Finley, Williams & Hawk

[Patler]

I have a salary cap question for you plater: Since the packers are carrying over 7 million from last season doesn't that mean that with everyone under contract they had 7 million left to spend? If so, shouldn't that mean that with Jennings off the books we should have been 15 million under the cap before the Woodson release? With Woodson released I was expecting the cap room to be about 25 mil but I'm hearing 16 to 17 mil now. What am I missing?

For one thing, the remaining players' salaries have probably increased from last year.

Sharpe already answered, so I will give a couple examples:

Player -- 2012 cap # --- 2013 cap #
Rodgers --- 8.5 --- 9.75
Finley--- 5.25 --- 8.75
Williams--- 7.4 --- 8.5
Picket --- 5.7 --- 6.7
Lang --- 2.0 --- 3.1

etc.

[Patler]

I don't see Hawk being let go this year. He is steady and durable. Others around him go down, and he misses very little time. Bishop and Smith this year, Barnett and Jones in previous years all missed significant time. Hawk missed only a couple games in his career so far due to injury. While their saving this year would be a fair amount, he will be in greater jeopardy of being released next year as the dead money hit goes down for a greater net savings to their cap.

My guess is that they will find a way to sign a new contract with Finley, using his salary due this year as part of the guaranteed cash over 4 or 5 years.

Williams is the harder one for me to guess. It could come down to how he looks in TC, and whether or not they draft an up and comer this year. They might be content with Shields, House, Hayward and a rookie. If Williams loses his starting job, it's hard to justify his salary, but they might be willing to pay it for one more year while they sort out their backfield without Woodson.

[pbmax]

Thompson has, in the past, shown that he is willing to let go of a player due concerns about his value despite having no obvious plan B. But he has also kept a few (KGB) in that spot.

There is no starting caliber ILB who can take Hawk's spot. Neither Bishop or Smith spent much time at Hawk's ILB spot in camp. And when Hawk missed a few games, it was Smith who took on his role and had decidedly mixed results. He was quicker and more decisive, but got overwhelmed a number of times. I don't think Haw's time is yet, but I would not be surprised to see his successor drafted this year.

[Bretsky]

Assuming that Woodson is gone, only Finley, Williams and Hawk seem to be arguably overpaid for 2013:


Jermichael Finley- $8.75 million
Tramon Williams - $8.5 million cap hit
A.J. Hawk - $7.05 million

Interestingly, they are now #s 2, 3 and 4 on the highest cap hit list for the Packers in 2013. After those three, everyone else seems to be worth what they will be paid, give or take a little.

If TW of 2010 can return, he will be a bargain at 8.5.

Any further cap savings on the horizon?

I wonder if JMike's ego would allow for him to redo his deal making in a 4Yr in the 27-30MIL range ? They could restructure it in a way to eat cap space in the year they wanted. When I think of TE's I can't think of many that are more talented. Jimmy Graham, Gronk....maybe V Davis......but when TT signed him I think he expected more by now. I gott believe his deal is restructured

Hawk.....he's steady and average at best. Against better blockers he gets exposed more and he will never ever live up to what we'd hope out of a #5 pick in the draft. It would surprise me if TT let's him go cause there is just not a ton of savings by cutting ties. But IMO his next deal, if it's with us, will be for a much lesser amount than his last one. You can win with Hawk. He's just never going to propel his play where we win because of much he does. His talen is what you hope for in round 3-4....just not the #5 pick in the draft

Willaims....not sure what to think. The optimist in me still wonders if he is still banged up and needs to fully recover. I don't think we have the horses there to fully cut ties. I think we have to bring him into training camp. If he doesn't step up his game.....we could always play dirty ball......wait til the last cut down when much of the money is nearly dried up....bring him in.....and let him know if he cuts his wage to 5MIL for instance...we'll kep him...otherwise send him on his way when there will not be a lot of money for others to offer him riches.

The first two rounds will be very telling this year. IF we have sombody TT loves in either....they could be insurance for next year when TT exepects a couple of the above guys to walk. I suppose it could also be a sign for this year.....but I doubt he just lets one free.

Of the above....Hawk at 7MIL.....wants to make me puke the most. He IMO is the easiest guy to replace his level of play at that position.

I'll state the obvious here..which you know........but the above 3 have hit their second set of contract negotiations.....where many strike the bank

Matthews and probably Raji too will be passing these guys soon

[gbgary]

I think all three will be here for a while. fin-record breaking year, hawk-leading tackler...again, tramon-solid, no one better to take his place. with a qb like rodgers you do what you can to be a contender every year because that window is fleeting. stay strong or get stronger but don't take steps backward.

[Fritz]

Maybe draft an ILB with a higher pick and let him duke it out with Hawk.

And btw, I like "Plater" for Patler.

[KYPack]

Maybe draft an ILB with a higher pick and let him duke it out with Hawk.

And btw, I like "Plater" for Patler.

Yeah. Let's make that trade.

[Patler]

Maybe draft an ILB with a higher pick and let him duke it out with Hawk.

And btw, I like "Plater" for Patler.

Yeah. Let's make that trade.

Plater for Patler?
Nah, could be confused as an homage to Dan Plater, BYU wide receiver who played with Jim McMahon, and reportedly the individual for whom McMahon wore "Pluto" on his headband in the Super Bowl.

[KYPack]

Plater for Patler?
Nah, could be confused as an homage to Dan Plater, BYU wide receiver who played with Jim McMahon, and reportedly the individual for whom McMahon wore "Pluto" on his headband in the Super Bowl.

& a 7th rnd pick in 2015.

[swede]

Pu Pu Plater

[woodbuck27]

I think all three will be here for a while. fin-record breaking year, hawk-leading tackler...again, tramon-solid, no one better to take his place. with a qb like rodgers you do what you can to be a contender every year because that window is fleeting. stay strong or get stronger but don't take steps backward.

I believe your correct.

With DD and CW gone it seems unlikely that the chemistry of the locker room will take any more hits next season. JF, Hawk and TW all stay. Next season will be a year of assessment and I don't expect we'll get better unless TT hits a home run. ie Picks an impact player at RB

We must fill too much on the OL and DL to realisticaslly have alot of hope for 2013. Of course this assessment will be upgraded if the team doesn't have too much adversity ie injuries.

[smuggler]

Pu Pu Platter owns

[call_me_ishmael]

I think they'll all be back. I'm not happy about Hawk back. I have a theory Finley can't run like he used to be able to.

[Smeefers]

Hawk.....he's steady and average at best. Against better blockers he gets exposed more and he will never ever live up to what we'd hope out of a #5 pick in the draft. It would surprise me if TT let's him go cause there is just not a ton of savings by cutting ties. But IMO his next deal, if it's with us, will be for a much lesser amount than his last one. You can win with Hawk. He's just never going to propel his play where we win because of much he does. His talen is what you hope for in round 3-4....just not the #5 pick in the draft
....

Of the above....Hawk at 7MIL.....wants to make me puke the most. He IMO is the easiest guy to replace his level of play at that position.

Do you honestly think you can find a guy in the 3rd or 4th round who is ready to be an instant starter and be a consistent leader on a defense from day 1, because Hawk was. Hawk has been the top 1 or 2 tackler on our D since he got here. I don't understand why being a consistent tackler is such an undervalued trait. We don't win because of what he does? He tackles the ball carrier. That directly leads to wins.

Now, just so I got this straight. You believe Hawk is easy to replace. You believe it's easy to find not only a defensive leader, leading tackler and a durable player, but also a player who is involved in many more sacks and turnovers for about the same price that you're paying Hawk. I don't believe that is realistic. Do you think when Desmond Bishop is up again that he'll only take 7 mil a year?

It's just getting so tiring defending this guy. Is he great? No. Is he bad? No. He's a C+, B- student. He gets paid what he's worth. Thompson just worked this deal out with the guy, he's not going to dump it a year into it.

[George Cumby]

I think they'll all be back. I'm not happy about Hawk back. I have a theory Finley can't run like he used to be able to.

Theory, my ass. I think it's been proven empirically.