Bretsky
03-04-2007, 07:54 PM
JS ONLINE: SPORTS: PACKERS: E-MAIL | PRINT
THIS STORY
Wallet stays closed
Team waits; watches market
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 3, 2007
All around them NFL teams are throwing around money like Pacman Jones at the NBA all-star weekend.
But so far the Green Bay Packers refuse to join in the fun, firmly positioned in a holding pattern.
They aren't alone in that regard. Most teams are sitting tight while the big-money deals hit the books during the opening days of free agency.
So while running back Ahman Green flew from Denver to Houston on Saturday to prepare for a lengthy visit with the Texans, and tight end David Martin went about shopping himself around the league, the Packers waited.
Re-signing their own players is their priority. But they have ceilings on what they're willing to pay Green and Martin, which is one reason why both were allowed to hit free agency Friday after lengthy negotiations.
The Packers' hope is that the pair find less than what they anticipated in the market and decide to settle for contracts more in line with what the team has in mind.
The Packers haven't had any free agent in for a visit, in line with general manager Ted Thompson's remarks that Green Bay would be a bystander when the big money was thrown around.
The Packers very well could be ranked second in the NFL behind the Arizona Cardinals in available salary-cap room when new figures come out Monday. The leaders in cap room going into free agency - San Francisco, Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville and New England - did a lot of quick shopping.
Instead of focusing on what the Packers view as a weak free-agent crop, they are preparing themselves for the second phase of free agency, when players who were left out of the bonus round begin adjusting their demands. The Packers also are interested in cleaning up after those teams who choose to cut high-priced veterans for financial reasons.
Each free-agent signing spins a team's revolving door, often resulting in one player coming in and one or two coming out.
With more than $21 million in cap room available, the Packers could easily meet Green's demands, thought to be around $5 million per year, including much more than that in 2007. But Thompson has always placed a value on a player based on what the Packers can live with, and then stuck with it.
Green visited Denver on Friday, but the Broncos brought in Travis Henry the same day that the Tennessee Titans officially released him and are more likely to sign him than Green. That would leave Houston and Oakland as Green's main suitors, although others may join in.
If the Texans come up with an offer that knocks Green's socks off - a strong possibility given that former Packers coach Mike Sherman is the offensive coordinator and the club freed up $6 million by restructuring receiver Andre Johnson's contract - Thompson will have to decide whether to match it.
If he doesn't, the Packers will have to sign a veteran running back to go along with young prospect Vernand Morency and backups Noah Herron and Arliss Beach. There is an abundance of stop-gap possibilities on the market and a couple of players who could be obtained in a trade.
The free agents include Jamal Lewis, Corey Dillon, Ron Dayne, Chris Brown, Anthony Thomas, T.J. Duckett, Patrick Pass, Stephen Davis and Correll Buckhalter. Those up for trade include Buffalo's Willis McGahee, Chicago's Thomas Jones, Oakland's Lamont Jordan and Miami's Ricky Williams.
Any one of those could give the Packers the security they need heading into the April college draft, when they're likely to select a running back on the first day regardless of Green's status. It would be far better for the Packers if they still had their leading rusher from last year, but based on their actions it doesn't appear that they are deathly afraid of the alternative.
If Green gets out of Houston without signing a contract, it could be a good sign for the Packers. Green seems to be giving them top priority, given his love for Green Bay and organization, but should the Texans flash big money he'd have to seriously consider finishing his career in the Lone Star State.
With Martin, the Packers have fewer options because the number of quality tight ends available is not very high. They might be forced to roll with youngsters such as Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn behind Bubba Franks and Donald Lee.
They refuse to meet Martin's price for now and aren't sure whether he'll find a team that satisfied him.
So for now the Packers wait. Just as they planned.
THIS STORY
Wallet stays closed
Team waits; watches market
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 3, 2007
All around them NFL teams are throwing around money like Pacman Jones at the NBA all-star weekend.
But so far the Green Bay Packers refuse to join in the fun, firmly positioned in a holding pattern.
They aren't alone in that regard. Most teams are sitting tight while the big-money deals hit the books during the opening days of free agency.
So while running back Ahman Green flew from Denver to Houston on Saturday to prepare for a lengthy visit with the Texans, and tight end David Martin went about shopping himself around the league, the Packers waited.
Re-signing their own players is their priority. But they have ceilings on what they're willing to pay Green and Martin, which is one reason why both were allowed to hit free agency Friday after lengthy negotiations.
The Packers' hope is that the pair find less than what they anticipated in the market and decide to settle for contracts more in line with what the team has in mind.
The Packers haven't had any free agent in for a visit, in line with general manager Ted Thompson's remarks that Green Bay would be a bystander when the big money was thrown around.
The Packers very well could be ranked second in the NFL behind the Arizona Cardinals in available salary-cap room when new figures come out Monday. The leaders in cap room going into free agency - San Francisco, Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville and New England - did a lot of quick shopping.
Instead of focusing on what the Packers view as a weak free-agent crop, they are preparing themselves for the second phase of free agency, when players who were left out of the bonus round begin adjusting their demands. The Packers also are interested in cleaning up after those teams who choose to cut high-priced veterans for financial reasons.
Each free-agent signing spins a team's revolving door, often resulting in one player coming in and one or two coming out.
With more than $21 million in cap room available, the Packers could easily meet Green's demands, thought to be around $5 million per year, including much more than that in 2007. But Thompson has always placed a value on a player based on what the Packers can live with, and then stuck with it.
Green visited Denver on Friday, but the Broncos brought in Travis Henry the same day that the Tennessee Titans officially released him and are more likely to sign him than Green. That would leave Houston and Oakland as Green's main suitors, although others may join in.
If the Texans come up with an offer that knocks Green's socks off - a strong possibility given that former Packers coach Mike Sherman is the offensive coordinator and the club freed up $6 million by restructuring receiver Andre Johnson's contract - Thompson will have to decide whether to match it.
If he doesn't, the Packers will have to sign a veteran running back to go along with young prospect Vernand Morency and backups Noah Herron and Arliss Beach. There is an abundance of stop-gap possibilities on the market and a couple of players who could be obtained in a trade.
The free agents include Jamal Lewis, Corey Dillon, Ron Dayne, Chris Brown, Anthony Thomas, T.J. Duckett, Patrick Pass, Stephen Davis and Correll Buckhalter. Those up for trade include Buffalo's Willis McGahee, Chicago's Thomas Jones, Oakland's Lamont Jordan and Miami's Ricky Williams.
Any one of those could give the Packers the security they need heading into the April college draft, when they're likely to select a running back on the first day regardless of Green's status. It would be far better for the Packers if they still had their leading rusher from last year, but based on their actions it doesn't appear that they are deathly afraid of the alternative.
If Green gets out of Houston without signing a contract, it could be a good sign for the Packers. Green seems to be giving them top priority, given his love for Green Bay and organization, but should the Texans flash big money he'd have to seriously consider finishing his career in the Lone Star State.
With Martin, the Packers have fewer options because the number of quality tight ends available is not very high. They might be forced to roll with youngsters such as Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn behind Bubba Franks and Donald Lee.
They refuse to meet Martin's price for now and aren't sure whether he'll find a team that satisfied him.
So for now the Packers wait. Just as they planned.