WE SIGNED HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CaliforniaCheez]

Packer transaction list does not have Hawk signed.

http://www.packers.com/news/transactions/2006/

[HarveyWallbangers]

What the hell are you worried about? You think it's going to really matter if he misses a couple of practices?

[woodbuck27]

Packer transaction list does not have Hawk signed.

http://www.packers.com/news/transactions/2006/

Good Day.

Found this this AM - Saturday 29 July, 2006. Written by Tom Silverstein of JSOnline:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=477570

** The Green Bay Packers' first-round draft choice agreed to terms on a six-year contract late Friday afternoon . .

** Agent Mike McCartney would not reveal specifics of the contract, but a source familiar with the deal said it was worth $37.5 million and consisted of more than $15 million in guarantees. Specifics of the deal were still being worked out so Hawk was not allowed to take part in the Packers' opening practice Friday evening.

** Joining Hawk in reaching contract terms Friday was third-round linebacker Abdul Hodge, who signed a four-year contract.

** Once Hawk signs the papers and steps on the field, his status as a multi-millionaire will be all but ignored. The focus will be on getting the No. 5 pick overall ready to be a starter at weak-side linebacker.

GO PACKERS GO !

[woodbuck27]

Related Story:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=477570

PACKERS SIGN HAWK TO
6-YEAR $36M DEAL

By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com

Broken down.

Barring an unforeseen snag, linebacker A.J. Hawk -- the Green Bay Packers' first-round draft pick -- should be signed and ready to practice Saturday on the second day of training camp.

Hawk's agent, Mike McCartney, said Friday his client has agreed in principle to a six-year, $36 million deal, though the sides are working out details. The player picked ahead of Hawk, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, signed a six-year, $37.5 million deal with the New York Jets that included about $17.5 million in guarantees.


"We're hoping to wrap it up tonight," McCartney said. "A.J.'s ecstatic."


Hawk's contract includes guaranteed money of about $16 million.

The guarantees consist of a 2006 roster bonus of $1.91 million, a 2007 option bonus of $11,856,250 and portions of his base salaries.

Hawk also has a minimum play-time incentive that will increase the value of the deal substantially and get it in the $36 million range. If he plays in 35 percent of the defensive snaps this year, or if he fails to do that but plays in 45 percent in any subsequent year, his base salaries for all remaining years increase.

If he reaches that incentive this year, which is a given barring serious injury, the value of the deal increases from $17.6 million over the first five years to $26 million, and in the sixth year he'll make either $10 million or the franchise tender for linebackers, whichever is higher.

That sixth-year salary will be guaranteed if he's on the roster on the first day of the league year, which usually is in early March.

Comment: Get errrr on HAWK !

GO PACKERS GO ! !

[Fosco33]

Live Press Conference Video Schedule
* all times Central and subject to change

The Green Bay Packers will hold a press conference to announce the signing of A.J. Hawk, Saturday at 12 noon CT.

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/07/29/2/f

[Guiness]

Hawk's contract includes guaranteed money of about $16 million.

The guarantees consist of a 2006 roster bonus of $1.91 million, a 2007 option bonus of $11,856,250 and portions of his base salaries.

Anyone figured out what an option bonus is yet? They seem to be including it in guaranteed money, so maybe it's his (Hawke's) option?

It must be something like that - it would be foolish for a Hawke to put what is essentially his signing bonus at risk, should something happen this year.

[MJZiggy]

I think this explains it fairly well, from PFW

"The inclusion of the guaranteed option bonus is based, mostly, on the fact that rookies are sacrificing their right to unrestricted free agency. Players collectively bargained to reach unrestricted free agency after four years, but no player drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft signed for less than five years. Free agency being a valuable right, players are adamant that they are rewarded for sacrificing that right with attainable “escalators” beyond their fourth season."

[ND72]

listening to local espn radio, they said yesterday all day, the packers and AJ and agent were in talks trying to finalize the deal. Around 5pm last night his deal was finalized in terms, which then the packers had to send the "agreement" on to the NFL offices for approvement. the NFL requires all contract settlements be finished 2 hours before a practice, which meant the packers would have had to send the contract in by 430 for AJ to be eligable to practice. He did sign his contract, it's all up to the NFL now. abdul Hodge had his deal done at 4pm, took his physical and made it to practice. that is the explaination from espn radio, and them doing an off broadcast interview with andrew Brandt.

[CaliforniaCheez]

My point was, in the words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over until it's over."

It was nice that the deal was getting close but

1) Hawk was not in camp on time.
2) His agent did not do his job but waited until the guy drafted before and the one after were signed. How hard is that?
3) The agent leaked the information that the terms of the contract were essentially agreed upon to prevent questions from fans like "Why the heck is Hawk not here?"
4) Fans wanted positive news obviously fell for it hearing a deal was done when it was not.
5) Read carefully these spins in the press and guard against premature congratulation.
6) I don't like to see young guys missing practice needlessly.
7) Now that it is over, Hawk missed one practice or he signed the weekend after training camp began. No need to worry about it now.