Report: Packers, Grant reach deal!!!

[RashanGary]

again, I think this is a great deal; for where the Packers are cap wise I really don't care much if they've overpaid him a bit.

They didn't overpay him at all. They didn't have to give him anything so in that sense they gave him more than they had to but in the grand scheme of what other players around the league get, 4.5 mil per year is still grossly underpaid for the way Grant played last year. Harvey made a great point. Ahman Green got 6.5 per year. Grant got 4.5. We got a steal and they got a rip off.

[Fritz]

You know, if we can all put aside the Brett Favre Flying Media Circus for a minute, what do you all think of this team?

I think the o-line's going to be better and the offense is going to be able to run the ball better this year. That'll take some pressure off Rodgers.

i am however concerned about the defensive line. I'm hoping TT can pull off a trade for a good defensive tackle. When he traded Williams I was fine with it, but in hindsight, with the injuries, it's not looking so good at the moment.

[NewsBruin]

Honestly, that O-line development and our evolution out of the ZBS could have played some role in Grant's advantage over Brandon Jackson. I'm not going to gloss over that aspect.

[GBRulz]

You know, if we can all put aside the Brett Favre Flying Media Circus for a minute, what do you all think of this team?

I don't know what to expect. I certainly don't expect them to be better than last year...and I sure hope that I'm wrong but I'm not getting my expectations up this year like it's "SB here we come" type of thing.

The DL concerns me.... hello, pass rush anyone??
Aging CB's ...especially Harris
Rodgers...I'm not too worried unless he gets hurt
OL - I'm still not convinced the ZBS is the best fit for us.
Bob Sanders - I've never been totally on board with his scheme,
M3 - Get this team better prepared for cold weather games.

[texaspackerbacker]

Just look around the league at who is making how much. Then compare what Grant did last year; Then compare again after the season what Grant does this year. No way in hell Grant is overpaid. I just hope we don't end up with a Mike McKenzie situation in a couple of years, where he wakes up one day and realizes how much less he is getting paid than lesser players.

My only problem with the deal is that it is four years instead of six or seven. In four years, Grant is likely still going to have two or three prime years left. At that time, the Packers will be faced with the lose/lose dilemma of either letting him go elsewhere for those two or three prime years or re-signing him for a long term contract--four to six years--which he WILL be able to command, that will take Grant well past his prime.

That, however, is four years down the road. Let's just enjoy the ride, as this signing IMO, seals the deal, making the Packers a super team this season and beyond.

GBRulz, what were your expectations last year--coming off an 8-8 season with seemingly no decent RB, with no indication that Favre would be better than '06, with an untested O Line, and a defense that seemed nowhere near as good as it turned out? Do you think the success in all those areas was a fluke? The ONLY potential downgrade this year is Rodgers instead of Favre, and I don't see that as a downgrade.

[pbmax]

Beyond the roster bonus (and there are two, so the dates to be paid are likely different) there is no signing bonus mentioned, its all roster bonuses and base salary. There is nothing guaranteed about this deal, except, from a practical matter, the $3 million roster bonus he gets when he signs.

So if he gets the money, he will be playing and earning it in a big way. Also, if the Packers should need to release him, there is no cap consequence as far as we know.

It seems the Packers removed guaranteed money in exchange for higher incentives and shorter term.

If he should hit all the incentives, then its a lucrative deal at $7.5 per season. RBs have had trouble getting big money deals on their second contracts because of their short shelf life. And Grant is 25(?) already.

But in terms of playing time and carries, he is really in just his second year. So this contract is almost his first. Given cap inflation, I expect in a year this deal will look even more favorable just like Kampman's did.

Wow so $18 guaranteed over 4? Or is a bulk of that dependent on roster bonuses?

[Bretsky]

again, I think this is a great deal; for where the Packers are cap wise I really don't care much if they've overpaid him a bit.

They didn't overpay him at all. They didn't have to give him anything so in that sense they gave him more than they had to but in the grand scheme of what other players around the league get, 4.5 mil per year is still grossly underpaid for the way Grant played last year. Harvey made a great point. Ahman Green got 6.5 per year. Grant got 4.5. We got a steal and they got a rip off.

I didn't mean to say they overpaid him; my point was we have so much cap space if they did overpay him some it really doesn't matter much.

[GBRulz]

GBRulz, what were your expectations last year--coming off an 8-8 season with seemingly no decent RB, with no indication that Favre would be better than '06, with an untested O Line, and a defense that seemed nowhere near as good as it turned out? Do you think the success in all those areas was a fluke? The ONLY potential downgrade this year is Rodgers instead of Favre, and I don't see that as a downgrade.

They shocked the hell out of me last year, Tex. I think I predicted 8 or 9 wins? I was completely wrong and I'll say it again.... I hope I'm wrong about this year as well.

I see the DL as a downgrade. Not because we won't have Harrell, I mean we got to the NFC Champ game last year without him, but we also had more depth...something we lack this year.

I am very concerned about playing teams who have big, physical receivers because Harris can't seem to cover them. I also blame our DC for not addressing this issue during games and giving him some more help.

I'm not too worried about Rodgers, I think he will do just fine. I just worry about him getting hurt and then having to throw a rookie into the fire.

[Bretsky]

You know, if we can all put aside the Brett Favre Flying Media Circus for a minute, what do you all think of this team?

I think the o-line's going to be better and the offense is going to be able to run the ball better this year. That'll take some pressure off Rodgers.

i am however concerned about the defensive line. I'm hoping TT can pull off a trade for a good defensive tackle. When he traded Williams I was fine with it, but in hindsight, with the injuries, it's not looking so good at the moment.

They will contend for the divison and the playoffs. It'd be a great disappointment if they don't make one.

[Fritz]

GB, I share your concerns. I know when Harris signed his extension the idea was that the last couple of years he'd be a nickel back. Uhh, Al, I think that time may be coming.

Anybody know what teams (no smart alecks get to mention Cleveland) have depth at DT? TT needs to think about swinging a deal. I hear we have an extra QB.

[vince]

This is a fair deal, IMO, although I thought they would/could have gotten a little bit better value, given the lack of leverage Grant had in this situation. Without the Favre debacle, they may have held their ground a little bit more on this.

In any event, the Packers just got better and deeper then they were two days ago.

Given this deal and others that are coming up, watch all that cap room some are so eager to blow get eaten up by that cheap-ass Ted Thompson in the next two years.

Rodgers
Jennings
Tauscher
Clifton
Spitz
Colledge
Kampman
Pickett
Jolly
Bigby
Collins

That's 50% of their starters, and half of them are likely to be among the most expensive on the team...

[HarveyWallbangers]

This is a fair deal, IMO, although I thought they would/could have gotten a little bit better value, given the lack of leverage Grant had in this situation. Without the Favre debacle, they may have held their ground a little bit more on this.

I think you may be onto something here.

[vince]

This is a fair deal, IMO, although I thought they would/could have gotten a little bit better value, given the lack of leverage Grant had in this situation. Without the Favre debacle, they may have held their ground a little bit more on this.

I think you may be onto something here.

Grant's agent capitalized on the situation a bit too by taking the negotiations public and putting the team on the defensive. Shitty tactic, but effective in this instance.

[SnakeLH2006]

again, I think this is a great deal; for where the Packers are cap wise I really don't care much if they've overpaid him a bit.

They didn't overpay him at all. They didn't have to give him anything so in that sense they gave him more than they had to but in the grand scheme of what other players around the league get, 4.5 mil per year is still grossly underpaid for the way Grant played last year. Harvey made a great point. Ahman Green got 6.5 per year. Grant got 4.5. We got a steal and they got a rip off.

The main difference being Green was an unrestricted FA, Grant had 3 more years of exclusive status before unrestricted FA. Also, Green's bonuses were factored in, so at the $6.5 million figure for Green, you'd be looking at 4yr/31million at $7.75 a year with bonuses for Grant.

All things considered....definitely not a steal at all.