Jennings - What a Worry!

[Tarlam!]

I might be strange, but I had Jennings pegged as a lifelong Packer. Now, I read this and I am worried:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=794317

Jennings offered this cryptic remark: “Some of us already probably have been approached.”

The third-year player wouldn’t rule out signing an extension in 2008 but indicated that he preferred to wait, gambling on his performance against risk of injury.

“In retrospect, you’re not really playing for just this team,” Jennings said. “You’re also playing for the other 31 teams, making sure everybody sees you out there. It’s not just the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. There’s 31 other teams.”

Oh my....

[boiga]

I'm not too worried yet. If anything, that means that Ted's already approached his agent about an extension and they are in negotiations right now. Jennings is probably just repeating what his agent told him to encourage a better deal.

I don't think Ted could manage to overpay him right now. If they put him in the top 15 best paid wide receivers now, it might be a major steal in the end.

[arcilite]

No reason to worry.... we have allllll of this year and allllllll of next year with Greg.



And if we don't extend him then we can use the franchise tag.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Adhering to a “pay as you go” philosophy, the Packers have used favorable cap situations to front-load numerous contracts. Of the 15 players atop their payroll with a contract beyond 2008, six actually have cap salaries that will decrease next year...

There’s little doubt that the Packers will reach late December with considerable cap space...

“The majority of guys, if you’re here you want to stay here,” cornerback Al Harris said. “I have a lot of respect for Ted as a businessman. I think he’ll sign the right people. I don’t know what his strategy is but he has a good formula.”

[Lurker64]

I think Ted's going to make sure that the most important players get paid. Priorities #1 and #2 are Jennings and Pickett. They'll get it done. Jennings is likely just trying to make sure he gets a fair deal, but he's unlikely to take a paycut to play here.

[Partial]

Ted's affinity for draft picks and his skill at getting producing players in lower rounds (one could debate his ability on the first day to this point ) will keep our roster loaded with talent and deep. I'm not super worried about free agency because Ted will find a way to make it work in my opinion. Hopefully he can find his defensive Greg Jennings and we'll be set. We need a super star on that side of the ball to compliment/replace Kampman as he grows older.

We would really be set if a corner breaks out and forces the coaching staff to take a good long and hard look at starting him next year. He's hoping its Twill.

[Scott Campbell]

There are reasons we have all this cap space. Jennings is one of them.

[Cleft Crusty]

Title of the article on the JS:

"Looknig ahead
Contracts to create numbers crunch"

Things have really slipped since Eric and I left.

[gbpackfan]

Don't worry about Jennings. One way or another, he'll stay a Packer. Good teams like the Packers don't let franchise players get away................whoops....................I forgot about Favre. :P

[Tarlam!]

I think I am worried about what Jennings had to say. He seems like he is going to wanna break the bank. that's how Cory Williams felt and we know how TT reacted to that!

I agree, we have him through next season, but, mark my words, he's gone after that.

[BallHawk]

I think I am worried about what Jennings had to say. He seems like he is going to wanna break the bank. that's how Cory Williams felt and we know how TT reacted to that!

I agree, we have him through next season, but, mark my words, he's gone after that.

Hometown discounts are a way of the past, but I'd think that if Jennings is offered equal money in two places he'd stay in Green Bay.

And Ted would be crazy NOT to keep him in Green Bay.

Thus the chances of him staying as a Packer are high, IMO.

[boiga]

Hometown discounts are a way of the past, but I'd think that if Jennings is offered equal money in two places he'd stay in Green Bay.

And Ted would be crazy NOT to keep him in Green Bay.

Thus the chances of him staying as a Packer are high, IMO.

I see it slightly differently. Jennings can't even get another offer until 2010 (2012 if we have the uncapped year and the Packers use their franchise tag.) So, it is in both parties interests to tie Jennings into a long term deal to cement him as a franchise player. Otherwise, he'll have to wait up to four more years before he gets paid his market value and four years is a long time to risk injury for the hope of a big payoff.

So, I think we're going to see Jennings get a six year (or more) deal sometime soon with a lot of incentives attached. Jennings will get paid and we'll keep him as a franchise player.

[Harlan Huckleby]

how many more yars can Driver play? I'd guess he'll retire after next season. Plenty of money available to lock-in Jennings

[BallHawk]

how many more yars can Driver play? I'd guess he'll retire after next season. Plenty of money available to lock-in Jennings

It'd make sense, finish out his contract than retire. But it all depends how much he has left in the tank.

[BobDobbs]

The gist that I got was that Jennings did not want to sign a contract this year, because he has two years left. He's going to blow up huge this year and raise his value tremendously.
After that who knows, maybe he wants to take a gamble and go for free agency, but as the article pointed out he could get screwed by injury or the CBA. This year we've just got to resign Tauscher and maybe Pickett if he's down. I think Tausch signed his last contract coming off an injury so he took a little less than market value in exchange for the security.
Maybe he'll want to get full value this time. I do know that everyone who has been complaining about us not signing a free agent fullback or big money wide receiver is going to see the benefits of a well managed cap over the next two years.