Cliff Christl: FRIDAY Camp Report, Aug. 4, 2006, 7:13 p.m.

[the_idle_threat]

This raises an interesting question. If Woodson does get beat out, would we cut him with Horton and Hawkins looking this good. Charles didn't get much of a signing bonus, and we'd save a ton of money by cutting him before the season started. But what the heck would we do with it? Can you really carry that much money forward?

I look forward to all your replies. Especially Patler's.

I don't know the answer for sure, but I'm going to guess because if I'm wrong Patler will correct me in about five seconds with six paragraphs of detailed budget information. I anticipate a multi-paged, self-referential, custom-made capology Excel file.

Anyway, if Woodson is cut, his signing bonus will all count right away. That's my guess.

I'm almost certian you are right that the signing bonus counts all at once. However, it's my understanding that we will be on the hook for nothing else. According to the following JSO article:

Woodson could get $10 million in first year

By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 3, 2006

The seven-year contract free agent cornerback Charles Woodson signed with the Packers is worth $39.03 million and features first-year compensation of around $10 million.

Woodson received a $4 million signing bonus and a $4,356,250 roster bonus to go along with a $1.5 million base salary this season, according to a source with access to NFL Players Association salary data. Woodson will have to play in all 16 games to get the entire roster bonus, but he will still get around $4 million of it just by being on the team.

If Woodson plays in all 16 games this year he will net $9.9 million, which is approximately what he made last season as the Oakland Raiders’ franchise player. Woodson’s deal is worth $16.28 million over three years and $20.7 million over four, not counting yearly escalators that could increase the value of the deal based on Pro Bowl honors.

The Packers chose to structure the deal so that they absorb a good chunk of the salary cap responsibility this year and not as much in later years. In 2006, Woodson counts $6.7 million against the cap and in ‘07 only $3.48 million.

In addition to the signing and roster bonuses this year, Woodson has a roster bonus of $1, 337,500 due next year and roster bonuses of $337,500 due in each succeeding year. He also has a workout bonus of $53,080 in ’06 and workout bonuses of $100,000 in each succeeding year.

Woodson’s base salaries after 2006 are as follows: $1.25 million in ’07, $3.25 million in ’08, $4 million in ’09, $5 million in ’10, $5.5 million in ’11 and $6.5 million in ’12.

... Woodson's signing bonus is $4 million and his '06 cap number is $6.7 million, resulting in a $2.7 million savings to the 2006 cap if he fails to make the roster. Presumably, the roster bonuses vanish if he fails to make the roster.

If this is correct, then the Packers have nothing to lose by cutting Woodson if he flops big-time in TC. If he makes the final roster, however, the accelerated cap hit doubles overnight if we cut him in the first year.

Of course if I'm wrong, I'm about to get bitch-slapped by our good friend Patler.

[LEWCWA]

You guys must really be bored! CW is not getting cut, and he is not takeing a seat behind the midget!! The midget will be a decent nickle corner this year!!! Maybe next year we can induct him into the Packer Hall!

[RashanGary]

Woodson will not be cut. They gave him 10 up front. He was supposed to earn that over 3 years. I hope he works hard for these last 3 years here. He strikes me as a bit of a lazy person but that is just a complete guess.

[woodbuck27]

This is all getting to be a bit much. First it was the OTAs with who was there and who wasn't, how guys were performing in walk through practices.

Now we have reporters actually keeping a running stat on completed passes during 7 on 7 drills!

As fans and media I think we have all stepped outside reality. I am going back to my Star Wars Comic book for a while.

Exactly Dr. Nutz.

Alot of Favre's picks are on pass's to WR's that couldn't pass the grade up here in the CFL.

GO PACKERS !

[woodbuck27]

I'l toss this in here:

Though it hasn't been a major complaint, a couple of receivers said they've had a little trouble seeing the ball late at the night practices because of the temporary lights at Clarke Hinkle Field.

"They're not stadium lights. Stadium lights are high and light the whole stadium," receiver Donald Driver said.

"This has some dark spots. You can be running and think you can see the ball, but you really can't."

Driver and Marc Boerigter said they haven't had any drops because of the lighting, however.

"The angle of the lights are kind of at eye level and the corners are kind of dark by the end zone there," Boerigter said.

"You have to concentrate more on it. There's been times when you're out there and somebody breaks and the ball's on top of you. But it isn't a big deal."

It's the Lights!

[RIPackerFan]

Didn't they say at the beginning of camp - all the recievers (except for Driver and Jennings) had the drops. I have to believe that, along with learning a new offence in the first week, is causing the "bad stats".

[MJZiggy]

Hmmm, the lights make it harder to see the ball so you have to concentrate really hard. This is a problem (for anyone but Christl) because...?

[Scott Campbell]

Woodson will not be cut. They gave him 10 up front. He was supposed to earn that over 3 years. I hope he works hard for these last 3 years here. He strikes me as a bit of a lazy person but that is just a complete guess.

They didn't give him 10 up front according to Silverstein. He got 4 up front. It'd be a lot easier to swallow hard and admit a mistake with only $4M to swallow this year, considering his roster bonus alone will account for the same hit to the cap. That is if he doesn't pan out.

Be assured that I hope he does pan out.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

NEXT YEAR???????

Carroll is gonna be starting sometime this season if not when the season starts.

Sorry mad, but carroll is not better than woodson or harris. If theres no injury to woodson or harris, carroll is our nickel CB. Do u really think woodson or harris wouldn't become a TO if they were benched for carroll?

[Willard]

We finally get depth at CB that we have been lacking since the McKenzie defection and now some of you want to cut Charles Woodson?!?!?

Don't you realize how often NFL defenses need 3 CBs on the field at the same time? The third CB is extremely important to our pass defense. Last year we ranked in the top10 only against #1 receivers. We sucked against #2 and #3 receivers because Carroll struggled (until the end of the season), and we had no experience at #3.

What is wrong with you people? I swear you act like you are writing the damn checks out to Woodson yourself!

[Scott Campbell]

You lost me. Who wants to cut him?

The hypothetical question posed was CAN we cut him - IF he sucks. That doesn't mean anybody wants to cut him, or wants him to suck.

I think the only thing wrong with us people is your interpretation of what was written.

[HarveyWallbangers]

What I found funny is that Brett got a thumbs down on what may have been his best practice so far. It's like he was all set to give him the thumbs down no matter what he did.

[Willard]

You lost me. Who wants to cut him?

The hypothetical question posed was CAN we cut him - IF he sucks. That doesn't mean anybody wants to cut him, or wants him to suck.

I think the only thing wrong with us people is your interpretation of what was written.

OK, well then....thats better....I'm glad you came around to my way of thinking.....

[FritzDontBlitz]

What I found funny is that Brett got a thumbs down on what may have been his best practice so far. It's like he was all set to give him the thumbs down no matter what he did.

i thought i was the only one who noticed that....