What will Ted Thompson do about the ILB position in the Off Season?

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02-08-2015, 04:52 AM
woodbuck27

What will Ted Thompson do about the ILB position in the Off Season?

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...290854131.html

Article:

Positional overview: Linebackers

Inside will likely get different look for Packers

Comment woodbuck27:

Most here at Packerrats would agree that Ted Thompson has to say good bye to AJ Hawk and Brad Jones.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/cap/

Distribution of spending CAP money by position:

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay...rs/positional/

After that he has to look at Free Agency and the Draft to upgrade the team at the linebacker position and return Clay Matthews to the outside where he belongs.

Also at linebacker. What will Ted Thompson do with the valuable addition to the Packer defense last off season, Julius Peppers?
02-08-2015, 08:51 AM
Joemailman

TT will release Jones and Hawk, saving 7 million. Although I don't expect TT to be very active this year in FA other than signing his own guys, ILB is one position where he might try to make a deal. If he releases Hawk and Jones, Barrington is the only experienced guy he really has. Carl Bradford and Nate Palmer will get a look, but they haven't played the position in a regular season game. As for the draft, Eric Kendricks is likely the only ILB that TT would consider on the 1st round. Perryman and McKinney don't have the coverage skills to go that early.

As for Peppers, I see TT working on a new contract to lower the cap hit from 12 million to 7-8 million. That, along with the release of Jones and Hawk would give TT about 34 million of cap space to work with.
02-08-2015, 11:05 AM
red

why would TT or peppers redo his contract after just the first year of a 3 year deal?

peppers signed the deal with a very cap friendly first year, and took a big paycut to do it, knowing if he played well, he would make his normal wages in 2015 and 2016

he pocketed 8.5 million for last season, he can make 9.5 million next season, and 8 million in 2016

looks to me like a deal set up to play out until he runs out of gas and we cut him
02-08-2015, 12:28 PM
Joemailman

Quote:

Originally Posted by red

why would TT or peppers redo his contract after just the first year of a 3 year deal?

peppers signed the deal with a very cap friendly first year, and took a big paycut to do it, knowing if he played well, he would make his normal wages in 2015 and 2016

he pocketed 8.5 million for last season, he can make 9.5 million next season, and 8 million in 2016

looks to me like a deal set up to play out until he runs out of gas and we cut him

There was talk from the time he signed that contract that it would have to be re-negotiated if the packers kept him past 2014. McGinn had this to say recently about Peppers:

Quote:

The assumption is that the two sides will restructure the final two years of his contract and he'll return in 2015.

I think the Packers would like to lower his cap number in 2015 because of the big name FA's they need to sign (Cobb/Bulaga/Williams). The guys they will need to sign in 2016 don't carry as high a price tag.
02-08-2015, 12:47 PM
Patler

Quote:

Originally Posted by red

why would TT or peppers redo his contract after just the first year of a 3 year deal?

peppers signed the deal with a very cap friendly first year, and took a big paycut to do it, knowing if he played well, he would make his normal wages in 2015 and 2016

he pocketed 8.5 million for last season, he can make 9.5 million next season, and 8 million in 2016

looks to me like a deal set up to play out until he runs out of gas and we cut him

I agree. I've never quite understood those who insist Peppers won't be back this year under the existing terms. He probably played better than the Packers expected. He got $8.5M cash last year in salary and signing bonus. This year he gets $9.5 M in new cash. He's playing for the cash he gets. The cap hits are simply accounting gyrations.

Why would he play for significantly less new money this year than he got last year? Why would the Packers expect him to? He filled a missing component for them on defense.
02-08-2015, 01:04 PM
Patler

About the only way I could see them doing anything to gain significant cap space is to add phantom years to the end of the contract. In effect, push cap dollars to a year they know he will be retired, or gone. That's really not the Packers' way of doing things.

The cap impact is not a primary concern for the players. Peppers received $8.5 M to play last year. Does McGinn think he will or should play for significantly less than that this year? The Packers could have structured his relatively short contract with little bonus and substantially equal salaries each year. From Peppers perspective, that is what it is. His incomes for the three years are $8.5M, $9.5M and $8.M. Apparently the Packers wanted some cap relief in 2014, so a big part of his income last year was in the form of a signing bonus.
02-08-2015, 02:19 PM
woodbuck27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joemailman

TT will release Jones and Hawk, saving 7 million. Although I don't expect TT to be very active this year in FA other than signing his own guys, ILB is one position where he might try to make a deal. If he releases Hawk and Jones, Barrington is the only experienced guy he really has. Carl Bradford and Nate Palmer will get a look, but they haven't played the position in a regular season game. As for the draft, Eric Kendricks is likely the only ILB that TT would consider on the 1st round. Perryman and McKinney don't have the coverage skills to go that early.

As for Peppers, I see TT working on a new contract to lower the cap hit from 12 million to 7-8 million. That, along with the release of Jones and Hawk would give TT about 34 million of cap space to work with.

" I don't expect TT to be very active this year in FA other than signing his own guys..." Joemailman

That's likely true.
02-08-2015, 05:12 PM
red

i wouldn't mind a high draft pick spent on a guy, AND he big name free agent signing

unfortunately, there doesn't look like either is an option

maybe a trade? why not send our first for a stud , pro bowl ILB?
02-08-2015, 05:22 PM
red

hey pb, and chance you could copy and paste the PFF rankings for 3-4 ILBs in the GC so we can look at the guys who might be out there?
02-08-2015, 11:55 PM
smuggler

This might be the year to trade up in the first or trade up in the 2nd.
02-09-2015, 06:10 AM
Joemailman

Quote:

Originally Posted by smuggler

This might be the year to trade up in the first or trade up in the 2nd.

Or trade out of the 1st into the early 2nd and pick up an extra later pick. TT did that in 2008 to take Jordy Nelson.
02-09-2015, 08:26 AM
pbmax

Quote:

Originally Posted by red

hey pb, and chance you could copy and paste the PFF rankings for 3-4 ILBs in the GC so we can look at the guys who might be out there?

Don't have PFF, that might be Bretsky or Yoop. I can look at Packer Report and see if Scout.com does it.

We talking draft or FA?
02-09-2015, 09:43 AM
red

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbmax

Don't have PFF, that might be Bretsky or Yoop. I can look at Packer Report and see if Scout.com does it.

We talking draft or FA?

FA, or all ILBs in the nfl, so we can see where the free agents rank

i thought you had PFF
02-09-2015, 11:12 AM
Upnorth

The way it looks to me is trade out of 1st. No real TT like fa out there (read under valued) I am concerned about TT ilb draft history.
02-09-2015, 11:20 AM
woodbuck27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upnorth

The way it looks to me is trade out of 1st. No real TT like fa out there (read under valued) I am concerned about TT ilb draft history.

I'm starting to look at that possible move by TT too.

Some mocks have us going at #30 with DT Malcolm Brown .... Jr Fr. TEXAS.. . . . 6' - 4 " and 320 lbs
02-09-2015, 11:45 AM
3irty1

I think its a mistake to count Barrington as a starter next year. We need a pair of guys and they should definitely come from the draft. MLB is a relatively low learning curve or just translates well from the college game. Rookies at MLB and at RB tend to be almost as good as they're going to get right off the bat. With all the uncertainty at the position it might be worth hanging on to Hawk a bit longer. As shitty as he is his availability has been the best on the team.
02-09-2015, 12:51 PM
woodbuck27

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3irty1

I think its a mistake to count Barrington as a starter next year. We need a pair of guys and they should definitely come from the draft. MLB is a relatively low learning curve or just translates well from the college game. Rookies at MLB and at RB tend to be almost as good as they're going to get right off the bat. With all the uncertainty at the position it might be worth hanging on to Hawk a bit longer. As shitty as he is his availability has been the best on the team.

Ted Thompson without change for 2015 will spend:

Approx. $10.45 M$ for 3 ILB's or 6.57% of the CAP.

The cost for 5 CB's = $ 10.71 M$ or 7.15 % of CAP.

The cost for 3 Safetys = $7.67 M$ or 5.12 % of CAP.

AJ Hawk's CAP hit for 2015 = $5.1M$ and Dead Money @ $1.6M$. Potential saving if cut = $3.5 M$

AJ Hawk wasn't unproductive as Brad Jones was last season and had a total of 94 tackles and .5 SACK and 2PD and 1 STF.

Specifically on Brad Jones:

Brad Jones Cap hit is $4.75 M$ and Dead Money @ $1.0 M$. Potential saving if cut = $3.75M$

His production in 2014 was < half of Sam Barrington's and to cut him should be an easy decision.

TT may have to simply move on from both AJ Hawk and Brad Jones. Use the savings to hang onto Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga and Tramon Williams. TT's hand may be forced here.

ie ...Cut both Hawk and Brad Jones and save $7.25 M$ = the possible restructured cost for CB Tramon Williams.
02-09-2015, 03:28 PM
pbmax

Code:

Pos PRank Rating Name Type Yr Ht/Wt College 2013 Team Signed Team MLB 1 Karlos Dansby UFA 10 -/- Auburn Arizona Cleveland MLB 2 Brandon Spikes UFA 4 6-5/250 Florida New England Buffalo MLB 3 Donald Butler UFA 4 6-1/235 Wash San Diego San Diego MLB 4 Vincent Rey RFA 3 -/- Duke Cincinnati Cincinnati MLB 5 Daryl Smith UFA 10 -/- GaTech Baltimore Baltimore MLB 6 D'Qwell Jackson UFA 8 6-0/240 Maryland Cleveland Indianapolis MLB 7 Akeem Jordan UFA 7 -/- James Madison Kansas City MLB 8 Jameel McClain UFA 6 6-1/250 Syracuse Baltimore NY Giants MLB 9 Perry Riley UFA 3 -/- LSU Washington Washington MLB 10 Joe Mays UFA 6 -/- North Dakota St Denver Kansas City MLB 11 Arthur Moats UFA 4 -/- James Madison Buffalo Pittsburgh MLB 12 Joe Mays UFA 6 -/- North Dakota St Denver MLB 13 Kavell Conner UFA 4 -/- Clemson Indianapolis San Diego MLB 14 Wesley Woodyard UFA 6 6-1/230 Kentucky Denver Tennessee MLB 15 Jon Beason UFA 7 -/- Miami (FL) NY Giants NY Giants MLB 16 Darryl Sharpton UFA 4 -/- Miami (FL) Houston Washington MLB 17 Pat Angerer UFA 4 -/- Iowa Indianapolis MLB 18 Dane Fletcher UFA 4 6-2/244 Montana State New England Tampa Bay MLB 19 D.J. Williams UFA 10 6-1/242 Miami (FL) Chicago Chicago MLB 20 Jasper Brinkley UFA 5 -/- South Carolina Arizona Minnesota MLB NR NR Nick Barnett UFA 11 -/- Oregon State Washington MLB NR NR Nick Bellore RFA 3 6-1/250 Cent Michigan NY Jets MLB NR NR Bront Bird RFA 3 6-4/250 Texas Tech San Diego MLB NR NR Desmond Bishop UFA 7 6-2/238 California Minnesota MLB NR NR Stewart Bradley UFA 7 -/- Nebraska Denver MLB NR NR Dan Connor UFA 6 -/- Penn State Carolina MLB NR NR Blake Costanzo UFA 6 6-1/235 Lafayette Chicago MLB NR NR Jacob Cutrera UFA 4 -/- LSU Tampa Bay MLB NR NR Zac Diles UFA 7 -/- Kansas State Tennessee MLB NR NR London Fletcher UFA 16 5-10/258 John Carroll Washington MLB NR NR Larry Foote UFA 12 6-1/239 Michigan Pittsburgh MLB NR NR Rob Francois UFA 4 6-2/255 Boston College Green Bay MLB NR NR Mark Herzlich RFA 3 -/- Boston College NY Giants MLB NR NR Justin Hickman RFA 3 6-2/258 UCLA Indianapolis Indianapolis MLB NR NR Ramon Humber UFA 5 5-11/232 North Dakota St New Orleans New Orleans MLB NR NR Bryan Kehl UFA 6 6-2/244 BYU Washington MLB NR NR J Lattimore RFA 3 6-2/230 Mid Tenn State Green Bay Green Bay MLB NR NR Paris Lenon UFA 12 -/- Richmond Denver MLB NR NR Scott Lutrus RFA 3 6-2/241 Connecticut Indianapolis MLB NR NR A McClellan RFA 4 6-2/255 Marshall Baltimore Baltimore MLB NR NR Austin Spitler UFA 4 6-2/250 Ohio State Miami MLB NR NR S Sylvester UFA 4 6-2/231 Utah Pittsburgh MLB NR NR Jonathan Vilma UFA 10 6-1/230 Miami (FL) New Orleans MLB NR NR Reggie Walker UFA 5 6-0/244 Kansas State San Diego San Diego MLB NR NR W Witherspoon UFA 12 -/- Georgia St. Louis
02-10-2015, 10:25 AM
call_me_ishmael

On WSSP, they said that in an interview Peppers acknowledged that he'd have to redo his contract and that he'd be back this year.
02-10-2015, 11:57 AM
smuggler

That would be awesome, ish!!
02-10-2015, 03:58 PM
Ballboy

I am not so sure TWill hasn't played his last game in GB unless he signs for less and I don't think he will. We drafted Hayward/House and I can see TT giving one or both a shot at starting, then drafting a DB for dime defense. The glaring hole in D is at ILB, and I think dropping Hawk & Jones is the right thing to do, regardless of who we have back as evident by whom was playing at the end of the year. Packers see even a sometimes bad Barrington as better than Hawk/Jones.

If TT can hold out late in FA for a ILB ala Charles Woodson in his career that's about the only FA pick up I see.

Has Raji played his last year...or will it be another one year deal at a good price?
02-10-2015, 04:19 PM
pbmax

House does not seem like a sure thing but the team seems to trust him. The reason Tramontana might return for a reduced price is that neither Hayward or Hyde seem ready to be outside corners.
02-10-2015, 04:34 PM
mraynrand

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbmax

neither Hayward or Hyde seem ready to be outside corners.

tru dat. But they might not get a reduced price on Twill. I'm betting they roll the dice on being able to pick up another outside corner in draft or rookie FA.
02-10-2015, 05:16 PM
pbmax

Quote:

Originally Posted by mraynrand

tru dat. But they might not get a reduced price on Twill. I'm betting they roll the dice on being able to pick up another outside corner in draft or rookie FA.

Some of the mocks seem to be betting on this.
02-10-2015, 06:43 PM
red

Quote:

Originally Posted by mraynrand

tru dat. But they might not get a reduced price on Twill. I'm betting they roll the dice on being able to pick up another outside corner in draft or rookie FA.

well unless he takes a decent pay cut, he's not worth bringing back IMO

he needs to be closer to the 6 million a year range, not 8.5-9.5 a year
02-11-2015, 11:48 AM
Ballboy

If you look at the ages of the players we have that are up....Cobb, Bulaga and Twill; then throw in House....I think TWill is on the wrong side of 30.

He could be just the Odd Man Out.
02-11-2015, 11:58 AM
woodbuck27

I won't be surprized if Tamone Williams doesn't test the market.

I'll make a prediction:

TT will make him a fair offer and TW will see if he can't get more.
02-11-2015, 11:58 AM
Joemailman

Quote:

Originally Posted by red

well unless he takes a decent pay cut, he's not worth bringing back IMO

he needs to be closer to the 6 million a year range, not 8.5-9.5 a year

No question. A contract of 6 million per year would still put Tramon in the 15-20 range as far as biggest contracts by cornerbacks. He did give up 8 TD passes this year, so I'm not sure he's be rated any high than that.
02-11-2015, 06:34 PM
Deputy Nutz

Right now there are no ILB with a first round grade. McKinney from Mississippi St. has some ability but isn't highly thought of as a first rounder, but things change with the combine and work outs. The Draft or I should say pre-draft babble is just that babble. Thompson is full of shit when he says he takes best available, he looks at best available need position. needs are at NT, ILB, CB, TE, WR.
02-11-2015, 08:18 PM
wist43

Not sure it matters that much what Ted does personnel-wise... dunderdummy is still our DC - tough to overcome that.

We've had enough pieces on defense the last 2 years to make a serious run both years, and dunderdummy screwed us this year, and tortured us all of 2013 - he's such a liability that I don't think we can overcome his presence no matter what we do with the personnel.

That said, I think Barrington is a keeper - he showed enough to be pencilled in as the starter at one spot. We definitely need an infusion of youth and talent with a new starter and depth. Hawk and Jones need to go...

In the end, I doubt TT will do much in FA, and the draft is always a crapshoot - if a decent ILB isn't there early, we'll be stuck with throwing spitballs at 7th rounders again.

Think we keep Hawk, and it will be the same turtle approach from Ted. Same ol', same ol'... dunderdummy will invent new ways to embarrass us in the playoffs :(
02-20-2015, 12:54 PM
Bossman641

So apparently Hawk had injury issues during the year, which Rodgers hinted at a few times. I wonder if Hawk would be agreeable to taking a pay cut to be a backup. I can't imagine any teams wanting him as a starter at this point.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12...ove-bone-spurs
02-20-2015, 02:19 PM
Smidgeon

I've heard of bone spurs before but know not how they affect someone.
02-20-2015, 03:22 PM
Patler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smidgeon

I've heard of bone spurs before but know not how they affect someone.

A bony growth that, can rub on tendons or muscles making it very painful to move at a joint. This could explain his lumbering gait and noticeable loss of speed and quickness this year.
02-20-2015, 03:29 PM
gbgary

brad jones released
02-20-2015, 03:34 PM
Patler

That's not a surprise.

I think Hawk stays, at least until camp.
02-20-2015, 03:47 PM
Tony Oday

Quote:

Originally Posted by wist43

Not sure it matters that much what Ted does personnel-wise... dunderdummy is still our DC - tough to overcome that.

We've had enough pieces on defense the last 2 years to make a serious run both years, and dunderdummy screwed us this year, and tortured us all of 2013 - he's such a liability that I don't think we can overcome his presence no matter what we do with the personnel.

That said, I think Barrington is a keeper - he showed enough to be pencilled in as the starter at one spot. We definitely need an infusion of youth and talent with a new starter and depth. Hawk and Jones need to go...

In the end, I doubt TT will do much in FA, and the draft is always a crapshoot - if a decent ILB isn't there early, we'll be stuck with throwing spitballs at 7th rounders again.

Think we keep Hawk, and it will be the same turtle approach from Ted. Same ol', same ol'... dunderdummy will invent new ways to embarrass us in the playoffs :(

Bullshit. Bostick follows the play and the Packers are in the Super Bowl and would have crushed the Patriots. Capers brought the D around towards the end, your hate clouds your vision.
02-20-2015, 04:24 PM
mraynrand

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Oday

Bullshit. Bostick follows the play and the Packers are in the Super Bowl and would have crushed the Patriots. Capers brought the D around towards the end, your hate clouds your vision.

I feel the conflict within you; let go of your hate
02-20-2015, 04:27 PM
mraynrand

http://media.giphy.com/media/LQx7NoY...facebook_s.jpg
You CANNOT TRUST DUNDERDUMMY. EVER!
02-20-2015, 04:55 PM
Smidgeon

Feels appropriate:

New Hope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ezeYJUz-84

Empire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjsFAZWnA00
02-20-2015, 06:23 PM
red

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patler

A bony growth that, can rub on tendons or muscles making it very painful to move at a joint. This could explain his lumbering gait and noticeable loss of speed and quickness this year.

i was thinking about hawk the other day, didn't he lose a bunch of weight before this year or last year, so he could be quicker?

to see him moving so slowly this year, something had to be wrong, he's not old enough to be looking like ray nitschke hobbling down the field returning an int with two bad legs

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