sheepshead
05-22-2008, 09:13 AM
Grant's agent will talk to Packers today
By Tom Pelissero and Pete Dougherty • tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com; pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com • May 22, 2008
* Read Comments(2)
* Recommend (1)
* Print this page
* E-mail this article
* Share this article:
* Del.icio.us
* Facebook
* Digg
* Reddit
* Newsvine
* What’s this?
Ryan Grant's agent expects to know within a day or two whether the Green Bay Packers are willing to give their starting running back the multiyear deal he wants.
Advertisement
Unless and until he gets it, Grant doesn't plan to participate in football drills.
Grant, who took over as a starter midway through last season and ran for 956 yards, has participated in the Packers' offseason program despite refusing to sign the minimum $370,000 tender the team gave him as an exclusive-rights player with one accrued NFL season. However, he is sitting out the team's organized team activities practices, which began this week, because of the injury risk.
Grant's agent, Alan Herman, on Wednesday said he plans to have a lengthy conversation today with the Packers' chief negotiator, Russ Ball, and would know "real soon" if a deal can get done.
"The process has started," Herman said. "Are we getting anywhere? Probably a better question at the end of the week."
Though he technically is a second-year player who won't be eligible for unrestricted free agency until at least 2011, Grant is four years removed from college. He spent two seasons with the New York Giants — one on the practice squad and one on the non-football injury list — before the Packers traded for him in September, and is 25 years old at a position where many players decline by 30.
So, Grant hopes to be rewarded immediately for the life he breathed into a stagnant running game last season.
"I just felt like it was in my best (interest) to handle it this way," Grant said, "and I think both sides feel like I'm going about it the correct way."
Given Grant's lack of leverage, precedent for a deal is difficult to find.
Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys signed Marion Barber to a seven-year, $45 million contract that included $16 million in guarantees. Barber rushed for roughly the same number of yards (975) as Grant at only a slightly lower average (4.8 yards per carry, to Grant's 5.1), but he was a restricted free agent with three accrued seasons.
Unrestricted free agent Julius Jones, who started in front of Barber the past three seasons, agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract with Seattle that included $5.5 million in the first year. Jones ran for only 588 yards last season at a 3.6-yard average.
Herman declined to discuss the numbers he expects to be exchanged today, but said, "I think the Packers are open to negotiating a fair deal for Ryan. I'm optimistic that will occur."
He added: "It's probably the most unique situation I've dealt with in the 25 years I've been negotiating contracts in the league. As long as both sides aren't rigid — in the true spirit of compromise, this has to be a situation where there's compromise."
Coach Mike McCarthy, among others, has praised Grant for attending the voluntary workouts the past two months in spite of the contractual issue.
"He's a true pro," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "His approach in the film room, the study room, meeting room … has been phenomenal. The leadership, even out on the field — obviously, he's limited with certain things that he can do — but in the weight room, it's all-bore."
"I'm not unhappy," Grant said. "There's no unhappiness, there's no hard feelings or anything like that. Not at all. It's the business aspect."
Grant said he expects a deal to be done before training camp opens July 28. He wouldn't speculate on what would happen if a deal isn't struck, but accepting the Packers' initial offer doesn't seem to be a possibility.
"There's not a chance we're signing that tender," Herman said.
By Tom Pelissero and Pete Dougherty • tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com; pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com • May 22, 2008
* Read Comments(2)
* Recommend (1)
* Print this page
* E-mail this article
* Share this article:
* Del.icio.us
* Digg
* Newsvine
* What’s this?
Ryan Grant's agent expects to know within a day or two whether the Green Bay Packers are willing to give their starting running back the multiyear deal he wants.
Advertisement
Unless and until he gets it, Grant doesn't plan to participate in football drills.
Grant, who took over as a starter midway through last season and ran for 956 yards, has participated in the Packers' offseason program despite refusing to sign the minimum $370,000 tender the team gave him as an exclusive-rights player with one accrued NFL season. However, he is sitting out the team's organized team activities practices, which began this week, because of the injury risk.
Grant's agent, Alan Herman, on Wednesday said he plans to have a lengthy conversation today with the Packers' chief negotiator, Russ Ball, and would know "real soon" if a deal can get done.
"The process has started," Herman said. "Are we getting anywhere? Probably a better question at the end of the week."
Though he technically is a second-year player who won't be eligible for unrestricted free agency until at least 2011, Grant is four years removed from college. He spent two seasons with the New York Giants — one on the practice squad and one on the non-football injury list — before the Packers traded for him in September, and is 25 years old at a position where many players decline by 30.
So, Grant hopes to be rewarded immediately for the life he breathed into a stagnant running game last season.
"I just felt like it was in my best (interest) to handle it this way," Grant said, "and I think both sides feel like I'm going about it the correct way."
Given Grant's lack of leverage, precedent for a deal is difficult to find.
Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys signed Marion Barber to a seven-year, $45 million contract that included $16 million in guarantees. Barber rushed for roughly the same number of yards (975) as Grant at only a slightly lower average (4.8 yards per carry, to Grant's 5.1), but he was a restricted free agent with three accrued seasons.
Unrestricted free agent Julius Jones, who started in front of Barber the past three seasons, agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract with Seattle that included $5.5 million in the first year. Jones ran for only 588 yards last season at a 3.6-yard average.
Herman declined to discuss the numbers he expects to be exchanged today, but said, "I think the Packers are open to negotiating a fair deal for Ryan. I'm optimistic that will occur."
He added: "It's probably the most unique situation I've dealt with in the 25 years I've been negotiating contracts in the league. As long as both sides aren't rigid — in the true spirit of compromise, this has to be a situation where there's compromise."
Coach Mike McCarthy, among others, has praised Grant for attending the voluntary workouts the past two months in spite of the contractual issue.
"He's a true pro," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "His approach in the film room, the study room, meeting room … has been phenomenal. The leadership, even out on the field — obviously, he's limited with certain things that he can do — but in the weight room, it's all-bore."
"I'm not unhappy," Grant said. "There's no unhappiness, there's no hard feelings or anything like that. Not at all. It's the business aspect."
Grant said he expects a deal to be done before training camp opens July 28. He wouldn't speculate on what would happen if a deal isn't struck, but accepting the Packers' initial offer doesn't seem to be a possibility.
"There's not a chance we're signing that tender," Herman said.