What I don't pretend to be is a GM or a coach, thinking that I can evaluate what a player is or isn't worth.

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan 

lol buckeye why are you acting like people here have some personal problem with Hawk? Some of your comments are completely absurd. If Hawk was the baddest ass linebacker in the world (or even a top 20 baddest ass linebacker) everyone here would love him. Nobody here dislikes Hawk because he's AJ Hawk, they dislike him because he makes a shit ton of cash and is completely meh. Regardless of where he was drafted he's just not that great of a player.

Originally Posted by: steveishere 

Would you rather allocate those dollars to a younger player like Brad Jones?

Shouldn't that disdain feeling be aimed towards Ted Thompson though? He's the one who approved the contract.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

AJ Hawk is a serviceable ILB. Serviceable ILBs do not deserve to be the 4th highest paid on a team. Restructure or bring your talents to another team.

Desmond Bishop is coming off a nasty injury and still is in rehab. Last heard, he said he was around 80%. Risk of re-injury...high.

DJ Smith is coming off a nasty injury as well. No news on recovery so far. Knee injury so mark it as a risk of re-injury...high.

Brad Jones is a career back-up.

No.

Dezman Moses is still a rookie. I like what he has done but it isn't enough to put stock in a starting role for him.

With all that said, while I think the best option is to keep AJ Hawk with the Packers with a restructured contract and also draft an ILB within the first 3 rounds that can come in and have an instant impact. To me, it just seems like regardless of what the Packers do with this position, they are gambling for next season.

Originally Posted by: Yerko 

You are correct Sir!

I really, really like Ted Thompson, and I think we are lucky to have such a dedicated GM heading our team. However, he does have some misgivings in hanging onto "his" players a bit too tightly. The Hawk contract was a pretty severe overpay, only made so because Hawk made ZERO FFs, ZERO FRs, ZERO INTs, and only 3 PDef since signing that contract after winning the SB. He had ZERO PDef through 16 games last season.

I appreciate his 4.5 sacks in 2 years, and his leading the team in tackles, his seemingly improved play in 2012. But I am aware, fully aware, that he does not make many, if any, game changing plays that are often required of the QB of your defense in the middle. His being paid as one of the best LBs in the NFL, and not delivering top LB play. That is what most fans find fault with.

Ted signed him to that monster contract.

I think Ted holds to maxims a bit too often. Draft and develop. Re-sign your own players. Don't overpay. Well, if you are re-signing players who can't get you to the next level just because they are yours, your draft and develop players, that may be problematic. And, if he refuses to pay a top talent at an important position on our team to let him "test the market," he ought to make certain that he has a plan in place to cover that loss of talent. I believe that may be one of his greatest faults. It can take years for him to cover the loss of true impact players.

Getting a stud FA, or two, can go a long way toward assembling a serious talent group to go all the way. As for Hawk, his contract is limiting our options. He is a giant cap hit, and we are not getting the value for that in his level of play.

Originally Posted by: play2win 

Actually I think it was a move, that at the time, there were some serious questions in the depth department at the interior linebacker coupled with the release of Nick Barnett. Remember this team was coming off a SB win with a ton of players sitting on the IR.

Basically it was maybe an overpay to ensure some continuity for the defense.. especially one that calls out the plays.

If anything, especially with Jennings as an example, Ted has shown that he is impartial in terms of "his" players vs not his. I think it always comes back to the same formula, with these variables:(Value, Supply, Age and duration of contract)

Supply being on difficult it may be to replace the player.. IE do we have a suitable replacement on the roster or can I obtain one via the Draft or at value on the FA market.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

I would offer Hawk, Finley and Justin Harrell as some examples... impartial?

Originally Posted by: play2win