Brad Jones

[Bretsky]

So who should have been signed instead of Jones?

JB of LB's is actually a compliment. I don't like JB on the field with the D but he's a damn fine STer.

At four MIL a year, there will be a lot of guys we'd have been better off with. To me that is grossly overpaying a dude when a guy like TT is normall prudent.

Note I said after the draft there will be plenty of bargains. Come August you'll find five to ten players who signed for less that we'd rather have on this squad.

Am I the only one baffled by how much money we've given this guy ?

Everybody said Walden's was grossly overpaid. I don't get how we're not saying the same of Jones. Either the blinders have taken over IMO, or most don't take the deal seriously as a four year deal.

[sharpe1027]

I do not understand this. He is buried on the depth chart and unlikely to get any better at this point. He can play ST but that hardly makes him stand out at his position. I guess they had no better use for that money?

[Joemailman]

At four MIL a year, there will be a lot of guys we'd have been better off with. To me that is grossly overpaying a dude when a guy like TT is normall prudent.

Note I said after the draft there will be plenty of bargains. Come August you'll find five to ten players who signed for less that we'd rather have on this squad.

Am I the only one baffled by how much money we've given this guy ?

Everybody said Walden's was grossly overpaid. I don't get how we're not saying the same of Jones. Either the blinders have taken over IMO, or most don't take the deal seriously as a four year deal.

I am surprised by the deal. However, it could possibly end up a 1 year deal if he doesn't end up a starter. As I said earlier, I think they must be concerned about Bishop and Williams to give him this deal.

[Patler]

I don't think the Packers had much of a choice. Like it or not, Jones may be their most significant ILB at the present. Bishop may never be the same. Smith will likely start the season on the PUP list. Hawk is Hawk. After taking over as a starter, Jones essentially played every snap on defense, and that may not change in 2013. If it doesn't change, he will earn his pay. But, if it does change, and Bishop returns as he was and/or an inexperienced guy catches fire to the point that Jones becomes again mostly a ST guy, the Packers can release Jones without a crippling cap hit next year or anytime thereafter.

It is more than I thought they might pay him, but he apparently received a lot of interest from other teams. This is an effective contract for the Packers, and with average salaries around $2M/player, but with the Packers likely to have over half their team on their first contracts, the Jones contract isn't troublesome.

[3irty1]

He's far from buried on the depth chart. The contract he got is that of a LB coverage specialist. 3rd down studs are worth money. Remember when TT was inked Chillar for 5.66M per? Anyone who thinks Jones is just a guy needs to go back and watch him at the end of last year against the Vikings running step for step down the field with Adrian Peterson in coverage. He is as athletic and fluid as it gets at the linebacker position.

[sharpe1027]

He's far from buried on the depth chart. The contract he got is that of a LB coverage specialist. 3rd down studs are worth money. Remember when TT was inked Chillar for 5.66M per? Anyone who thinks Jones is just a guy needs to go back and watch him at the end of last year against the Vikings running step for step down the field with Adrian Peterson in coverage. He is as athletic and fluid as it gets at the linebacker position.

I think he was the very definition of buried. Who was behind him on the dept chart? He was last, or next to last, at his preferred position and remained that way even after they moved him inside where there was less depth. He only saw significant snaps after both Bishop and Smith were injured.

I agree that he's got speed so he can run with guys in coverage. Even so, Smith was playing passing downs before he got hurt. That says a lot.

[pbmax]

It is a bit odd. Hawk got money we didn't expect and so did Finley. One has big upside, the other is consistently what we have come to expect-average to good. But he doesn't get close to $4 mil unless he earns year three, when all the leverage is on the team's side.

Thompson has let players go before with no certain heir-apparent, though that might be more dependent on age than immediate cost (Clifton versus KGB).

Is he keeping pieces around to keep the puzzle complete for Rodgers' prime years?

I think its more likely uncertainty. Over Bishop, Smith and ST. With Walden gone and Hawk's pay cut, it doesn't kill the budget for ILB.

The market probably topped their expectations but the uncertainty was great enough that they did not want to have to find his skills in the youth on the roster. Which is a bit odd because we keep thinking Latimore or Francois will do something soon. But right now, both are cheap and unproven.

[Pugger]

I suppose I'd rather give that money to Jones than Walden.

[sharpe1027]

I don't think the Packers had much of a choice. Like it or not, Jones may be their most significant ILB at the present. Bishop may never be the same. Smith will likely start the season on the PUP list. Hawk is Hawk. After taking over as a starter, Jones essentially played every snap on defense, and that may not change in 2013. If it doesn't change, he will earn his pay. But, if it does change, and Bishop returns as he was and/or an inexperienced guy catches fire to the point that Jones becomes again mostly a ST guy, the Packers can release Jones without a crippling cap hit next year or anytime thereafter.

It is more than I thought they might pay him, but he apparently received a lot of interest from other teams. This is an effective contract for the Packers, and with average salaries around $2M/player, but with the Packers likely to have over half their team on their first contracts, the Jones contract isn't troublesome.

I really hope that they do not go in with Jones penciled in at #1, but this contract does suggest that might be the case. Maybe it is just me, but it seemed like he was involved in too many big plays last year. Unfortunately, the big plays were for the opposing team.

[sharpe1027]

I suppose I'd rather give that money to Jones than Walden.

True, but I'd also rather that they gave the money to me.

[3irty1]

I think he was the very definition of buried. Who was behind him on the dept chart? He was last, or next to last, at his preferred position and remained that way even after they moved him inside where there was less depth. He only saw significant snaps after both Bishop and Smith were injured.

I agree that he's got speed so he can run with guys in coverage. Even so, Smith was playing passing downs before he got hurt. That says a lot.

"He was buried" which is different than "He is buried." He might not have had a Bishop style break-out last year but between what he showed last year at ILB and Smith's ACL he's at worst a rotational player in a specialist role this season. That's not buried.

Its also worth noting that there will be a good amount of retooling among defenses this year with the emergence of the read option in the pros. There will especially be retooling on our defense which has featured Charles Woodson as a centerpiece in the past. Its hard to tell exactly how Brad Jones might fit into their future plans but based on his versatile skill-set and paycheck I don't think its a stretch to assume he does.

[Guiness]

It is more than I thought they might pay him, but he apparently received a lot of interest from other teams. This is an effective contract for the Packers, and with average salaries around $2M/player, but with the Packers likely to have over half their team on their first contracts, the Jones contract isn't troublesome.

Were other teams talking to him? I thought he would, he even showed up on a couple of 'top 100 FAs' lists, but I didn't hear about him having any visits, and with how long it took the Packers to sign him I figured the interest wasn't there. Certainly if anyone else wanted him there was ample opportunity.

[Bossman641]

Were other teams talking to him? I thought he would, he even showed up on a couple of 'top 100 FAs' lists, but I didn't hear about him having any visits, and with how long it took the Packers to sign him I figured the interest wasn't there. Certainly if anyone else wanted him there was ample opportunity.

Article I saw said that 9 teams had interest in Jones; 5 as a starting ILB. Jones' preference was to stay with GB and would need a significant offer from another team to go elsewhere.

Of course that is all coming from his agent so take it for what it's worth.

[Patler]

Were other teams talking to him? I thought he would, he even showed up on a couple of 'top 100 FAs' lists, but I didn't hear about him having any visits, and with how long it took the Packers to sign him I figured the interest wasn't there. Certainly if anyone else wanted him there was ample opportunity.

He did visit TN last week. The story (whether you want to believe it or not) is that 9 teams inquired and 5 showed significant interest. He told all that his strong preference was to stay in GB, so it would take a significant offer above GB's for him to move. Reports are that he negotiated with GB and 3 other teams last week.

I know, I know; rumors, lies and agent propaganda. But seems as plausible as any of the FA stories we hear. Probably some exaggeration in it, but something got his price tag up.

[sharpe1027]

"He was buried" which is different than "He is buried." He might not have had a Bishop style break-out last year but between what he showed last year at ILB and Smith's ACL he's at worst a rotational player in a specialist role this season. That's not buried.

Its also worth noting that there will be a good amount of retooling among defenses this year with the emergence of the read option in the pros. There will especially be retooling on our defense which has featured Charles Woodson as a centerpiece in the past. Its hard to tell exactly how Brad Jones might fit into their future plans but based on his versatile skill-set and paycheck I don't think its a stretch to assume he does.

Point made. How about "He should be buried"?

With any luck, retooling for the read option will involve keeping Jones off the field...