Rockmolder
14 years ago
Packers brace to pay maturing players 

By Mike Florio

Last month, Packers CEO Mark Murphy explained that increases in labor expenses have happened due in part to a roster of players migrating from rookie contracts to veteran deals.

It's possibly just the beginning.

With the Packers expected to compete for the postseason if not the Super Bowl in 2010, a gaggle of Green Bay starters could suddenly become very attractive to other teams, once they become eligible to hit the market.

"The plan is to draft, to develop and hopefully sign our guys back," coach Mike McCarthy says, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "That's what we're going to continue to try to do."

Though big-name guys like quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Greg Jennings have gotten their long-term deals, other players will be getting in line soon, and they'll be in a position to command more money based on their individual performances, and based on the team's achievements.

McCarthy seems to be hoping that the term "hometown discount" eventually will enter the conversation. "We're a little different than other towns," McCarthy said. "They've got to want to be Green Bay Packers. I think we're headed in the right direction.

"I don't know if it's practical to sign all those guys, but definitely all those guys will potentially have an opportunity. There's no one there where I'm saying, 'I can't wait until he gets the hell out of here.' That's not the case at all."

One of the most enigmatic players in this regard, both as to his potential and as to his eventual salary demands, is tight end Jermichael Finley. Many believe that he's poised to become one of the best tight ends in the league, which will put him in line to be paid that way. Many also fear that he is a knucklehead.

"I'd rather be the best tight end ever to play the game than have the most money," Finley said. "The money will come with it."

Finley's agent, Blake Baratz, realizes that Finley will need to perform well on the field, and to avoid being a "moron" (as Mark "Teenage Hot Tub" Chmura has called Finley) off it.

"Just because you're talented doesn't mean you get paid in the National Football League," Baratz told McGinn. "Greg Jennings did it consistently. Antonio Gates has been to six straight Pro Bowls. Peyton Manning is an MVP.

"The guys who really get paid in this league, the majority of the time, are standup guys on and off the field, especially in an organization like the Packers.

"I'm not worried about what he does on the field," Baratz said. "He's virtually unguardable. I'm worried about him making the right choices, the right decisions, surrounding himself with the right people. Then it will all work out."

But if it all works out for Finley, it'll be harder for the Packers to work it all out with the players they hope to keep, especially if they hope to keep all of them.

Pack93z
14 years ago
This is nothing new.. think back to the mid 90's... it is just the Wolf didn't have the level of success that he had early on fitting players to the coaching staff... albeit much of the blame may have come from a staff that has been diminished with franchises hiring assistants away.

If the Packer make a run this season.. Mike McCarthy will have to start to worry about talent level on his staff as well.

Anyway.. building through the draft is meant to minimize this.. theory is keep the best developed players or at least the core and replenish with youngsters coming up.

Example of this is Quarless.. a player similar to Finley that can be developed as a plan B if things go sideways with Finley in retaining him. Exactly the mentality a franchise has to identify and prepare for.. albeit he is nearly invisible in this camp.. he is in very similar path to Finley.. little impact early for a young player but has the talent to be developed within the system.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Pack93z
14 years ago
I forgot to note though.. there will be a segment of the Packer fan base that will not grasp the fact that some good players will be allowed to walk because of cap / financial restraints and will blame the GM no matter whom holds the position.

However valid criticism in that case is whom they choose to keep under wraps and whom is allowed to walk.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
So true, Shawn. So true. Some people will never accept that it's impossible to keep everyone. Priorities must be set.
UserPostedImage
Rockmolder
14 years ago
I can usually sign all of my good players back in Madden, so if Ted can't handle the job, I'll take his place.
Pack93z
14 years ago

I can usually sign all of my good players back in Madden, so if Ted can't handle the job, I'll take his place.

"Rockmolder" wrote:



So can I... change they position.. their rating drop out of sight.. sign them on the cheap and put them back into their natural position.. lol..

Try telling Finley he is now a center with a rating of 68 and see how he reacts in terms of contract details.. lol.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Rockmolder
14 years ago

I can usually sign all of my good players back in Madden, so if Ted can't handle the job, I'll take his place.

"pack93z" wrote:



So can I... change they position.. their rating drop out of sight.. sign them on the cheap and put them back into their natural position.. lol..

Try telling Finley he is now a center with a rating of 68 and see how he reacts in terms of contract details.. lol.

"Rockmolder" wrote:



Didn't even think of that, but that's a great idea.

We just give Finley a contract with very little guaranteed money, but a lot of easy to reach incentives... For a QB.

Thinking of throwing for 500 yards in a season, throwing 5 TDs.

Mark my words, we're heading for the top, Shawn.
earthquake
14 years ago
Pretty much the same article on JSO, with a little more
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/100501374.html 


Green Bay Once the Green Bay Packers identify a player as part of their nucleus, they have the courage and the cash to make long-term commitments.

Unlike some of their less financially fortunate brethren, the Packers have been re-signing veterans almost as if the uncertainty concerning the fate of the 2011 season didn't exist.

"Our philosophy has always been to invest in our players," said Packers President Mark Murphy, taking a business-as-usual stance amid the labor unrest. "The challenge is identifying the right players and extending them. Ted (Thompson) has done a good job identifying the core players."

Since June 2009, the Packers have re-signed seven starters - Greg Jennings, Brandon Chillar, Chad Clifton, Nick Collins, Ryan Pickett, Mark Tauscher and Donald Driver - to contract extensions.

Excluding incentives, the seven deals total $132.728 million, $67.081 million of which is guaranteed.

When the Packers locked the players up for the long haul, Jennings was entering the final year of his contract, Chillar and Driver were in the final years of their contracts, Clifton and Tauscher were early in the unrestricted free-agent signing period, Collins had just signed his restricted free-agent tender to begin his final season, and Pickett had been designated a franchise free agent after his contract expired.

"The plan is to draft, to develop and hopefully sign our guys back," coach Mike McCarthy said. "That's what we're going to continue to try to do."

Despite the flurry of extensions, Thompson has many more decisions to make in the not too distant future.

As it stands now, 15 players on the 80-man roster, including five starters, would have at least four accrued seasons at the end of 2010 and be eligible for unrestricted free agency under the old collective bargaining agreement.

Management's decision in 2008 to opt out of the CBA after the 2010 season meant the minimum requirement for unrestricted free agency last spring increased from four to six seasons. Murphy, a member of the owners' bargaining committee, expects the framework of the old free-agency system to be brought back as part of the next labor contract.

"I feel confident we'll end up with a system that isn't dramatically different than we have now in terms of a salary cap," said Murphy. "I think the big change, hopefully, will be the rookie contracts."

If the accrued-season minimum of four for free agency is included in the next agreement, starters Cullen Jenkins, cornerback Tramon Williams, guard Daryn Colledge and fullback Korey Hall all would be among the unrestricted free agents.

If defensive end Johnny Jolly is reinstated next year, he would return under his one-year, $2.521 million contract that is being tolled.

In addition, the Packers probably would have to give linebacker A.J. Hawk a new contract because his base salary in the final year of his contract (2011) swells to $10 million.

"I've never looked at this as a contract year for me . . . but I want to be on the Packers for a long time," Hawk said. "No, we haven't talked about that, but I didn't expect them to come to me right now. They're not signing a lot of deals right now, especially with the CBA up in the air."

Other significant players who will have at least four accrued seasons in 2011 include wide receiver James Jones, kicker Mason Crosby, linebacker Desmond Bishop, safety Atari Bigby and running back Brandon Jackson.

"If you perform, you'll get paid," said Jones. "If you don't, you won't. I think Ted Thompson's approach is he wants to keep his guys in-house."

In Thompson's first two years as general manager, such players as Mike Wahle, Marco Rivera, Ryan Longwell and Darren Sharper left the Packers either on the waiver wire or as unrestricted free agents.

Over the last four off-seasons, Thompson has indicated that he would have liked to have retained Ahman Green, Corey Williams, Colin Cole and Aaron Kampman. Williams eventually was traded, whereas the other three left on the unrestricted market.

With Thompson into his sixth season and McCarthy into his fifth, the Packers' decision-makers are clear about the type of player they seek for extensions.

"We're a little different than other towns," said McCarthy. "They've got to want to be Green Bay Packers. I think we're headed in the right direction.

"I don't know if it's practical to sign all those guys, but definitely all those guys will potentially have an opportunity. There's no one there where I'm saying, 'I can't wait until he gets the hell out of here.' That's not the case at all."

The performance of some players has slipped once they receive big money, but that seldom has been the case in Green Bay. A run of injuries can ruin any team-building strategy, but the Packers will take their chances with their plan.

"You're never free from the injury factor no matter where you sign the player from," said McCarthy. "But you're going to have a lot of medical information on your own players, so your risk is a lot lower."

There was a time not too long ago when Thompson was having a hard time finding players worthy of extensions. Now it's more the case of finding enough money to go around, especially if the salary cap returns.

Tight end Jermichael Finley has two years left on a contract paying him the minimum base salary of $470,000 this year. He took note of the five-year, $36.175 million deal signed by San Diego's Antonio Gates last month.

"The (Gates) contract thing is great," Finley said. "But I'd rather be the best tight end ever to play the game than have the most money. The money will come with it."

Finley's agent, Blake Baratz, doesn't know what the timing will be but is confident a blockbuster offer from Green Bay will come.

"Just because you're talented doesn't mean you get paid in the National Football League," said Baratz. "Greg Jennings did it consistently. Antonio Gates has been to six straight Pro Bowls. Peyton Manning is an MVP.

"The guys who really get paid in this league, the majority of the time, are standup guys on and off the field, especially in an organization like the Packers.

"I'm not worried about what he does on the field. He's virtually unguardable. I'm worried about him making the right choices, the right decisions, surrounding himself with the right people. Then it will all work out."

Guard Josh Sitton and running back Ryan Grant also have contracts expiring after the 2011 season and would be strong candidates for early extensions.

The best player on the team, cornerback Charles Woodson, has three years left on a seven-year, $39 million deal. Woodson, 33, has total compensation of $7.5 million in 2010, $6.5 million in 2011 and $7.5 million in 2012, although escalators could increase the payout.


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Bigbyfan
14 years ago
After reading the article I'm pretty sure we will be in good enough shape to sign most, if not all of the big name guys: Jenkins, Williams, Finley, Sitton, and Grant. Of that group, I think only Finley is going to be able to command a "blockbuster deal." I hope they sign Sitton as soon as possible becuase I believe it would be cheaper than waiting and giving him more time to make a name for himself.
blank
bozz_2006
14 years ago
The problem with signing them "as soon as possible" before the money they command gets too over the top is what happens too often in the league; they play a year or maybe two with their new contract then get pissed off that they didn't get more money, then start the whole song and dance of whining for a new deal all over again. I love Finley, I mean I practically did cartwheels when they announced that the Packers drafted him. I knew what he brought to the party. But, I think we'd better get the most out of him while we still can, because I don't see him staying in GB past his second contract. Maybe even not past his rookie contract. Just a feeling.
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Zero2Cool (14-Feb) : Packers are hiring Luke Getsy as senior offensive assistant.
Martha Careful (12-Feb) : I would love to have them both, esp. Crosby, but either might be too expensive.
Zero2Cool (12-Feb) : Keisean Nixon is trying to get Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams lol
Mucky Tundra (11-Feb) : Yeah where did it go?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : or did you resctrict access to that topic?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : why did you remove the Playoff topic?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
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