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SAT., MAY 20, 2006 - 12:37 AM
Packers: Missing at minicamp
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY - Although he's more likely to take an approach similar to Donald Driver's relatively polite request rather than the trade-demanding Javon Walker or Mike McKenzie tack, the Green Bay Packers have another player who'd like to talk about his contract situation: Al Harris.
According to a team source, the veteran cornerback is skipping the three-day, five-practice minicamp - which technically is voluntary - because he would like the team to upgrade his contract.
Harris signed a $18.635 million extension in September 2004 - smack-dab in the middle of McKenzie's ugly return to the team and shortly before his trade to New Orleans. The extension added five years onto Harris' existing deal and contained $7 million in bonuses, though not all of them were guaranteed.
With that deal, Harris is under contract through 2009 and is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.5 million this season, $2.2 million in 2007, $2.85 million in 2008 and $3 million in 2009. But Harris' deal has since been surpassed by a number of corners in the league, including new teammate Charles Woodson.
When reached on his cell phone Friday night and asked why he wasn't attending the minicamp, Harris said, "Just family matters." Asked whether his absence had anything to do with his contract situation, Harris refused to comment. Harris' San Diego-based agent, Jack Bechta, did not return a message.
Asked about Harris' situation on Thursday, general manager Ted Thompson reiterated that the team doesn't discuss contract matters publicly and pointed out that the camp is indeed voluntary. Coach Mike McCarthy would only say that Harris wasn't in attendance because of a "personal" matter when asked about his absence after practice Friday.
Harris was one of six healthy veteran players who were not at Friday's practices: Quarterback Brett Favre, Woodson, fullback William Henderson, wide receiver Rod Gardner, defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Again, McCarthy wouldn't say why the others were missing.
Three rookies - linebacker A.J. Hawk, offensive tackle Tony Moll and linebacker Kevin Schimmelmann - were also absent for academic reasons.
Presumably, Harris was less than thrilled with the contract the Packers gave Woodson.
Woodson received a seven-year deal that included a $4 million signing bonus, a $4 million roster bonus and incentives that could pay him $950,000 more this year on top of his $1.25 million base salary, meaning he'll make anywhere from $9 million to $10 million this year.
At the mandatory post-draft minicamp, Harris gave no indication that he was unhappy with his contract or with Woodson, talking excitedly about the prospect of the two playing together.
Harris signed his extension before becoming the Packers' designated shut-down corner, matching up in most games with the opponent's top wide receiver. He hasn't missed a start since coming to Green Bay in March 2003 in a trade with Philadelphia and has intercepted eight passes, three of which have been returned for touchdowns. He had a team-best three interceptions last season and was a Pro Bowl alternate.
Unlike McKenzie, who skipped all offseason workouts in 2004 to force his trade to New Orleans, and Walker, who boycotted all the 2005 offseason practices and vowed to do so again this year before he was traded on draft day to Denver, Harris has never missed a minicamp.
Driver, the team's leading receiver, also had been unhappy with his contract before signing a four-year, $17 million extension last week. Although he let the team know of his dissatisfaction with his deal, Driver never threatened to hold out of training camp or asked to be traded, and Harris seems unlikely to make such demands.
Packers notes: Whitticker on the move?
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY - Will Whitticker is a smart guy. He knows a bad sign when he sees one.
After starting 14 games at guard last season, the Green Bay Packers second-year offensive lineman finds himself wondering about the new coaching staff's plans for him. Rather than working at guard, Whitticker is at left tackle with the No. 1 line for the second straight minicamp - but only because starter Chad Clifton and primary backup Adrian Klemm are out with knee injuries.
With the team switching to a zone-blocking scheme, the 6-foot-5, 338-pound Whitticker, who never played tackle before, could go from starting as a surprising rookie seventh-round pick to out of a job in less than a year.
"I don't know what to think," Whitticker said between practices Friday. "I'm up and down. You feel at times like, who knows what your future is here? I just have to make the most of it."
Asked about Whitticker Friday night, offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski's initial reply was, "Let's move on." When pressed, Jagodzinski said, "He needs to fit in with what we're doing. And he is. He's giving good effort."
But is Whitticker a tackle?
"That's where he's playing right now. We're short some guys," Jagodzinski said. "He's a smart kid. We're just trying to get different combinations in there and see who the best fit is where. What you're seeing out there isn't what you're going to see in the fall."
Whitticker just hopes he's around then.
"Look, if I'm destined to be here, then I'll be here. If not, I have to hope I get picked up by another team and I go play there," said Whitticker, who has watched Junius Coston and rookie Daryn Colledge work as the No. 1 guards. "But you can't look that far ahead. Right now, I'm still here with the Green Bay Packers and I hope to be on the team next year."
Let's get physical
Cornerback Ahmad Carroll got into one of the more violent minicamp scraps in recent memory toward the end of the morning practice with wide receiver Ruvell Martin.
Such fights usually happen in training camp, when the players are in pads and temperatures - and tempers - rise, but Carroll got so mad at Martin at the end of a play that he hit the receiver several times with a closed fist, first in the helmet and then in the midsection. The two eventually were separated.
"I don't think anybody minds a fight every once in a while, but fighting on a football field, I don't think is very smart," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Asked if the two made up afterwards, Martin said, "No, I haven't talked to him. But I don't really talk to him anyways."
From the infirmary
Safety Marquand Manuel, who came over as a free agent from Seattle, took part in individual and position drills but was withheld from team drills because of the groin injury he suffered in Super Bowl XL. Manuel didn't do anything at the post-draft minicamp. ... Defensive lineman Kenny Peterson practiced after missing the first camp with a shoulder injury. ... Carroll sat out the afternoon practice with an ankle injury. ... Rookie linebacker Tim Goodwell suffered a right foot injury during the morning session. ... Seven injured players - cornerback Jason Horton, halfbacks Chaz Williams and Najeh Davenport, linebacker Brady Poppinga, defensive tackle Tim McGill, Klemm and Clifton - watched practice, while injured running back Ahman Green, safety Jeremy Thornburg and linebacker Kurt Campbell were nowhere to be seen.
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