Mucky Tundra
10 years ago

GREEN BAY — If Bryan Bulaga is going to return to the Green Bay Packers, the veteran offensive tackle will likely have to take a hometown discount — much like wide receiver Randall Cobb did on Saturday night with his new deal.

Cobb agreed to terms on a reported four-year, $40 million deal that includes $17 million in guaranteed money — but he likely would have made significantly more had he waited until the unrestricted free-agent market opened on Tuesday afternoon and signed elsewhere. One NFL source said Cobb left upwards of $2 million per year on the table by re-upping with the Packers.

That's likely what Bulaga will have to do as well, as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein reported  that Bulaga is seeking a deal that averages between $7 million and $8 million per season, an amount the Packers are unlikely to pay.

Instead, an NFL source said the Packers would like to sign Bulaga, their 2010 first-round pick, to a deal similar to those signed by Dallas Cowboys right tackle Doug Free (three years, $15 million, $6 million guaranteed) and Houston Texans right tackle Derek Newton (five years, $26.5 million, $10 million guaranteed).

Jacksonville, Washington and Tampa Bay are reportedly interested in Bulaga. Players' agents were free to begin talking with outside teams starting Saturday afternoon, although players cannot sign contracts with teams outside of their current club until Tuesday at 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Bulaga's line mates, including right guard T.J. Lang and left tackle David Bakhtiari, have each expressed public hope on their Twitter accounts that their friend will be re-signed.

After suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries — a hip injury midway through the 2012 season and a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 2013 Family Night Scrimmaeg — Bulaga bounced back to start 17 of the Packers' 18 games last season, missing one start (against the New York Jets in Week 2) after suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his surgically-repaired left knee in the Sept. 4 regular-season opener at Seattle.

The Packers' starting offensive line — Bakhtiari, left guard Josh Sitton, center Corey Linsley, Lang and Bulaga — formed the best unit the team has had during two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers' tenure as the starting quarterback.

Should Bulaga depart, the Packers would have to fill his right tackle spot with Don Barclay, a restricted free agent who is coming off a torn ACL himself but started in Bulaga's place after the 2012 and 2013 injuries; third-year lineman JC Tretter, who was set to be the starter at center before a preseason knee injury; or a lineman selected in the April 30-May 2 NFL Draft. Each of the past two years, a rookie — Bakhtiari in 2013, Linsley last season — has started on the Packers' offensive line.

"Obviously my relationship with these guys that I play with, it's great. Our families are very close — T.J., Josh, Dave, Corey, everyone's very close. It's a close group," Bulaga said on Jan. 19 as he cleaned out his locker following the team's season-ending loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. "So from that standpoint, I mean, yeah, you'd love to stay next to the same guys for your entire career. You've seen what we've been able to do this season, just keeping guys together for consecutive games.

"But at the end of the day, you have to realize that this is a business on both ends. Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. We'll see what happens. I don't know what's going to happen."

Jason Wilde  wrote:


sschind
10 years ago
Not sure if I posted this in another thread or not but hopefully the Cobb signing has a trickle down effect.

If Bulaga sees that the Packrs are willing to work with Cobb and he sees that they are committed to keeping a winning team together he may decide to give the discount double check. He may also see the accolades Cobb is getting from the fans and think that it might be a nice feeling for him to feel so well loved. That's a little bit more of a stretch but to be loved and not vilified, which he will be in light of Cobb's "sacrifice," is an important motivator. Maybe not as important as several million dollars but important. I can imagine that two stars taking less to stay would be a huge boost in the locker room as well. These guys are going to want to say "see, I gave up more money and I am still giving you this. That's the kind of person I am"

Of course we are talking numbers about half of what Cobb got so that may be a factor as well. Giving up 2 when you will make 5 is not the same as giving up 2 when you make 10. When I saw those other two deals though I got a feeling it didn't bode well. I figured he would want more than that. Lets just hope that what he takes is less than what he wants.
lolleren
10 years ago
I'm thinking Bulaga's injury history could influence him to not leave money on the table, he knows how fragile the health of pro athletes are, and might not have the young person mind anymore than injury is someone elses problem.
His career might already be shortened by a few years by the injuries he suffered so far.
I do however really hope they work something out with him.

Cobb had his share of injury scares, but knees and bag/hip is normally more lingering than broken bones.
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Laser Gunns
10 years ago

I'm thinking Bulaga's injury history could influence him to not leave money on the table, he knows how fragile the health of pro athletes are, and might not have the young person mind anymore than injury is someone elses problem.
His career might already be shortened by a few years by the injuries he suffered so far.
I do however really hope they work something out with him.

Cobb had his share of injury scares, but knees and bag/hip is normally more lingering than broken bones.

Originally Posted by: lolleren 




Especially for lineman

MintBaconDrivel
Dec, 11, 2012 - FOREVER!
uffda udfa
10 years ago
Bulaga seems to be the kind of guy who wouldn't want to leave Green Bay unless it's for another midwest area team. He isn't worthy of big money... his injury history is a major red flag. I'm sorry but you can't miss as much time as he has and expect big money. He's a RT and as the article noted we have other options.

So hard to gauge what happens in this case. I think he will sign elsewhere because the money will be that much better elsewhere. Never was a fan of BB. JC or DB are potentially as good or better. You gave RC the big money and sacrifices have to be made. I think he's one of them.
UserPostedImage
Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."


Bigbyfan
10 years ago
This report sounds eerily similar to the report of the Packers not wanting to sign Cobb for more than 8-9 mill a year. It's not a coincidence that this comes out right after the team gets done with Cobb. My guess is that this is just another game of chess between the packers and the agent. Packers end up resigning Bulaga before Tuesday.
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buckeyepackfan
10 years ago

This report sounds eerily similar to the report of the Packers not wanting to sign Cobb for more than 8-9 mill a year. It's not a coincidence that this comes out right after the team gets done with Cobb. My guess is that this is just another game of chess between the packers and the agent. Packers end up resigning Bulaga before Tuesday.

Originally Posted by: Bigbyfan 



You may just be spot on.

Ted let's these guys explore their options, but he always seems to make them a fair offer and more times than not Ted gets his man.

I guess we will all find out soon enough.
I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!
uffda udfa
10 years ago
If BB is really attracting 7 million per offers, he ain't coming back here. This is Scott Wells all over. We like BB but we don't love him...some team loves Bulaga and he's a goner.

I thought 4 was fair for someone with his history but we're hearing 7? Big pass. No way you pay him anywhere near 7. I believe Ted Thompson is way too smart to cave on Bulaga with other options available. This situation has very few parallels to the Cobb situation.

Buh bye, Bryan... sit on IR for some other team.
UserPostedImage
Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."


DakotaT
10 years ago
Bulaga will probably take his payday, it'll just be with another team. Barclay or Tretter will get the job done. And then of course, drafting a tackle by round 3 becomes important.
UserPostedImage
greengold
10 years ago
I really want Bulaga back. Looking around at other tackles I think he is easily worth $7M per year. Sure it would be nice to get him for less but I think it will take that to sign him.

Does anyone want to go back to Barclay starting at RT?

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