Zero2Cool
14 years ago

Contract extension for Green Bay Packers Desmond Bishop muddles future for A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett 

The Green Bay Packers solved one of their linebacker issues on Tuesday by signing Desmond Bishop to a contract extension.

But the question now is what happens to the rest of the insider linebackers.

Bishops four-year, $19 million contract extension, which was confirmed by an NFL source but not announced by the team, should ensure that he will be a starter next season. What that means for Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk is unknown, but it could mean one or both wont be back with the team next season.

Bishop moved into a starting role in Week 5 after Barnett sustained a season-ending wrist injury. The fourth-year pro, who previously hadnt played a regular role on defense, flourished as a starter. He finished the regular season second on the team in tackles with 121 and had three sacks to earn the first significant pay day of his pro career.

He had been playing under the contract he signed as a rookie in 2007, when he was a sixth-round pick. That deal contained a signing bonus of just $439,800 and minimum base salaries. He didnt even reach the fourth-year escalator that would have increased his pay for 2010 to the low restricted free agent tender of $1.101 million because he didnt meet the playing-time minimums, so his base for this season remained at $550,000.

Its unclear how his new deal is structured, but now the 26-year-old is under contract through the 2014 season.

With Bishop expected to keep his starting job, the Packers will have to decide whether to go with Barnett, Hawk or someone else at the other inside spot. Barnett has a base salary of $5.5 million next season plus roster and workout bonuses that total $550,000. He will turn 30 this offseason and has finished two of the last three seasons on injured reserve.

Hawks role also expanded this season after injuries to Barnett and Brandon Chillar. The former No. 5 overall draft pick became the defensive signal caller and has had one of the better seasons of his five-year career. At age 26 (he will be 27 on Sunday), hes younger than Barnett and hasnt missed a game in his pro career.

But Hawk almost certainly will have to redo his contract in order to return. The final year of his contract calls for his base salary of $10 million to become guaranteed on the first day of the 2011 league year. The exact date of that is unknown because there is not currently a collective bargaining agreement in place for next season but whenever that date is, theres almost no chance the Packers will want to guarantee Hawk that kind of money.

Its unclear whether Hawk would be willing to return at a reduced salary or would rather play for another team.


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bozz_2006
14 years ago
You know, I wouldn't even be surprised if Hawk does play next season under his current contract. I think he most definitely stays though, whether he restructures (meaning a contract extension with less than $10M) before next season or not.
UserPostedImage
14 years ago
Barnett is too small for the 3-4. His body has taken a toll.

The politics of it is he was a Sherman pick and not Thompson's.
blank
Tezzy
14 years ago
I see nothing muddled at all. Hawk and Bishop are playing extremely well together. I have no problems spending that money on Hawk, the return on investment will be better than keeping Barnett instead. Or at least that is how I see it.
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longtimefan
14 years ago



The politics of it is he was a Sherman pick and not Thompson's.

"CaliforniaCheez" wrote:



But didnt Ted Thompson re-do his deal? So I think that point is not valid
shanks2122
14 years ago
What if (and i hate what ifs) they moved hawk or barnett outside, is that plausable? And would or could it work?
blank
14 years ago
I like the idea of putting Hawk outside simply because it would be harder for offenses to locate Matthews. :lol: He'd be a CM3 decoy with those locks of his.

On a serious note, I do think we keep both Hawk and Barnett unless we can't restructure Hawk's deal. Barnett has far more value to us than anything we could get from a trade at this point, and his wrist injury shouldn't slow him down next season.
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digsthepack
14 years ago
Hawk is a middle linebacker and lacks the burst to play outside. I like the way he plays together with Bishop, and would view Barnett as more of an OLB of the two. Barnett may be trade bate for someone looking for a sideline to sideline MLB.

Yes....TT did resign Barnett as my memory serves me. Time to get past the Ted Thompson hating because he got rid of the aging egomaniac known as #4. For shame, Ted Thompson has built a deep roster able to withstand the worse personnel loss in recent NFL history, and brought in guys off the street that played and contributed immediately in Walden and Green.
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zombieslayer
14 years ago
I'm hoping we can figure out a way to keep both. Hawk led the team in combined tackles (including assists, Woodson led the team in solo tackles). The other thing about Hawk is he doesn't miss games. Salary aside, MM looks at availability very highly. That could be bad for Barnett but good for Hawk. You want guys who will be there in the Playoffs.
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kobe16
14 years ago
I with you guys I hope we can find a way to keep both of them. A.J. has played well this season and i think we would of only been better with Nick out there before he got hurt.
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