NFL News

[HarveyWallbangers]

Well said. The situation isn't as dire as it's made about to me. Green Bay is a unique situation.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Bucs signed WR Antonio Bryant.

A great gamble for Tampa and a perfect spot for Bryant. Bryant was out of the league in 2007 because of substance abuse problems, but he averaged 842 yards from 2004-2006 on poor passing teams. Those numbers compare favorably with far higher priced free agent wideouts this year. Bryant is a gamble, but the Bucs have a history taming problem players, and his size and speed are sorely needed. He should start and be a fine fantasy sleeper.


Saints re-signed TE Eric Johnson to a one-year contract.

No one else had interest. Johnson caught 48 balls last year, but averaged a dismal 7.9 YPC and got hurt again, missing two late-season games. Billy Miller and Mark Campbell will likely be in line for more snaps this year.


Bucs agreed to terms with RB Warrick Dunn on a two-year, $6 million contract, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

[GoPackGo]

Well said. The situation isn't as dire as it's made about to me. Green Bay is a unique situation.

Not having a salary Cap would not be good for Green Bay or Packers fans.
Why should rich people and corporations be the only people who can afford to go to Packer games. Plenty of people, like my father in law for example, have been going to Packer games for 40+ years and they would be priced right out of thier seats. Thats not cool

[Deputy Nutz]

Well said. The situation isn't as dire as it's made about to me. Green Bay is a unique situation.

Not having a salary Cap would not be good for Green Bay or Packers fans.
Why should rich people and corporations be the only people who can afford to go to Packer games. Plenty of people, like my father in law for example, have been going to Packer games for 40+ years and they would be priced right out of thier seats. Thats not cool

If tickets went up another 25.00 bucks, so two hundred a season you telling me your father in law would sell his tickets?

The Badgers are doing a similar thing to season ticket holders, every year the tickets are going up 12 to 15 bucks. They were once one of the most reasonable ticket prices in the Big Ten, but now that they have become a national power, and demand is high, the prices go up, up, and up. Just the way life is, and if you want the Packers to be competitive, you won't care how much tickets cost. In fact I will be more willing to go to games knowing that I won't have to sit next to the 342 pound toothless woman shouting, "GO PACK GO!!!" for three straight hours.

[MJZiggy]

I wasn't shouting for the WHOLE game, you dolt!!

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

The Miami Herald reports Jason Taylor would like to be traded this offseason.

The Herald suggests that Miami's failure to land free agent OLB Calvin Pace makes a Taylor trade less likely, but a draft-day deal could happen if they pick UVA OLB/DE Chris Long No. 1 overall. Taylor reportedly wants to play on a contender. In the end, the odds seemingly favor a trade being worked out. Mar. 10 - 9:38 am et

[GoPackGo]

Well said. The situation isn't as dire as it's made about to me. Green Bay is a unique situation.

Not having a salary Cap would not be good for Green Bay or Packers fans.
Why should rich people and corporations be the only people who can afford to go to Packer games. Plenty of people, like my father in law for example, have been going to Packer games for 40+ years and they would be priced right out of thier seats. Thats not cool

If tickets went up another 25.00 bucks, so two hundred a season you telling me your father in law would sell his tickets?

The Badgers are doing a similar thing to season ticket holders, every year the tickets are going up 12 to 15 bucks. They were once one of the most reasonable ticket prices in the Big Ten, but now that they have become a national power, and demand is high, the prices go up, up, and up. Just the way life is, and if you want the Packers to be competitive, you won't care how much tickets cost. In fact I will be more willing to go to games knowing that I won't have to sit next to the 342 pound toothless woman shouting, "GO PACK GO!!!" for three straight hours.

I was referring to Leapers post about the average ticket price going from $60 to $180 being ok and Harvey agreeing with him.

[Deputy Nutz]

I wouldn't pay 180 dollars. I know the stadium will always be sold out, but not by normal people. It will be like how all the banks own the seats at Panthers' home field.

Anyways, I don't care, I would still watch the game in front of my TV

[Lurker64]

What the hell have we seen from Barbre or Coston to inspire any confidence that they will take a huge step forward?

First off, it's not really important what we have seen, it's mostly important what the coaches have seen. The coaches see these guys, even the guys that don't play much, every day in practice and know a lot more about them than I do.

Second of all, last year in Barbre's limited time at guard, there were quite a few plays where he just got off the ball and mauled somebody. There were also quite a few plays where he looked as though he didn't understand what "blocking assignment" meant. But that's mental, and most anything mental can be corrected with repetition.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I was referring to Leapers post about the average ticket price going from $60 to $180 being ok and Harvey agreeing with him.

The point isn't what I'd like. I pay pretty damn close to that now. The lady I go through raised her ticket prices to something like $135 this year. And I wish I would have gotten them--because by the time the game came around, tickets were being scalped for well over $200. The Packers could get away with higher ticket prices. I'm betting they could have some kind of national broadcast that would rake in money. They'll have high merchandise sales. Not all of the Packer fans out there aren't going to suddenly quit buying jerseys because Favre retired. Also, we don't have an owner. That means the profits get spent on the team. Not for some fat-cat owner to put in his pocket.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

This is one guy I wouldn't mined giving up draft picks for. I doubt it would ever happen though.




Jared Allen showed up to the Chiefs' 101 Banquet, normally a black-tie affair, in cowboy boots and jeans to receive the Derrick Thomas team MVP award.

We'll see if he shows up for minicamps. Allen made it clear that he wouldn't be happy if he got the franchise tag, but the Chiefs slapped him with it on February 18. He claimed this would be his last year in a Chiefs uniform.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals have agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed. Fitzgerald's personal website broke the news.

He'll get $33 million over the next three years,$17 million in salary and bonuses this year, and a no-trade clause. The deal gets the Cardinals out of the terrible rookie contract they negotiated with Fitzgerald, but comes too late for them to make any impact free agent signings. That was their own fault and they can now re-up their players more easily. It will likely be officially announced this afternoon.



Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett was arrested Tuesday in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina for driving while impaired.

This can't help his chances of being counted on for a major a role in Carolina's offense. Jarrett hardly saw the field as a rookie, and another off-field infraction would almost surely lead to a league-imposed suspension. This will also likely place Jarrett in the league's substance abuse program.

[twoseven]

That new deal for Fitz clears up almost 9 mil in cap space for the Cardinals. I wonder if that allows them to go after FA LB Brandon Chillar more aggresively now.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Let's call a spade a spade. GB is a small town that has VERY limited appeal to most NFL players. GB, it's history, etc. mean very little to most players..especially the younger ones.

That is already the case even with the current CBA, Ty.

Without a cap, Green Bay is still well positioned...but major adjustments would have to be made.

1. The Packers would have to capitalize on that massive waiting list by raising prices to meet demand...so they rake in the profits, not season ticket holders. The Packers could probably raise ticket prices 200% and still sell out every seat in the crib...although there might be a significant turnover in who are in the seats. Most other markets, big or small, couldn't even think about raising prices to bring in additional revenue.

I don't know the exact figures, but if the average ticket price now is $60, that brings in roughly $34M over 8 home games. Boost the average price up to $180, and Green Bay now brings in roughly $100M over 8 games.

$180 isn't a ridiculous number...just look on Stubhub.com and you'll see that is roughly market value for most games, even though the Packers only see a fraction of that revenue.

2. The Packers have a huge nation-wide fan base, and could basically start their own TV channel if they wanted to. Without shared TV revenue, the Packers would actually gain a ton of money...as their fan base has proven to be one of the top 3 in the entire NFL in terms of viewership. Green Bay could pull down TV revenue just as great...maybe greater...than major market teams.

The current share of the TV pie for Green Bay is roughly $120M a year...based on league annual TV revenue of roughly $4B. Without shared revenue, that $4B pie is up for grabs...and Green Bay's position as a dominant player in being able to bring consistent numbers of viewers would likely net at least three times what their current share is, or $350M annually.

The one drawback Green Bay would face is that they don't have an ultra-rich owner who can dip into his own millions or billions to finance the team. However, few rich owners are going to blow ridiculous sums of money on the football team. If Green Bay increases their revenue $60M a year in ticket revenue and $200M in TV revenue, they will have roughly $400M a year to spend.

That is almost FOUR TIMES the current cap figure. As such, Green Bay doesn't have to worry about losing the cap IMO in personal terms...although the blow it would deal to the league as a whole, as at least 10-12 franchises would probably go under, obviously is of great concern to all NFL fans.

I think you are missing the point. GB isn't an attractive place to play for most players.

1. This is a good point, but i think you are wrong about a lot of places..NYC, Dallas, Denver, Chitown, etc. And, i'm not completely sure that Wisco people would pay those prices, and if they did, perhaps the love affair with the small, we own it team would die. Part of what makes GB special is that it is unique. That would be lost.

2. I think you overstate this. Those fans are much older and less inclined to pay. The youngsters aren't part of that...it is holdovers from the glory years.

Besides, it isn't even feasible. The BTN had enough problems. At best you might get it on Satellite and many don't like that. Just wouldn't happen. Not enough revenue to even consider it.

If we are really looking at it, nobody is gonna do it, but if we were to consider that...how about the cowboys or Giants or Bears.

Players are gonna wanna go where they like to live..warm climates, tax free...hello az, hello florida, hello texas, cali, etc....or where they can make substantial dollars thru marketing..hello NYC.

Or where they can get a lot of p*ssy.

The salary cap keeps players coming our way. If SD can't keep Manning you think players are gonna wanna come/stay in GB. Not a chance.

Just remember how hard it was to get FAs before. Reggie was a major coup. At the time it was almost unheard of that he would come.

If we did get players it would be because we overpay. Great. Is that "packer people?"

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Panthers released C Justin Hartwig.

The move clears the way for Ryan Kalil to start at center. The Panthers had planned on having Hartwig slide over to the guard, but he was never keen on the idea so they cut him. Keydrick Vincent and Geoff Hangartner will compete for the job.


Dolphins signed K Dave Rayner to a one-year deal.

Incumbent Jay Feely struggled on kickoffs last season, but the Dolphins hope P Brandon Fields can takeover those duties. Rayner will have to outperform Feely to win the job, but could get a boost if Fields proves unreliable on kickoffs.