Woodson Leaves Without Contract

[Anti-Polar Bear]

IMO we are only a few moves away from a very quality defense the likes of which we haven't seen since the year started with a 19..

Try to tell that to Thompson LAST SEASON. Let see here, 3 top offense and a defense with only 3-4 players away from contending for the SB. But fuck, Thompson fell in with love Freeman, Navies, Little, Thomas and Ray Thompson, not to mention Klemm, Rodgers, Murphy and Whitticker on offense.

You are delusional if you believe Thompson did not not screw up the Packers. The turn around from 10-6 divison champ to 4-12 bottom dweller is all the proof you need.

[No Mo Moss]

Well who were they going to sign, we didn't have any money?

[Fritz]

People seem to have a fascination with throwing money around. However, when you look at the last couple of Super Bowl teams, neither of them is known for employing this tactic. Wouldn't it be tempting to emulate the winners and not the Redskins and Vikings of this world?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Fritz,

Glad your here. Love the avartar.

I don't think you can make a blanket statement that signing FAs isn't worth it. Most of us aren't saying we should go out and break the bank with a bunch of FAs, but the team has to have confidence in its personnel department and coaches and they should be targetting and getting a few good FAs with the money they have. We are in a great shape (like Minnesota last year) to sign some good FAs, but not hurt our future cap (by frontloading contracts). Say what you will, but the problem with Minnesota in 2005 wasn't the FAs they signed (it had to do with a porous OL and horrible QB play by Culpepper early). Most of the FAs they got played reasonably well or better (except Smoot). Pat Williams was a madman. Sharper went to the Pro Bowl. Travis Taylor added decent depth to their receiving corps. Sam Cowart started, and played okay. Fred Smoot was the only guy that sucked. Is there anybody that doesn't think Longwell and Hutchinson will be very good for them? I think Taylor will be good, as well. I think Leber and some others are question marks, but they improved their team with FAs the last two years. Too bad for them that they traded their playmakers, Culpepper and Moss, for little.

[Bretsky]

FROM NFL NETWORK:



Favre, Woodson, Collins to make big decisions


By Adam Schefter
NFL Analyst


(April 3, 2006) -- One way or another, it now looks like cornerback Charles Woodson is going to wind up by the Bay -- either Green Bay or Tampa Bay.

Woodson spent today visiting Green Bay. One Packers official said the team has a "significant interest" in signing the former Raiders cornerback. It should.

The Packers need another cornerback to start opposite Al Harris, and signing him would allow Green Bay to move its 2004 first-round pick Ahmad Carroll to nickel back.


Charles Woodson was named to four Pro Bowl squads early in his career, but recent injuries have given GMs pause.
Then there is this factor, which could well be the deciding factor in where Woodson winds up: The Packers still have a bushel of salary-cap room available, whereas Tampa Bay does not.

Green Bay's biggest offseason moves were re-signing defensive end Aaron Kampman and running back Ahman Green, but just as notable, the team also lost kicker Ryan Longwell and center Mike Flanagan.

An NFL executive believes the Packers are feeling the pressure of signing a high-profile productive free agent, and there just aren't many more out there. Woodson is one of the last men standing. His addition would be a boost to the Packers roster and Green Bay's morale, especially while it awaits Brett Favre's decision.

And no one knows when Favre finally will announce his decision, but the football world is almost assured of hearing something this week.

Favre is hosting his annual golf tournament April 6-9 in Tunica, Miss. Tunica could be just the town and time for Favre to say, as many Packers officials expect, that the quarterback would like to return for one more season -- his last. Favre is expected to attend his golf tournament, and Packers fans would like to know whether their quarterback can be expected in Green Bay.

[Deputy Nutz]

You gotta take the wait and see aproach. Woodson isn't going anywhere else for a visit. Now it comes down to where he wants to finish his career, and who is offering more money both in total contracts and in up front money. The Packers should have been able to offer the most money up front.

[Spaulding]

Harvey, I agree with the majority of your comments but would think we'd have to be careful with the frontloading of the contracts depending on what motivates the player. Obviously in the case of Favre or Kampman we'd be well served in that it would come from this years cap money and not hurt us down the road but if the player (i.e. Woodson) isn't as competitive at this stage in his career or just looking to bank it might just be wasted money and the money thrown his way might adversely affect the chemistry of the team and the money asked by our upcoming FA's if they base their value on Woodson's contract.

I really think TT's year 3 is the one that will make or break him as if we buy into this theory of one year contracts to fine some gems that fit our system and then have the cap room to offer them extended contracts and if competitive then sign possibly a few upper echelon FA's in next year's offseason (hoping it's a better crop) then we may be back on track to being competitive for the next several years.

If this year is a wash like last year (with Klemm, O'Dwyer, Freeman, etc. not panning out) I'll likely be at the end of my patience level.

[BooHoo]

Harvey, I agree with the majority of your comments but would think we'd have to be careful with the frontloading of the contracts depending on what motivates the player. Obviously in the case of Favre or Kampman we'd be well served in that it would come from this years cap money and not hurt us down the road but if the player (i.e. Woodson) isn't as competitive at this stage in his career or just looking to bank it might just be wasted money and the money thrown his way might adversely affect the chemistry of the team and the money asked by our upcoming FA's if they base their value on Woodson's contract.

I really think TT's year 3 is the one that will make or break him as if we buy into this theory of one year contracts to fine some gems that fit our system and then have the cap room to offer them extended contracts and if competitive then sign possibly a few upper echelon FA's in next year's offseason (hoping it's a better crop) then we may be back on track to being competitive for the next several years.

If this year is a wash like last year (with Klemm, O'Dwyer, Freeman, etc. not panning out) I'll likely be at the end of my patience level.

It would be hard to watch another 4-12 season. It would be like going back to the 1970's or so all over again. Let's not hope this is a Retro (losing) year. I would love to sign Woodson.

[HarveyWallbangers]

From Fox Sports:

Reading between the lines, it appears the Bucs interest in Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson is for him to play safety.

Woodson visited One Buc Place last week but left without an offer from Tampa Bay. He became a free agent March 11 when the Raiders declined to use their franchise tag on him as they had the two previous seasons.

"Free agency is not just making acquisitions, it's the interview process," Gruden said. "Charles is a friend of mine and now that he's a free agent it's a chance to resume some friendships. I care about him. He's a great player and was a great player when I was with him, I know that. I look at Charles as a football player. That's how he won the Heisman Trophy, playing offense, playing defense. And as you watched him play (last) year, he played strong safety, free safety, left and right corner. He's a football player. His role, if we were to be able to get him, would be determined as the days unfold. He is a hell of a football player, a great guy and obviously we're pursuing him like a lot of other teams are."