The Offseason Begins

[Patler]

I think Tory Humphrey might be in the mix at TE, too. He is the one guy that both MM and TT seemed to regret having lost to IR when he broke his ankle. They both mentioned him several times earlier in the season as being a loss.

I wonder about Tony Palmer. I assumed his career was done when he injured his neck, but articles keep bringing him up. It has been mentioned many times that he was without a doubt there best pure run blocker, and that he is extremely powerful. I'm not sure he projects as a starter, but might be kept as a backup and for short yardage situations.

What does everyone think about DeShawn Wynn's chances next season?

[HarveyWallbangers]

If Thompson didn't want to pay Wahle...who was younger and arguably better than Faneca is at this point...why would he pay Faneca?

I wouldn't necessarily say he didn't want to. Remember the Packers cap situation in 2005, and the fact Wahle was due a huge bonus. Like you said, he might have changed his mind after watching the run blocking vs. the Giants. I think, given a cap situation the way it is now, Thompson might have found a way to keep Wahle.

[Patler]

If Thompson didn't want to pay Wahle...who was younger and arguably better than Faneca is at this point...why would he pay Faneca?

The biggest difference is that at the time Wahle became a free agent, the Packers had very little room in their salary cap. Even after releasing Wahle, they had to also cut Ruegamer just to get under the cap. Ruegamer was then re-signed later. They had very little flexibility in their negotiations, especially since Sharper would not give them any help by renegotiating. They were still trying to work something out with Sharper when Wahle signed.

[The Leaper]

I wouldn't necessarily say he didn't want to. Remember the Packers cap situation in 2005, and the fact Wahle was due a huge bonus.

Yeah, but we could've resigned him once we cut him. However, by all accounts Thompson made no real outreach to Wahle to try to keep him. He practically RAN to Carolina...because he wanted out of Green Bay so fast.

[Patler]

I wouldn't necessarily say he didn't want to. Remember the Packers cap situation in 2005, and the fact Wahle was due a huge bonus.

Yeah, but we could've resigned him once we cut him. However, by all accounts Thompson made no real outreach to Wahle to try to keep him. He practically RAN to Carolina...because he wanted out of Green Bay so fast.

At the time Wahle signed with Carolina, which was very soon after he was released by GB, the Packers had less than $1 million in cap space as I recall. They had few options available to them at the time.

[BallHawk]

Rick DeMulling, Of FYI fame at JSO, is a freeagent!

Somebody call TT and explain FYI to him.

After knowing the story he will have no choice but to sign him.

[BallHawk]

BTW, this is bugging me now.

What was the name of the guy that started FYI? He had an American flag as his avatar, but that's all I can remember.

[twoseven]

I'd fall over dead if we signed Faneca. Over 30. Plays guard. Has been making noises about one more big payday since training camp last year (wanted his deal redone). That is a nearly complete checklist of things Thompson avoids.

Tauscher is 30 and his contract expires after next season. Clifton is 31 and his deal expires after two seasons. Putting the personals about Faneca and his negotiations aside for a second, will Tausch at 31 and Clifton at 33 be too old to keep around when their contracts expire? I understand you need to stay young, but are we placing a little too much emphasis on calendar age and not on physical age? Just a thought.

[Partial]

They will both likely get small contracts and stay with the Pack if they still are effective.

[twoseven]

They will both likely get small contracts and stay with the Pack if they still are effective.

If they are still effective? We're talking about next year is Tauscher's contract year (expires after 08') and year after next is Clifton's. Anything can happen in 1-2 years, but realistically how much do you see them slipping? Clifton made over $6 mil this year and Tausch close to $5 mil. Tausch might be one of the best RT in the game, just got done making Kerney and Strahan look silly in front of a national audience, guy almost never gets caught holding. Clifton has performed well also, how often does he give up a sack? How small do you think their deals will be? I know you don't want to break the bank on a 31 and 32 year old Tackle, but I have a feeling neither one of them will be settling for peanuts in the next two years. I would love to think they'll not expect more, but who knows..

[Travbrew]

BTW, this is bugging me now.

What was the name of the guy that started FYI? He had an American flag as his avatar, but that's all I can remember.

Was it "the Truth"?

[Partial]

They will both likely get small contracts and stay with the Pack if they still are effective.

If they are still effective? We're talking about next year is Tauscher's contract year (expires after 08') and year after next is Clifton's. Anything can happen in 1-2 years, but realistically how much do you see them slipping? Clifton made over $6 mil this year and Tausch close to $5 mil. Tausch might be one of the best RT in the game, just got done making Kerney and Strahan look silly in front of a national audience, guy almost never gets caught holding. Clifton has performed well also, how often does he give up a sack? How small do you think their deals will be? I know you don't want to break the bank on a 31 and 32 year old Tackle, but I have a feeling neither one of them will be settling for peanuts in the next two years. I would love to think they'll not expect more, but who knows..

It's very possible, but I don't think they'll break the bank. If they're still playing well they'll get paid about what they are now. If they start to slip or get hurt they'll be about 2-3 mil.

[Travbrew]

BTW, this is bugging me now.

What was the name of the guy that started FYI? He had an American flag as his avatar, but that's all I can remember.

Was it "the Truth"?

Nope I think I remember. Was it TPB?

[BallHawk]

BTW, this is bugging me now.

What was the name of the guy that started FYI? He had an American flag as his avatar, but that's all I can remember.

Was it "the Truth"?

Nope I think I remember. Was it TPB?

Wasn't him. It was a guy that had 3 something posts and was definitely not a regular.

[CaliforniaCheez]

They will both likely get small contracts and stay with the Pack if they still are effective.

If they are still effective? We're talking about next year is Tauscher's contract year (expires after 08') and year after next is Clifton's. Anything can happen in 1-2 years, but realistically how much do you see them slipping? Clifton made over $6 mil this year and Tausch close to $5 mil. Tausch might be one of the best RT in the game, just got done making Kerney and Strahan look silly in front of a national audience, guy almost never gets caught holding. Clifton has performed well also, how often does he give up a sack? How small do you think their deals will be? I know you don't want to break the bank on a 31 and 32 year old Tackle, but I have a feeling neither one of them will be settling for peanuts in the next two years. I would love to think they'll not expect more, but who knows..

It's very possible, but I don't think they'll break the bank. If they're still playing well they'll get paid about what they are now. If they start to slip or get hurt they'll be about 2-3 mil.

Taucher is in the last year of his contract 2008. He is a perfect guy to give an up front contract. It will burn up cap room and make him easily cutable in the future. He seems healthier than Clifton.

Between Barbre, Colledge, and those signed between now and the begining of 2010 a replacement for Clifton will be found.

It is too early to panic.