Agent: Davis will return in 08

[Brando19]

http://www.packersnews.com/includes/newspaper/blogs/insider/index.shtml

It seems almost certain long snapper Rob Davis, a prominent voice in the Packers' locker room, will return for a 13th NFL season.

Davis, who will turn 40 in December, has signed a series of one-year qualifying contracts in recent years. Kevin Gold, Davis' agent, said this morning he expects a deal for 2008 to be done soon.

"I think the issue was, is Rob going to snap or is he going to be the director of player programs?" Gold said of Davis, who was named an assistant to acting Director of Player Development Tim Terry in July. "He wants to come back. He talked to Ted (Thompson) and Mike (McCarthy), and they want him back ... so we’ll get it done."

McCarthy had said in his season-end media conference he planned to speak with Davis again about his future after this weekend's Pro Bowl, in which the Packers' staff will coach the NFC squad.

Davis' 2007 contract included a base salary of $820,000 and $46,240 in workout bonuses, but he only counted $481,240 against the salary cap under the league's minimum salary benefit rule. The contracts of linebacker Tracy White and defensive tackle Colin Cole also qualified for the minimum salary benefit last season.

The base salary of any player with four or more credited seasons who signs a qualifying contract -- a one-year deal with the minimum base salary and less than $40,000 in "additional compensation," not including minimum per-day workout bonuses -- is reduced for cap purposes to the minimum base salary for a player with two credited seasons, which last season was $435,000. The difference is counted as a player benefit. After the season ends and before the contract expires in March, the sides can agree to a one-year extension.

So, Davis' 2008 deal would include an $830,000 base salary but only count $445,000, plus bonuses, against the cap.

[woodbuck27]

Us Canadian Packer fans are pleased for him.

He's been with us a long time. He may have fallen off a wee bit last season and we'll have to see how he does in 2008.

PACKERS FOREVER!

[The Leaper]

They should look to bring in a young kid behind Wells at center who can also long snap...we really don't have a true backup center at this point, and Davis isn't exactly an elite long snapper anymore. He's still good, but he's shown decline in the last few years...and he has no worth on the field other than long snapping.

[Jimx29]

This is good news. Having a couple veterans like Brett and Rob is needed with all the youth in the lineup

[Patler]

They should look to bring in a young kid behind Wells at center who can also long snap...

That is getting harder and harder to do. Many colleges use long snap specialists who don't play elsewhere. While many NFL teams list their long snappers at a position, if you really look in to it, they never play, except for a very, very few of them.

[Guiness]

They should look to bring in a young kid behind Wells at center who can also long snap...

That is getting harder and harder to do. Many colleges use long snap specialists who don't play elsewhere. While many NFL teams list their long snappers at a position, if you really look in to it, they never play, except for a very, very few of them.

Really, eh? Even at the college level? Didn't realize that...That makes it pretty hard to 'develop' one. I guess they're a real specialist like a kicker or punter now. So you'd have to put one on the practice squad if you wanted to work a guy up.

The team at our college actually had a CB that handled the LS duties. Pretty funny to see him our there lining up in the trenches!

[Patler]

They should look to bring in a young kid behind Wells at center who can also long snap...

That is getting harder and harder to do. Many colleges use long snap specialists who don't play elsewhere. While many NFL teams list their long snappers at a position, if you really look in to it, they never play, except for a very, very few of them.

Really, eh? Even at the college level? Didn't realize that...That makes it pretty hard to 'develop' one. I guess they're a real specialist like a kicker or punter now. So you'd have to put one on the practice squad if you wanted to work a guy up.

The team at our college actually had a CB that handled the LS duties. Pretty funny to see him our there lining up in the trenches!

Even in the NFL, a reasonable number of the long snappers are former tight ends, linebackers and the like. Many of them are undersized linemen, around 260-270 pounds, that you could never play regularly on offense.

It has become a true specialists position, for the most part.

[Lurker64]

From JSO (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=724228)


The agent for long snapper Rob Davis said he had gotten the feeling from the team that it would go for someone younger and thus move Davis into the position of director of player programs when he is ready.

Kevin Gold said Davis would consider offers from other teams but if nothing surfaces, he would take the player program position.

Personally, I hope this isn't true. I don't see the Packers picking up a better longsnapper than Davis, and I would hate to lose his leadership locker room presence if he goes elsewhere.

[pittstang5]

I think they tried to have a long snapper / position player last year. Wasn't the TE Harris they drafted in the later rounds last year a long snapper as well. It didn't work out, so maybe they try again this year in the draft.

Personally, I think Davis does a good job and I will be happy to see him back. But....they gotta start looking for a replacement soon. Davis won't be here forever.