Ted Thompson called the bluff and cut Hawk. Then his agent started to negotiate.

"CaliforniaCheez" wrote:

Ted Thompson: Winning.

"IronMan" wrote:

Since69 mentioned (though w/out a link) that other teams wanted to sign Hawk, and I think it was pretty clear that BOTH parties wanted to work this out. I really don't see this as being a power play by Ted because he jeopardized losing Hawk with the cut... both sides just needed to iron out a few more details.

"CaliforniaCheez" wrote:

I wonder what definition of "solid" is being used here. I don't know how Hawk could be considered anything less than solid. I always describe him as "very good."



Interceptions during 2010 season:

Woodson--2
Hawk--3
Collins--4

The other guys had more chances but dropped them. Hawk doesn't drop them.

Number of tackles means very little, though. The player who leads the team in tackles is usually the inside or middle linebacker who played the most snaps. Note that Bishop was a close second to Hawk. He was the other ILB.

As for tackles, you still gotta make them. If a MLB/ILB misses a lot of tackles, coaches start the other guy.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

So having a lot of tackles means an ILB is good enough to start. But you don't need to look at the stat to know if a guy's been playing.

"Greg C." wrote:

The Green Bay Packers cut linebacker A.J. Hawk on Wednesday because they didn't want to pay him a guaranteed $10 million in the last year of his deal, but in the end Hawk got back his money - plus a little more - in the first year of his long-term deal.

According to a source with access to NFL players salary data, the five-year deal Hawk signed is worth $33.75 million and includes a first-year salary of around $11 million.

Hawk's deal includes an $8 million signing bonus, a $1.8 million roster bonus and a base salary of $1.15 million in 2011, the source said, all of which adds up to $10.95 million in first-year pay.

The signing bonus is the only guaranteed money, but Hawk is all but certain to get the first-year base salary and will receive most of the roster bonus before the season starts.

The Packers released Hawk with the intention of re-signing him to a more salary-cap friendly long-term deal and then negotiated with his agent, Mike McCartney, Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. The deal was completed before official business for the 2010 season was closed Thursday night.

In addition to his 2011 take, Hawk will earn:

A $4.4 million base salary, a $300,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus in '12.

A $4.9 million base salary, a $300,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus in '13.

A $4.9 million base salary, a $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus in '14.

A $5.4 million base salary, a $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus in '15.

Hawk's $6.75 million yearly average ranks sixth on the team behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver Greg Jennings, cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson and safety Nick Collins. He is just ahead of linebacker Nick Barnett's $6.6 million.

Hawk has a salary cap number of $4.55 million in 2011, $6.5 million in '12, $7.05 million in '13, $7.55 million in '14 and $8.05 million in '15.

Meanwhile, safety Charlie Peprah's two-year deal is worth $2.25 million and includes a $150,000 signing bonus, the source said.

He will earn base salaries of $840,000 in '11 and $1 million in '12. He has $100,000 of likely-to-be-earned incentives each year and workout bonuses of $10,000 in '11 and $50,000 in '12.