Zero2Cool
16 years ago
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Greg Jennings remains convinced the Green Bay Packers will do what it takes to keep him for the rest of his career.

But if he first must play out the last year of his rookie contract to cement his status as an elite receiver in the eyes of the Packers and the rest of the NFL Jennings plans to be more than ready physically.

His No. 1 focus this offseason has been improving his body, and with help from a nutrition plan and his personal chef, he says hes getting significant results.

I feel a lot better, Jennings said in a Tuesday phone interview in advance of the Lee Remmel Sports Awards banquet, at which hell be honored on Thursday.

I did a body scan (Monday), and from last year this time to right now a lot more lean muscle, less body fat. So, Im in a lot better shape right now going into the offseason program and training camp. Im in a lot better shape than I was last year.

Those words should worry opposing defenses, considering last year Jennings posted career highs in receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,292) while emerging as the favorite target for new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Jennings also stayed healthy, playing in all 16 games for the first time in his three-year NFL career. But he wasnt comfortable with the way he looked Its like, Aah, I gotta tighten up on some things, he said so he decided to reassess his food intake. The nutrition plan lays out all of Jennings meals and snacks, with the chef preparing each dinner and the occasional lunch.

Im actually cutting down on quite a bit of things, said Jennings, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds. Theres never been too much fast food in my diet anyway, but a lot of the added sugars, added salts, added sodiums, things like that.

This is an important offseason for Jennings, as he enters the last season of the four-year contract he signed as a second-round draft pick (No. 52 overall) out of Western Michigan in 2006. His base salary for 2009 is $535,000 a fraction of what he would command if he has another productive season and then hits the open market as an unrestricted free agent next winter.

The Packers almost certainly will not allow the latter to happen. If they cant sign Jennings to a multiyear deal, the Packers could give him their franchise tag, which this season was worth $9.884 million for receivers.

There also is the possibility the NFL and the players association will fail to strike a new collective bargaining agreement by next March. Among other things, that would eliminate the salary cap for the 2010 season and increase the eligibility requirement for free agency from four years service to six, keeping players such as Jennings off the market.

The top free-agent deal for a receiver this offseason went to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who received $15 million guaranteed on a five-year, $40 million deal with Seattle. Houshmandzadeh has been highly productive the past five seasons, but at age 31, is six years older than Jennings, 25. Another top deal went to Tampa Bays Michael Clayton, who received $10.5 million guaranteed on a five-year deal even though he hasnt exceeded 38 catches since 2004.

Contracts like those raise the question of just how big a number Jennings and his agent, Eugene Parker, could be seeking. The largest guarantee the Packers have given is $20 million to Rodgers last fall.

The Packers have plenty of 2009 salary-cap room about $28 million to strike a deal with Jennings. But hes only the headliner on the list of 17 Packers, including nine incumbent starters, who could become free agents in 2010.

Jennings says he hasnt spent much time thinking about the topic recently. Hes been preoccupied with his wife, Nicole, who is due to give birth any day to the couples second child.

In my heart of hearts, honestly, I feel like Im going to be a Green Bay Packer for my career, said Jennings, who will return to his native Michigan after the birth but plans to be back in time for organized team activities in May.

Thats me. And I dont want to say (the Packers) feel the same way and then they do something different, but Im pretty sure they feel the same way. So, I should be here.

Asked if hes getting positive signals from Parker, Jennings said they havent spoken since a month ago, around the time Parker started negotiations with the Packers at the NFLs scouting combine.

Honestly, its crazy, Jennings said. Im not one of those guys that are like, Man, whats going on? Whats going on? Whats going on? Because I feel like in due time, itll take place, or something will occur and something will happen. It would be all for the best, and both sides would be smiling about it and moving on.

Im also one that dont really care about everybody knowing about the business or discrepancies whatever the case may be because theres a lot of nitpicking and clawing when it comes to contractual negotiations. Im trying to avoid every bit of that and get it done discreetly and move forward.


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Zero2Cool
16 years ago
Stuff like this makes me happy to be a Packers/Jennings fan. He almost sounds willing to play his final year before getting paid. As if to say, pay me now, or pay me LOADS later, either way, you will pay me!

Not in a cocky way either, just more of a matter of fact way about it. And I like it.
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go.pack.go.
16 years ago
I'm glad to see that he wants to be a Packer for the rest of his career. Please TT, just DON'T screw up and PLEASE do sign him to a long term contract. I might just jump on the Ted Thompson haters bandwagon if he lets him slip out.
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IronMan
16 years ago
Greg, you had me at hello. ::oops:
Zero2Cool
16 years ago

Im also one that dont really care about everybody knowing about the business or discrepancies

Was that aimed anyone specific?
UserPostedImage
16 years ago

Stuff like this makes me happy to be a Packers/Jennings fan. He almost sounds willing to play his final year before getting paid. As if to say, pay me now, or pay me LOADS later, either way, you will pay me!

Not in a cocky way either, just more of a matter of fact way about it. And I like it.

"SlickVision" wrote:



He sees all, dude. From his perspective, they already HAVE paid him, and handsomely. And he rewarded them handsomely as well, by gracing them with a smile.
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bozz_2006
16 years ago
I think he sees that the writing is on the wall for a big front-loaded contract extension in the first half of the 2009 season. I'm glad to have him. Class act. and an insanely good football player.
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warhawk
16 years ago

I'm glad to see that he wants to be a Packer for the rest of his career. Please Ted Thompson, just DON'T screw up and PLEASE do sign him to a long term contract. I might just jump on the Ted Thompson haters bandwagon if he lets him slip out.

"go.pack.go." wrote:



I think your forgetting who found this kid in the first place. TT's getting pounded for holding his chips back and nobody is more aware of how many of those chips will be needed to keep this guy more than Ted.

I mean c'mon. One thing nobody can complain on Ted about is managing the dollars and having the money right to keep players.
"The train is leaving the station."
bozz_2006
16 years ago
I've been saying that since before FA started this year, warhawk. and i've also said that if he doesn't use that money to lock up our own guys like jennings, collins, tramon, kampman, etc. I'm gonna be pissed. Having said that, I believe he will lock our guys up.
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go.pack.go.
16 years ago
I'm not bashing TT, I'm just saying I hope that he re-signs him. It would be really stupid if he didn't do that, and I MIGHT just jump on the hater bandwagon.
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