What taggin Williams and cutting Franks means..

[Pacopete4]

I think tagging Williams shows TT's knowledge for depth at the defensive line and shows that he's not sold on Harrell's progression from last season.


I think cutting Bubba shows TT loves what he see's in Lee as the starter both in blocking and receiving. I also think he see's something in Humphrey and Krause to make him think they will be better off with them as either the #2 or #3 guy depending on the draft or free agency

[Iron Mike]

Re: What taggin Williams and cutting Franks means..

I think cutting Bubba shows TT loves what he see's in Lee as the starter both in blocking and receiving. I also think he see's something in Humphrey and Krause to make him think they will be better off with them as either the #2 or #3 guy depending on the draft or free agency

Either that or he's planning on picking up Shockey.

[Chevelle2]

Or Alge.

[MadtownPacker]

TT is acting like a guy about to put all his chips on the table. Alge would be a great signing for a year.

[NewsBruin]

What does this year's TE crop look like? Could there be a guy who develops into Better Than Bubba for less per year?

[Iron Mike]

There's enough free agents to be had:

Free Agent Tight Ends

[HarveyWallbangers]

There's enough free agents to be had:

Free Agent Tight Ends

Considering Clark and Smith are gone, it's not a great list. There are a few guys that can replace Bubba though.

1. Dallas Clark (U) Indianapolis
2. L.J. Smith (F) Philadelphia
3. Bo Scaife (R) Tennessee
4. Ben Utecht (R) Indianapolis
5. Eric Johnson (U) New Orleans
6. Jeremy Stevens (U) Tampa Bay
7. Kris Wilson (U) Kansas City
8. Michael Gaines (U) Buffalo
9. Billy Miller (U) New Orleans
10. Marcus Pollard (U) Seattle
11. Bryan Fletcher (R) Indianapolis
12. Ben Troupe, (U) Tennessee
13. Anthony Becht (U) Tampa Bay
14. John Gilmore, (U) Chicago
15. Ben Hartsock (U) Tennessee

Not many burners in the group though, so you're looking at a younger, less expensive version of Bubba if you go the FA route.

[HarveyWallbangers]

JSO reports that the Packers were $24M under the cap. Releasing Bubba put them at $26.5M. Tagging Williams put them right around $20M. They also said scouts were impressed with Williams.

Only two players that were tagged have been traded--Champ Bailey and John Abraham. Teams are very reluctant to give up both draft pick(s) and big money on a long-term deal.

There was also a note that the draft is deep at TE this year--although there aren't a ton of great all around TEs.

[twoseven]

This is the first Bubba string I've read, so apologies if this is answered elsewhere, but..is it correct to assume that we needed to cut Bubba now and not later this year to avoid paying him some money?

[Kiwon]

I'd say that's a safe assumption.

[packrulz]

What does this year's TE crop look like? Could there be a guy who develops into Better Than Bubba for less per year?

Here's the TE's from scout.com, Fred Davis is the only one projected to go in the first round.

Pos Pos
Rank Rating Name Yr Ht/Wt/40 College Home
TE 1 Fred Davis SR 6-3.5/251/4.75 USC Toledo, OH
TE 2 Martellus Bennett JR 6-6/250/4.75 Texas A&M Houston, TX
TE 3 Dustin Keller SR 6-2/251/4.70 Purdue Lafayette, IN
TE 4 Martin Rucker SR 6-4.5/249/4.71 Missouri St Joseph, MO
TE 5 John Carlson SR 6-5/259/4.70 Notre Dame Litchfield, MN
TE 6 Brad Cottam SR 6-8/275/4.70 Tennessee Cordova, TN
TE 7 Jacob Tamme SR 6-3.5/236/4.92 Kentucky Danville, KY
TE 8 Jermichael Finley SO 6-5/240/- Texas Diboll, TX
TE 9 Craig Stevens SR 6-4/257/4.78 California Rolling Hills, CA
TE 10 Cornelius Ingram JR 6-4/235/4.65 Florida Hawthorne, FL
TE 11 Joe John Finley SR 6-5/260/4.90 Oklahoma Arlington, TX
TE 12 Gary Barnidge SR 6-5.5/234/4.78 Louisville Middleburg, FL
TE 13 Darrell Strong SR 6-4.5/264/4.90 Pittsburgh Plantation, FL
TE 14 Joey Haynos SR 6-7.5/266/4.92 Maryland Washington, DC
TE 15 Kolomona Kapanui SR 6-3/262/4.90 West Texas A&M Honolulu, HI
TE 16 Mike Peterson SR 6-2/248/4.58 Northwest Missouri State
TE 17 Cole Bennett SR 6-4.5/251/4.78 Auburn Dalton, GA
TE 18 Tom Santi SR 6-5/255/4.80 Virginia Nashville, TN
TE 19 Derek Fine SR 6-3/250/4.90 Kansas Sallisaw, OK
TE 20 Wade Betschart SR 6-2/249/4.90 Wyoming

[Bretsky]

This is the first Bubba string I've read, so apologies if this is answered elsewhere, but..is it correct to assume that we needed to cut Bubba now and not later this year to avoid paying him some money?

No real benefit of cutting Bubba now except it gives him more time to find a new home.

He was due a $500,000 roster bonus and a base salary of $3 million this season, but all of that has been wiped off the books. The Packers will have to absorb $1 million of amortized signing bonus remaining from the 2009 season, leaving them with a net gain of $2.5 million on their salary cap.

[RashanGary]

I consider saving $500,000 on a player that you already evlauated as replacable is the right thing to do.

[The Leaper]

Re: What taggin Williams and cutting Franks means..

I think tagging Williams shows TT's knowledge for depth at the defensive line and shows that he's not sold on Harrell's progression from last season.

I think tagging Williams shows that TT isn't willing to give up a promising young player for nothing. I don't think it says anything about Harrell.

[The Leaper]

I consider saving $500,000 on a player that you already evlauated as replacable is the right thing to do.

Yeah...but that is a small price to pay when you consider we now have NOTHING behind Lee at TE. Promoting Ryan Krause to 2nd string IMO isn't worth the $500k savings unless you plan on using the money saved on chopping Franks for upgrades elsewhere.