"Tough Cap Calls Are Ahead"

[rbaloha1]

There aren't many 330 lb guys with Raji's quickness. While I agree he's not as consistently dominant as we would like, he would be harder to replace than a guy like Hawk.

Agree.

Pickett is the example of someone with size, power and a good attitude that can be trusted to a long term contract.

Appears more prospects with size are available.

Many players with money year on the line have big years. Expect Raji to have a big year but signing to a long term deal demands scrutiny.

[smuggler]

Thing with Raji is this: Even with his inconsistency, he's worth what we're paying him. However, if he becomes a top-5 paid DL, then he's not going to be worth it.

Look at his stats from 2009 to the 2012 season -- he's not getting any better IMO, so why should we pay him more?

[Guiness]

If you use the exception the cap hit happens sooner, but for the reduced amount. Getting back to Hawk, the Packers can save 3.8 this year and something similar next year (assuming his salary is about the same).

'for the reduced amount' means 'a reduced amount for this year and some carried over to next' though. As you pointed out in another post, they've only got $100K in dead money - that has to be the lowest or close to the lowest in the league. I'm sure they'd like to keep it that way if they can. In years past it made sense to push it out because the cap was going up, so the hit was deflated. With the cap level being flat, that's no longer the case.

If you look at the type of guys they are currently paying about that much or less for right now, 3.8 million includes some quality guys:

Jordy Nelson WR $3,975,000 $3,150,000
James Jones WR $3,750,000 $3,250,000
Mason Crosby K $3,150,000 $2,550,000
T.J. Lang OL $3,100,000 $2,000,000
Clay Matthews LB $2,672,500 $1,532,500
John Kuhn RB $2,543,750 $2,350,000
Bryan Bulaga OL $2,125,500 $962,000
Derek Sherrod OL $1,800,546 $975,182
Jarrett Bush CB $1,783,333 $1,450,000
Nick Perry LB $1,704,375 $730,875
Tim Masthay P $1,105,000 $865,000
Jerel Worthy DT $897,319 $569,464
Randall Cobb WR $875,299 $666,766
Mike Neal DT $865,000 $575,000
Brett Goode OL $821,250 $740,000
Morgan Burnett S $793,775 $575,000
Casey Hayward CB $752,253 $540,451
Alex Green RB $691,250 $562,500
Davon House CB $630,145 $555,000
Graham Harrell QB $630,000 $630,000
Andrew Quarless TE $620,607 $575,000
Marshall Newhouse OL $612,464 $575,000

Apples and oranges. You can't compare the salary of a 6 year vet to that of a successful 2nd round or later rookie/second year player. Sure, the rookie is a lot cheaper, and if the Pack could fill their team with them every year, things would go pretty smoothly. No need for not only Hawk, but Tramon, or Sitton and his $5.5million. Of course, you could also end up with Pat Lee at corner, Quinn Johnson at RB and Brohm as the pivot!

[sharpe1027]

'for the reduced amount' means 'a reduced amount for this year and some carried over to next' though. As you pointed out in another post, they've only got $100K in dead money - that has to be the lowest or close to the lowest in the league. I'm sure they'd like to keep it that way if they can. In years past it made sense to push it out because the cap was going up, so the hit was deflated. With the cap level being flat, that's no longer the case.

I am not going to debate about whether they should take the hit in one year or spread it across two, that's secondary IMO. Cutting Hawk would save about 10 Million over two years. Whether it is evenly split or front loaded is a matter of choice. Is 10 Million worth cutting him? Probably not in my personal opinion, but there are some that disagree.

Apples and oranges. You can't compare the salary of a 6 year vet to that of a successful 2nd round or later rookie/second year player. Sure, the rookie is a lot cheaper, and if the Pack could fill their team with them every year, things would go pretty smoothly. No need for not only Hawk, but Tramon, or Sitton and his $5.5million. Of course, you could also end up with Pat Lee at corner, Quinn Johnson at RB and Brohm as the pivot!

Yeah, I agree that it is not a one-for-one comparison. The salary structures of rookies and 6 year vets IS apples and oranges. I think that is partly why TT invests so heavily in the draft.

In any event, they made a choice to resign Hawk at a relatively high price (too high for many fans). They can stick with that choice for two more years, or they could cut their losses and invest the money elsewhere. That includes rookie contracts and extending existing players, which makes the list relevant, if not perfect.

I don't think they would improve the team by cutting him. They would just deplete their depth and create a hole that needs to be filled. That being said, if it comes down to not being able to resign/sign someone else, I could understand letting him go.

[Smeefers]

Thing with Raji is this: Even with his inconsistency, he's worth what we're paying him. However, if he becomes a top-5 paid DL, then he's not going to be worth it.

Look at his stats from 2009 to the 2012 season -- he's not getting any better IMO, so why should we pay him more?

You have to pay him more because he'll have all that experience under his belt, but I agree, you can't pay him like a top dog in the league when he's obviously not (yet). I'd try and get him on a short term deal that doesn't kill us and see how he does. Either that or put a poison pill in at the end of his contract like they did with Hawk. If he doesn't live up to a 10 mil last season, no one is going to be upset when they try and renegotiate or let him go.

[Pugger]

we'll try to punt more next year to increase his value

[Joemailman]

What about Tramon Williams? He'll count 7.4 mil against the cap next year. If House outplays him in the preseason, do you keep a guy at that salary to be your dime back? He has 2.4 million of his signing bonus still to be prorated, but you'd still save 5 mil by cutting him. Who knows? Maybe having some competition for his job will convince him to start tackling again.

[rbaloha1]

What about Tramon Williams? He'll count 7.4 mil against the cap next year. If House outplays him in the preseason, do you keep a guy at that salary to be your dime back? He has 2.4 million of his signing bonus still to be prorated, but you'd still save 5 mil by cutting him. Who knows? Maybe having some competition for his job will convince him to start tackling again.

I am with you man. T.*Williams matador defense in the run game is embarrassing.

Think House is a player but is coming off shoulder surgery. Hopefully recovers quickly and beats out the matador.

[RashanGary]

Looking at pressures per play is deceiving. What downs are these guys playing on? How many snaps per game are they playing? I'd be interested in seeing Raji's numbers up against starting DT's who play a high number of snaps. Then I'd like to have an expert on DL play assess how well the player did based on the technique he was being asked to play on his downs. I'd also like a breakdown of how well said player did in passing situations against single and double teams and look at those percentages. . .

We're so un-informed about players. TT will make a decision. It's going to be hard for us to bitch one way or the other. How many games and SB's we win is about the only thing we judge. I think there is enough of a connection between good decisions and winning for us to have a good opinion.

The fact is we win a lot. Whatever TT does, I think it will be safe to say he deserves more benefit than doubt.



The players who play a lot of snaps and perform at an excellent level in the assignment they're given are the best players in the league. We don't have a fruggin clue. I do draw opinions on players based on impact plays that really stand out and bad plays that really stand out. Impressive players who don't make a lot of mistakes, I'm a fan of. I'm a fan of BJ Raji. He's impressive to me at times, and he doesn't look outmatched very often at all. For me to make an accurate assessment of what he's worth to the team though. . . Yeah, I'd fall flat on my face as a GM

[MJZiggy]

They have some decisions, but can cut some cap without loosing too much.

Guys that can be cut without a much loss in production on the field:

Saturday can't justify 4.6 Mil.
Kuhn is tough to justify at 2.35 Mil.
With the all new young players on D, Bush won't be missed too much at 1.78 Mil.

Guys that would probably result in a noticeable loss in production, but that appear overpaid:
Finley is not an 8.7 Mil player.
T. Will is tough to justify at 8.5 Mil.
Hawk is a starter, but not a good value at 7.0 Mil.
Pickett is not a good value at 6.7 Mil.

I can't believe that they only have about a hundred thousand dollars in dead money. That is impressive.

Saturday won't justify anything. He retired a little while ago. There's 4.5 million back right there.

[Joemailman]

Greg Jennings' house for sale.

http://www.realtor.com/blogs/2013/01...selling-house/

[Pugger]

That's a lovely home but he might find it hard to sell in this market. Do $500,000 homes sell up there?

[Patler]

That's a lovely home but he might find it hard to sell in this market. Do $500,000 homes sell up there?

Sure, for about $300,000.

[mraynrand]

Finley might buy it

[ThunderDan]

That's a lovely home but he might find it hard to sell in this market. Do $500,000 homes sell up there?

Yes, homes are selling in DePere. Our friends that live there (they use to be Josh Sittons neighbor before he signed his big extension and moved) had someone actually come to them and say they wanted to buy their house. They sold it and moved back towards Milwaukee.