HAWK TO BE RESIGNED

[pbmax]

Didn't Wahle complain in his last season about being the only O-lineman who hadn't been the subject of a game-day program cover at least once? He seemed to find hidden messages in that sort of thing.

I don't remember that, but it sounds consistent. I think when all your mates except Tausher (a lowly seventh rounder who was still getting tackle money) are regularly mentioned as Pro Bowlers and you might be the most gifted save Clifton, then you might want to stand out. But as with most things, I think he wanted to get paid big time, and a Pro Bowl nod helps your case. Its not much different than most players. Most rookie contracts are favorable to the team if you are playing well.

If you play a long time, your last contract will likely be favorable to the team so you can stay where you want. That means in the very short career of an NFL player, unless you are a top seven first round pick, you often have only one contract to max out on. Otherwise, its a lost opportunity.

Ironically, if the owners get a hard(er) rookie slotting system in this CBA system, it is a near certainty that the players will ask for a limit on the number of years the rookie contract can cover, in order for them to convert success into pay in a shorter time frame. A shorter term first contract will introduce a concept familiar to the NBA to the NFL. Top rookie players in the NBA are already planning their second contract when they enter the league. In fact, the second contract is a factor in determining when the declare eligible for the draft.

I think players who believe themselves capable of getting a good second contract will be more likely to enter the draft as juniors, placing less concern on the NFL feedback about where they could get picked. The idea, encouraged by agents, will be to enter the NFL younger, healthier and more likely to get a second contract while still young and improving.

In turn, there will be pressure from agents and families to lower the age for NFL draft eligibility.

[vince]

Based on all the info I've seen from A.J. over time, I'd say his motivations are 1) playing and 2) winning. The money is always important but given the millions he's already making, it's clear he values the quality of experience playing the game more than the money.

A.J.’s a solid professional with the maturity and team focus you want. He’s stepped up his leadership, which McCarthy values and I think his steadying presence on the field and in the locker room has value beyond his steady play. In many ways he’s the anti-emotional-roller-coaster-tweeting-injury-prone-look-at-me-vampire-Samurai-Barnett. That’s good for a young team I’d say.

That said, it seems pretty clear based what A.J. said after the first game and especially what his agent has said upon completing this new deal that A.J. was assured he would continue to be the guy captaining the defense and Barnett would be gone one way or another. Without this assurance, I don’t think A.J. re-signs with the Packers, particularly without testing the free agent waters and/or maximizing his contract with assurance of being a three-down guy somewhere else.

[Fritz]

"I think Wahle's motivations were less complex. He wanted a really big contract because it comes hand delivered with a lot of cash. And Hawk was probably thinking along those same lines. Hawk came closer to a Wahle score than I thought he would. Adjusted for inflation, Wahle's $12-13 million guaranteed still trumps Hawk's $10 mil, but not a bad haul for a player people were wondering about being released after Game 1."

PB, it's clear you're not ready for a reality television show. You're being a little too logical here.

[vince]

I think players who believe themselves capable of getting a good second contract will be more likely to enter the draft as juniors, placing less concern on the NFL feedback about where they could get picked. The idea, encouraged by agents, will be to enter the NFL younger, healthier and more likely to get a second contract while still young and improving.

In turn, there will be pressure from agents and families to lower the age for NFL draft eligibility.

I'd be surprised to see this happen. Not sure what would be the motivation for anyone, including the agents. There are only so many players who can sign a deal in the NFL, regardless of the age of entry, so it doesn't expand the pool for them.

The NFL is a young man's game, but the emphasis is overwhelmingly on the man part. Even with a slightly larger roster, there isn't much room for stashing projects who you hope will pan out some day. The practice squad isn't the place for kids who project to be stars when they could be playing competitively in the SEC or Big Ten. That's the best place for them at that level of development, and the best place for them to showcase their talents and build their marketability.

Guys who come into the league need to be ready to play. Not many sophomore's or younger are ready to compete at that level, and unless drastic changes are made to how rosters are put together, teams aren't likely to hold spots for the promise of a kid who might be good some day beyond the existing eight spots that are held by young men already with the current system. Having guys declaring and then not getting drafted because they're not physically mature enough doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interests.

[pbmax]

Hawk got a serious amount of money up front. But unlike past Thompson deals, the cap hit is at its highest early. Sign of the unknown CBA times or new Thompson method of contracts?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/07/a-j-hawk-will-get-almost-11-million-in-2011/

The Packers cut A.J. Hawk before re-signing him, in part to avoid a $10 million option payment that was in his last contract.

It turns out he got almost that much to sign on the dotted line when he re-joined the team.

Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports and PFT has confirmed that Hawk received an $8 million signing bonus when he inked the deal. Including a $1.8 million roster bonus and $1.15 million base salary, Hawk will earn $10.95 million in 2011.

He is set to earn $21.35 million over the first three years of the deal and $33.75 million over the entire five year deal. He is set to make $4.95 million in total pay in 2012, with $4.4 million in base salary, $300,000 in a roster bonus and $250,000 in a workout bonus.

In 2013, he’ll make $5.45 million. That includes $4.9 million in base salary, a $300,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus.

In 2014, he’ll make $5.95 million. That includes $4.9 million in base salary, an $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus.

In 2015, he’ll make $6.45 million. That includes $5.4 million in base salary, an $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus.

Hawk could be vulnerable to being released after 2013 depending on his play. His cap number that year will be $7.55 million, and the team would only take a $3.2 cap hit to release him.

A league source tells PFT that Hawk’s cap numbers are as follows: 2011: $4.55 million, 2012: $6.55 million, 2013: $7.05 million, 2014: $7.55 million, 2015: $8.05 million.

The Packers said they valued Hawk’s contributions highly, and they proved it with this deal. He will be one of the most highly paid inside linebackers in football.

Hat tip: http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.co...s/gpg/insider/

[MadScientist]

Hawk got a serious amount of money up front. But unlike past Thompson deals, the cap hit is at its highest early. Sign of the unknown CBA times or new Thompson method of contracts?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/07/a-j-hawk-will-get-almost-11-million-in-2011/

Hat tip: http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.co...s/gpg/insider/

If there is a cap, the Packers will be pushing it this year, which is why it's structured to give them ~7M relief. Dropping Barnett will give them another 6M and they won't have to worry about rookies and will be able to sign their key FA's.

[SnakeLH2006]

Snake has never been a Hawk fan since he studded out at Ohio The University....but really he did ok last year. Depends on the money/year but at $6 million yearly that is ok....with the new bargaining agreement it will look like peanuts. Let's trade Barnett now though before his Twitter gets too nutz.

[Smidgeon]

Hawk got a serious amount of money up front. But unlike past Thompson deals, the cap hit is at its highest early. Sign of the unknown CBA times or new Thompson method of contracts?

I'm missing something. You're saying the cap hit is highest early. Two things: First, I thought that was normal to TT deals. Second, this is the paragraph from the PFT piece that confuses me: A league source tells PFT that Hawk’s cap numbers are as follows: 2011: $4.55 million, 2012: $6.55 million, 2013: $7.05 million, 2014: $7.55 million, 2015: $8.05 million.

That makes it seem to me that the cap hit is higher late. What am I missing?

[Fritz]

"Let's trade Barnett now though before his Twitter gets too nutz."

-Snake

I think it's more like "Let's trade Barnett now though before his nutz get too Twittered."

[pbmax]

I'm missing something. You're saying the cap hit is highest early. Two things: First, I thought that was normal to TT deals. Second, this is the paragraph from the PFT piece that confuses me: A league source tells PFT that Hawk’s cap numbers are as follows: 2011: $4.55 million, 2012: $6.55 million, 2013: $7.05 million, 2014: $7.55 million, 2015: $8.05 million.

That makes it seem to me that the cap hit is higher late. What am I missing?

You aren't missing anything, that was a mistake. I meant to say unlike other Thompson deals, the money is upfront but the cap hit is late. Instead, I just posted gibberish.

[SnakeLH2006]

"Let's trade Barnett now though before his Twitter gets too nutz."

-Snake

I think it's more like "Let's trade Barnett now though before his nutz get too Twittered."

Fritz your awesomeness rivals Chuck Norris. You aren't Chuck Norris are you, Fritz?