Observations from draft:

[packers11]

T.T. must think :

- Nick Collins / Aaron Rouse is the answer at FS

- Driver will most likely not getting a contract extension unless it is very reasonable for the packers (after this year)

-Win/Win situation at QB; if A-Rod is not the future, then he indeed does have a backup plan

-Have high hopes in Blackmon/Williams/Bush to step up

-Comfortable at guard position for the upcoming year

Feel free to add your own...

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Observations from draft:

- Driver will most likely not getting a contract extension unless it is very reasonable for the packers (after this year)

Didn't Driver sign another extension last year?

Have high hopes in Blackmon/Williams/Bush to step up

Has high hopes that one or two of those three will step up.

[pbmax]

I would only quibble with CB. Lee was drafted in round two as a replacement for one of the guys mentioned.

[pbmax]

From JSOnline:

Driver's contract extension
Posted: Aug. 5, 2007
2007

Base salary: $2.7 million

Roster bonus: $1.3 million

Likely to be earned incentives: $325,000

Salary cap number: $5.748 million

Cap number before extension: $4.123 million
2008

Base salary: $2.9 million

Roster bonus: $2 million

Workout bonus: $206,720

Salary cap number: $5.606 million

Cap number before extension: $4.506 million
2009

Base salary: $3.9 million

Roster bonus: $2 million

Workout bonus: $206,720

Salary cap number: $6.606 million

Cap number before extension: $5.506 million
2010

Base salary: $4.0 million

Roster bonus: $2.8 million

Workout bonus: $207,280

Salary cap number: $7.007 million

Portions of the roster bonuses are based on Driver's being active on the 45-man list each week. Every week he isn't on the active roster, he won't receive a prorated portion of the bonus. Workout bonuses are dependent on Driver attending a prescribed number of off-season conditioning sessions in Green Bay. Source: Obtained from a source who has access to NFL Players Association salary data.

According to the article, 09 and 10 could be voided with minimal cap hits as portions of the bonuses are for being on the roster and week to week. The info I read about this being a contract year seem to be one year premature at the least.

[run pMc]

I think it's Jennings that will be a bigger concern w/r/t contract...DD will be like 35 when his contract is up. Given the punishment he's taken, who knows if his body will hold up. Assuming Nelson pans out, he protects GB against losing DD to retirement and GJ to free agency. He also pushes Ruvell, JJ and KoRo for playing time, and sets up a possible trade scenario with a WR needy team like TEN. If Nelson can return punts on the pro level, he saves some wear and tear on Woodson. It's not a sexy pick, but the more I think about it the more I like it.

I think there are a lot of bodies at the S position, so I'm not sure if that's settled. Rouse, Peprah, and Culver should push Bigby and Collins, with Rouse the most likely to unseat Collins.

The backup CBs have to step up this year. Lee is a good pick to push the group and to learn from Harris and Woodson. Despite a Pro Bowl selection Harris didn't play as well as the prior season, and I hope his back injury, and not age, was the reason.

Similar deal with the OL...time for Colledge, Spitz, Coston to step up. I think Barbre will push them.

I'm OK with this draft. I'll be interested to see if/what TT does with other teams' roster cuts now that the draft is over and June 1 approaches.

[HarveyWallbangers]

According to the article, 09 and 10 could be voided with minimal cap hits as portions of the bonuses are for being on the roster and week to week. The info I read about this being a contract year seem to be one year premature at the least.

His salaray cap number is manageable for the next three years--provided we don't see a dramatic fall-off in his play. Driver is unlike most aging guys, and he could pull a Rod Smith and play well when he's 35. I don't think this signals the end of Driver, but rather protects the Packers if Driver does fall-off.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think it's Jennings that will be a bigger concern w/r/t contract...DD will be like 35 when his contract is up. Given the punishment he's taken, who knows if his body will hold up. Assuming Nelson pans out, he protects GB against losing DD to retirement and GJ to free agency. He also pushes Ruvell, JJ and KoRo for playing time, and sets up a possible trade scenario with a WR needy team like TEN. If Nelson can return punts on the pro level, he saves some wear and tear on Woodson. It's not a sexy pick, but the more I think about it the more I like it.

I think there are a lot of bodies at the S position, so I'm not sure if that's settled. Rouse, Peprah, and Culver should push Bigby and Collins, with Rouse the most likely to unseat Collins.

The backup CBs have to step up this year. Lee is a good pick to push the group and to learn from Harris and Woodson. Despite a Pro Bowl selection Harris didn't play as well as the prior season, and I hope his back injury, and not age, was the reason.

Similar deal with the OL...time for Colledge, Spitz, Coston to step up. I think Barbre will push them.

I'm OK with this draft. I'll be interested to see if/what TT does with other teams' roster cuts now that the draft is over and June 1 approaches.

I agree with every one of your points.

[RashanGary]

Jennings isn't going anywhere. When TT was questioned about "sexy" picks at his presser he said nobody thought anythign of Jennings and now he's one of those special guys.

Thompson seems to have very high regard for Jennigns. I don't see him going anywhere.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think anybody is saying Jennings is gone. They are saying this protects the Packers if he decides to leave. It's not a guarantee that Jennings will want to resign with Green Bay.

[Bossman641]

Jennings isn't going anywhere. When TT was questioned about "sexy" picks at his presser he said nobody thought anythign of Jennings and now he's one of those special guys.

Thompson seems to have very high regard for Jennigns. I don't see him going anywhere.

Agreed

TT has shown that he is more than willing to take care of his own guys. I see no reason why it wouldn't be the same way with Jennings. GJ seems to really enjoy it here and definitely has his head on straight.

[pbmax]

I believe Driver's status does affect Jennings though. If Driver plays out the contract and the Packers want to give a big contract to GJ, then their combined cap number could be over #12 million (could also be much lower, but he hasn't backloaded many deals for young players) and I'm not sure T2 will pay that much for two fifths of his receiver corp. Even for a year.

His WR pick is a hedge against both possible scenarios.

I don't think anybody is saying Jennings is gone. They are saying this protects the Packers if he decides to leave. It's not a guarantee that Jennings will want to resign with Green Bay.

[The Leaper]

I don't think anybody is saying Jennings is gone. They are saying this protects the Packers if he decides to leave. It's not a guarantee that Jennings will want to resign with Green Bay.

I don't see Jennings going anywhere. While he had a great year last season, he's doesn't appear to be an elite WR...just a very good one who fits our system extremely well. He isn't likely to grab 100 catches in a year IMO...and he doesn't have the size to be a factor in the red zone.

I expect Jennings will sign what amounts to a 5 year, $35-40M deal to stay with Green Bay. The final amount will depend to some extent on his play during 2008...it could go up. I consider this a fair price, and one that Jennings won't mind taking to stay in Green Bay...even if he could earn more in FA.

He isn't likely to go elsewhere because he still has 2 years on his current deal...and I can't see him turning down a fair offer from Green Bay, such as the one I'm suggesting, to risk another year making pennies on the dollar after 2008. He's a high character guy who seems to appreciate playing in Green Bay.

[The Leaper]

I believe Driver's status does affect Jennings though. If Driver plays out the contract and the Packers want to give a big contract to GJ, then their combined cap number could be over #12 million (could also be much lower, but he hasn't backloaded many deals for young players) and I'm not sure T2 will pay that much for two fifths of his receiver corp. Even for a year.

I agree...but Driver would be more likely the one going bye-bye.

We all love Driver, but if you have to choose between the two, you take the younger guy every time.

Driver is the kind of guy who will accept taking a pay cut to stay with the team in his declining years. Thompson showed Driver the money when he didn't have to in the past, and I expect Driver would respect that and accept being cut and resigning for less after 2008...if necessary.

[HarveyWallbangers]

His WR pick is a hedge against both possible scenarios.

Which is my point from my two posts above, so we agree.

[Tarlam!]

Why are we talking about DD being cut? After BF retired, DD became the heart and soul of the Green Bay Packers.

I hope DD gets the chance to retire as BF did - on his own terms. For what he's done for us fans, he deserves it.