Trust me I am not panicked.. and yes I understand the dynamic of why agents wait.. you and Zero seem to be missing my point.

Some team and agent has to establish the median point in which contracts are going to follow.. basically a % over the slot of last year. This is not rocket science folks.. someone has to go first and going first doesn't mean we have to overpay to set the threshold.

And us being under the cap by a mile has more to do with the imbalance of young players to veterans that we have experienced in the last couple of years. That cycle is soon coming to a change with the amount of players that have expiring rookie or cheap deals. Not to mention the record increases in cap the last 3 seasons.. it has a hell of a lot more to do with that then sitting an awaiting for other teams to set the market and then follow suit.

Russ ball has yet to ink a first round pick as the negotiator for the Packers... that is a mild concern. Additionally we have two players with the same agent that we have to get done I am mildly disappointed that at the bare minimum that Matthews isn't under contract yet.

But I guess we are too scared to negotiate our own deals as talented as we are, we have to wait for other teams and agents to sign and then help guide us along.

As far as Crabtree having an impact on us.. it shouldn't that is the 49ers issue that Crabtree thinks without being injured he would have been a top five pick.. maybe the agents want to wait on it, but as a team you can apply pressure back on the player and agent...

In summary.. I am not upset, panicked, or pissed about it.. it is disappointing every year that we are a team that pushes the deadline to get a deal done.

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And that there is the root of the disappointment.. both were ready to go.. which means both are not holding their agent and demanding more... there is a trend being set by our front office in negotiations.. and that is one of dragging their damn feet.

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Agents have quite of bit of pull with their clients. Especially when said client is a rookie.

Player - dude get me signed man, i need to be out there
Agent - theres no rush, we can wait so we can get the most value for your services
Player - just make sure im on time for camp then
Agent - you'll be on time and get the most dollars possible. you hired me to do a job, let me do it.


Yea let's blame the teams because the teams surely do not want their high draft picks in camp on time. lol j/k I must say, one thing if I recall accurately is the Bears seem to always have their picks done right away. Always = last couple years. I could be wrong, but I thought that was impressive. Many teams (Packers included) seem to let it ride.

Personally, if I was Ball, I'd be hammering the agents as much as possible to get this shit done. I hate lingering tasks. The teams could use that 40% of responsibility and be intelligently aggressive. The one drawback with the Packers is we do not have a owner so we have to spend carefully. That DOES play a part in signing players, including draft picks.

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How? I already acknowledged your point that someone needs to step forward. I think I even mentioned the protocol of 5% increase over the prior year's selection as the barometer.

My point is MORE fault is on the AGENTS than the damn teams.

Rocket science or not, you're trying to get 32 teams with approx 32 agents to agree on a routine that simply will not stand pat because of positional selection. There are a plethora of variables involved that have avoided your posts regarding this.

One glaring obvious situation.
1st overall ... DT
5th overall ... QB

Chances are, the QB is going to receive similar contract with more guaranteed cash than the DT.


The 32 teams can't even agree on a damn CBA yet. lol


Bottom line.... the NFL NEEDS a damn cap for rookies. As you are saying, make it simple and no bs.

Perhaps, 2 and 3 year contracts.
1st overall if QB, x amount, if RB, x amount, if WR, x amount
2nd overall if QB, x amount, if RB, x amount, if WR, x amount

etc ...


I think that would be something easy, not rocket science and agreeable. It's a short contract which is good for both sides.

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If it seems as I am coming off blaming only the team, that is not really the case.

Above is exactly what I am talking about.. we traditionally seem to have an issue getting picks done proactively.. we are always jacking around the final couple of days.

We have the ability to squeeze the agents nuts a little... via the player and PR... no agent wants bad PR either.

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I think Ball should be squeezing the agents, balls a little. No question. I am not a fan of the waiting game once so ever.

I think the NFL needs to set a standard to eliminate the agents effectiveness in delaying the signing of their clients.

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I don't think there is a right or wrong in this discussion.

Everybody seems to be making good points.

Your title could use a little work, there, Pack Z, but the thesis and argument is extremely valid.

I personally get frustrated...maybe you guys don't, but I do.

I will say that when the details of the contracts start emerging, I am almost invariably pleased with how our FO went about the business of structuring the deal in the context of the relative market. I bring this up because it could easily have an impact on their ability to go ahead and "set a market" or be more pro-active.

I think that might be important, and while it increases my personal angst around this time...it lessens it as I reflect on the deal ultimately made.

Good discussion.

No matter which site I am posting on, we have this thread every year in the days leading up to training camp. Then the first round pick signs within a couple days of the beginning of camp and everyone forgets about it. I'm not going to waste any energy worrying about this unless we get into a genuine holdout situation, which from what I've heard, does not appear to be likely this year.

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Maybe the title could use some work.. but in my opinion in a business enterprise this size.. this yearly type of BS is not necessary when in the end...

I agree with the opt out of the CBA on this principle alone, this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the next CBA no doubt.

But I still hold the belief that it is up to the team to drive the urgency into this issue and push the agents into getting deals done. Make their asses come to the table and hammer a deal out.. there is no reason that that process has to wait until the last minute yearly.. because the agents aren't really impacted by the delay.. the players and teams are.

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We have a very tight-lipped organization and a small-market media that throws softballs mostly. I have absolutely no clue as to the real process and/or level of pressure applied by the FO to get these deals done. I have some opinions, and those can be highly situational (e.g. Grant last year), but ultimately I am simply not armed with enough information to render anything more than speculation that is mostly based on my personal level of frustration at that given moment in time.

As to the "we go through this every year and it's not worth talking about"...every year is different, and this one is somewhat exceptional. You need look no further than the list of signed 1st round picks and couple it with the list of teams that are in training camp right now. Some choose to pay attention to these matters, others do not.

To me, this is exponentially more worth talking about then whining about poor little Bwetty and how he gets picked on, or if Rodgers didn't do this or that, or whatever the hell else I get sucked into discussing because everyone (well, that is a slight exaggeration) likes to talk hindsight instead of the future. Frankly, I would prefer to lock all the other threads and make everyone talk about this one instead, but that's just me. lol