract. "If he could assure us his presence in 2015, then we'd be more receptive to the idea of a staggered deal," said a scouter who was asked not to be identified because the negotiations are supposed to be closed-door.

The scouter said that his team would meet with McNeese further on Wednesday. The scouting offseason officially ends Friday, but Head Scouter Jim Dall said that McNeese negotiations would be allowed to continue into next week "if the need arises."

"Our hope is that we get a deal in the coming days," he added.

McNeese's agent said that McNeese is "totally committed to signing a contract as swiftly and as painlessly as possible and he is making a concerted effort to be receptive to all offers."

FF Wire Service