I think everyone would agree that would be the ideal scenario, but it doesn't necessarily apply to Aaron because of his current contract situation. We essentially had 3 options:

1) Extend him this week so we could count money against this year's cap.
2) Wait to see how he plays for the whole year and extend him in the offseason.
3) Let him walk at the end of '09 or try to re-sign him then.

Option 3 is probably the least preferable. If you want to bring Aaron back, it doesn't make sense to let him hit free agency and then compete in abidding war with other teams. Option 2 makes some sense, but then you lose the ability to use this year's cap room. And, really, why wait another 9 games? Management has had 3.5 years to evaluate this kid in practice and on the field. If they don't have a feel for what they think he can do by know, they would be considered incompetent. Aaron's not likely to show them anything they don't know over the next 9 games. That's why I think locking him now was the best decision.

NOTE: I purposely didn't include an extension midway through next season as option 4. Typically, if a player is 8 games away from free agency, the risk of injury is low enough that they'd be better off testing the market to maximize their value.

"dhazer" wrote:

In spite of all the criticism Ted Thompson gets for being conservative and boring, he is actually pretty bold--but in a way that many fans tend to overlook because they are stuck in this mind-set where they think it's all about drafting well-known players from big schools and signing big-name free agents.

"Greg C." wrote:

they just said on espn that its up there that he will being paid elite qb money. And how he handled himself sitting the bench i wouldnt be upset collecting free money would you?

$65 million for 6 years and 20 million guaranteed for a 4-3 starter thats just plain nuts.

"dhazer" wrote:

Stop with the freaking 4-3..

you know FULL well that the record is not ALL his fault..

Brett Favre always said that it takes lot more then just the q/b to win a game..

so why not just look at how he has done on the field, in the class room, and helping the coaches in the last 3 years preparing game plans..

And bringing Brett Favre up to speed on Mike McCarthy playbook when Mike McCarthy 1st got here and Brett didnt come to the q/b schools

"dhazer" wrote: