Hawk my be in line for the Barnett treatment. . . . If not this year, next

[RashanGary]

Bishop said Lattimore has been a really good player inside. Said DJ Smith is too. . . .


We've been through the drill. Hawk is making a lot of money. We need to resign Raji, Matthews, Rodgers, Jennings and others. . . . . If we have guys who aren't much of a drop off making 4 mil less per year. . . it makes sense to let him go.

If I was GM, and what Bishop (and the coaches are saying) is true, I'd cut Hawk. Either now, or next year.

[Bretsky]

At this point I think I have to agree with you
Enough of Average; Hawk either needs to be more of a playmaker this year or we need to upgrade there

[Joemailman]

Next year they save salary cap room by cutting Hawk. He'll be gone unless he has a great year this year.

[gbgary]

I think I have to agree with you

me too.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'd be fine rolling with Smith and saving money. My bet is that Hawk has a good year. He's been up and down.

[ND72]

Again, it would cost GB MORE to cut him right now than to allow him to play the next 2 years. Not gonna happen. And I like smith, but a 5'11" 220lbs MLB in a 3-4 will not make it a full year, and as Some reporter, I think Wilde, said on twitter Friday, smith battled injuries last year before making it on the field.

[pbmax]

Just so you know, Bishop, Smith and Lattimore have all been working at the same LB spot. Its a clear attempt to confuse and disorient the opposition and the home fans.

[Joemailman]

Again, it would cost GB MORE to cut him right now than to allow him to play the next 2 years. Not gonna happen. And I like smith, but a 5'11" 220lbs MLB in a 3-4 will not make it a full year, and as Some reporter, I think Wilde, said on twitter Friday, smith battled injuries last year before making it on the field.

Smith weighs 239 pounds on a shorter frame, 3 less than Hawk. Smith's height will always be a drawback, but if he's a more instinctive player than Hawk, he could be a better player.

[KYPack]

Again, it would cost GB MORE to cut him right now than to allow him to play the next 2 years. Not gonna happen. And I like smith, but a 5'11" 220lbs MLB in a 3-4 will not make it a full year, and as Some reporter, I think Wilde, said on twitter Friday, smith battled injuries last year before making it on the field.

Joe has broken the code on this one.

This season it would cost 4 -5 hundred thousand to cut Hawk. That doesn't seem like much of a loss, but it breaks down to one year's average rookie salary. Hawk will play in GB for this season.

Next year, cutting Hawk will result in substantial savings. AJ will be here this season, but will have to play his ass off to be on the team next year.

[RashanGary]

Just so you know, Bishop, Smith and Lattimore have all been working at the same LB spot. Its a clear attempt to confuse and disorient the opposition and the home fans.

It's working

[Joemailman]

Still, if Hawk were to go down with an injury or be released, do people think Francois or Manning would start ahead of Smith? I would expect Smith to replace Hawk, or Bishop to slide over to Hawk's spot, with Smith taking Bishop's position.

[pbmax]

Still, if Hawk were to go down with an injury or be released, do people think Francois or Manning would start ahead of Smith? I would expect Smith to replace Hawk, or Bishop to slide over to Hawk's spot, with Smith taking Bishop's position.

There was an article before camp that talked a bit about this, how Smith was actually playing Bishop's spot and when he filled in last year. Even when Hawk went down and it was he and Francois, he had the helmet but Francois was Buck. So no, I am not sure I would expect Smith to back up both positions.

[Brandon494]

If Hawk has another season like he had last year it will be a no-brainer to cut him, I already think DJ Smith is a better player and hes cheaper.

[Patler]

It never costs more to cut a player now than in the future. It may have a greater impact against the current salary cap if he is cut now, but releasing a player sooner always saves both current cash and total salary cap over multiple years. Sometimes, the question is whether the current salary cap can absorb the hit or not. I don't think it will be a deciding factor in keeping Hawk for 2012.

Hawks contract (per the info I can find)

Signing bonus - $8 M.
Additional bonuses (roster & workout) and salaries as follows:

year - bonus/salary
2011 1.8/1.15
2012 - .550/4.4
2013 - .550/4.9
2014 - 1.05/4.9
2015 - 1.05/5.4

His 2012 cap # if kept = $6.550 M.
His 2012 cap # if cut = 6.950 M. (2012 bonuses + accelerated signing bonus, but see "Note" below). This assumes his roster bonus was due early in the year, and is not based on the final 53 man roster.

His 2013 cap # = $0 if he is cut now with all signing bonus accelerated in 2012. (But see "Note" below.)

If he is kept in 2012, but released in 2013, his 2013 cap # could take several forms:
If released before 2013 bonuses are due = $4.8 million
If released after his 2013 bonuses are due = $5.350 million


So, while there would be a small increase in the 2012 cap ($400,000.) to release him now rather than in 2013, there would be very significant savings against the 2013 cap ($4.8 M or $5.35M). The small hit to the cap in 2012 would free up a lot more cap space to help in the signings of guys like Jennings, Rodgers, Matthews, Raji, Lang, etc.

Historically, the Packers have shown a willingness to take some cap hits now for significant improvements in future salary caps. I do not expect them to do that with Hawk, because for whatever reasons they seem to value him higher than most fans do.

Not sure where their 2012 cap stands, and if the additional $400,000 would be a significant hardship on it or not, but the savings to future caps might justify the difficulty in 2012.


Note:
I believe there are still procedures in the new CBA whereby the accelerated cap hit on a released player can be bumped forward one year, in which case Hawk's salary cap # for 2012 would be $2.15 M and 2013 would be $4.8 M. If released in 2013, the $3.2 M accelerated signing bonus could be bumped into 2014. If this is the case, there would be a savings against the 2012 cap if he were cut in 2012 rather than kept.

[Upnorth]

If we have the talent to replace him then he needs to be cut. If we don't we cant afford the defence to get worse in any position. The one exception is when it comes to getting contracts signed early IMO and needing the space next year.