Pack hosting RFA NT from the Steelers

[Patler]

Too many thin skinned rats -- no wonder you guys are always cold.

?? I don't understand the relevance of your comment.

[Joemailman]

Secondly the offer he did sign is certainly creditable. This is...the Pittsburg Steelers afterall. Arguably the TOP Organization in the NFL. Your certainly not / hardly going to suggest that TT has it over their GM. Especially given that Pittsburg knew his skills.

Why not? Didn't TT's team beat them in the Super Bowl 2 years ago? The Steelers missed the playoffs last year and may well be a team in decline. The Steelers are one of the older teams in the NFL. The Packers only have one key player over the age of 30.

[woodbuck27]

I'm not at all suggesting the Steelers made a mistake, that TT knows more than they do, or anything at all like that. What makes you think so or even ask? I made no comment at all, other than to note that it took a decent sized contract to give him the warm & fuzzy feeling that some questioned whether TT can provide. Sort of like God telling White to come to GB, which by mere coincidence had made the best contract offer.

Since some may not have read the story attached to the link, I just wanted it out front that this was a guy thought to be a decent player, and one who would have cost a fair amount to sign. Just wanted the facts on the table. If he had signed the Steelers tender offer, or a one year contract, or a cheap contract, questioning TT's "ability to close" has more credibility. Signing a decent contract to return to a team that likes him, where he is expected to be a starter, shows it might have been a hard sell for the Packers right from the start.

Now a couple questions for you:

How do you have the slightest idea about what the Packers might have offered, or if they even offered anything at all???? Why do you even allude to a "backwards insult".

How do you have the slightest idea about what the Packers might have offered, or if they even offered anything at all???? Patler

How do any of us get such concrete information Patler? All we have is anaysis and speculation. You have to be interested enough /caring enough, to try to read between the lines.

Let's flip that over Patler:

Are you suggesting that that Steve McLendon arrived in Green Bay and didn't receive a concrete offer from the Green Bay Packers?

To go there is to suggest pure incompetence on the part of the Green Bay Packers.

To take that to TRUTH >>>To give us considerable insight into why TT doesn't sign many players, that otherwise might have signed; at least possibly helped the Packers improve.

To take it even further >>>To inform us that as Packer fans:

We shouldn't hope that more FA's will travel to Green Bay to see what's up with the Packers as that's purely a complete waste of time. If that's the TRUTH then the Green Bay Packers and TT are merely posturing when it comes to Free Agency. That TT isn't a real player.

"Why do you even allude to a "backwards insult" Patler

Easy. It's easy to allude to/make such an illusion.

That's exactly what a visit to Green Bay would be, with 'a minimum offer' and more so 'NO OFFER'. That... given Steve McLendon's status... confirmed by Steeler fan comments. That toped by the actual contract the Pittsburg Steelers awarded him.

Does Ted Thompson do his homework, use a practise of fairness over prudence? I don't need a man to visit me to learn I'm going to give him as little as possible. I'd use a telephone for that.

Maybe TT is in some dire need of company?

I'm the type that digs and discovers the resources to be at least decently informed. There's the rub. Likely the truest response to your questions.

Those resources must exist.

The internet provides alot these days. Direct communication skills provides realistically more. You use decent communication skills to nail anything down.

PACKERS !

[Bretsky]

I'm not at all suggesting the Steelers made a mistake, that TT knows more than they do, or anything at all like that. What makes you think so or even ask? I made no comment at all, other than to note that it took a decent sized contract to give him the warm & fuzzy feeling that some questioned whether TT can provide. Sort of like God telling White to come to GB, which by mere coincidence had made the best contract offer.

Since some may not have read the story attached to the link, I just wanted it out front that this was a guy thought to be a decent player, and one who would have cost a fair amount to sign. Just wanted the facts on the table. If he had signed the Steelers tender offer, or a one year contract, or a cheap contract, questioning TT's "ability to close" has more credibility. Signing a decent contract to return to a team that likes him, where he is expected to be a starter, shows it might have been a hard sell for the Packers right from the start.

Now a couple questions for you:
How do you have the slightest idea about what the Packers might have offered, or if they even offered anything at all????
Why do you even allude to a "backwards insult".

I'm not sure I agree that what occured hurts the TT's inability to close on a deal theory. I actually look at this as another of many many examples where the Packers dangled an olive branch out to somebody they have have an interest in, and then let him leave only to go to another team. Had TT offered him 3MIL per year for 3-4 years and closed the deal while he was in Green Bay, that would have shredded the argument.

To me it shows GB knew he was a player they might be interested in....and they let him leave.

I don't have the evidencce to suggest what TT may or may not have offered. What I did get out of all of this is the dude is probably a good player who could have really helped the Green Bay Packers....he left GB w/o a deal and the Steelers closed.... and now our hand is more forced to draft a DL next week because the odds are decent Raji is leaving.

[Patler]

Why not? Didn't TT's team beat them in the Super Bowl 2 years ago? The Steelers missed the playoffs last year and may well be a team in decline. The Steelers are one of the older teams in the NFL. The Packers only have one key player over the age of 30.

Valid points, but maybe just the normal cycle of things for the Steelers. They seem to have been "aggressive" in allowing their roster to turn over this year, but letting older players go. Looks like they could have significant turnover come September.

[rbaloha1]

The Steelers had the upper hand.

My bigger concern was TT losing out on Lynch and Moss.

[rbaloha1]

I think Raji will be a tough signing. Just get the feeling he might be one of those players that will be lost in FA. Might be a better player in a role that gives him more freedom than in a 3-4.

Too much money tied up with Matthews and Rodgers to waste on a Raji.

[rbaloha1]

?? I don't understand the relevance of your comment.

You answered it -- thank you

[Patler]

I'm not sure I agree that what occured hurts the TT's inability to close on a deal theory. I actually look at this as another of many many examples where the Packers dangled an olive branch out to somebody they have have an interest in, and then let him leave only to go to another team. Had TT offered him 3MIL per year for 3-4 years and closed the deal while he was in Green Bay, that would have shredded the argument.

To me it shows GB knew he was a player they might be interested in....and they let him leave.

I don't have the evidencce to suggest what TT may or may not have offered. What I did get out of all of this is the dude is probably a good player who could have really helped the Green Bay Packers....he left GB w/o a deal and the Steelers closed.... and now our hand is more forced to draft a DL next week because the odds are decent Raji is leaving.

Could be, or could be that he always wanted to stay with the Steelers, and the Steelers always wanted to keep him; but he wanted to maximize his contract, and the Steelers were hoping to sneak in another relatively cheap year. Or, maybe he had a three year offer from the Steelers already, but since he was a restricted free agent he came to GB to see if they would top it. He seemed to sign awful quickly after the visit to GB; so quickly that it seems the negotiation must have been pretty far along already.

The more interesting question for me is whether the Packers should have been willing to offer that much, or more? Sounds from what others are saying that he shows promise.

[Bretsky]

The Steelers are way more cash strapped than GB right now. Had he wanted him, I think we could have structured a contract to make that happen. I was surprised they even matched the Patriots offer for the WR Sanders.

When I heard we had him in I was cautiously optimistic. Deep down I believe TT doesn't close deals so he would go back and sign with Pitt once he left town. But I was really hoping we'd add him so we could be drafting from an area of more strength.

Saying we just drafted BPA.......that's all bullshit......and a slogan ever team uses. Players who are best player availalbe at a position of need are often drafted higher, IMO, than who you have rated as the best player on the board.

A lot of these big bodies....seem to bust out or underperform. I have no stats on this....but it would be interesting....to see how many of these 300 plus guys underperform on the DL as opposed to other positions. I could randomly rip off double digts of guys over the past few years who have been great disappointments.

If we can get one we know is a player we draft from a position of strength. I've moved away from going gold or bust in free agency. I was once there as many know and going for the gold in free agency is high risk that most often doesn't reap the reward.

But I don't like being the team with a dozen olive branches who then keep them either.

[Patler]

Too much money tied up with Matthews and Rodgers to waste on a Raji.

Sort of what I have been thinking for a couple seasons, that it would eventually get to that. If Raji was more consistently at the top of his game they might find a way to keep him. As it is, he might simply cost too much for what he gives them, even if the alternative to him isn't as good.

[Patler]

I wonder what it would have taken to get him away from the Steelers? How much higher would they have gone? Should the Packers have offered 3 years for $9 million with $2 million guaranteed? Would the Steelers have matched that? From what others have said about the Steelers cap, I'm surprised they did this deal with him. What should TT have expected from them, this much more than the RFA tender?

[Patler]

You answered it -- thank you

Well, then it makes even less sense? Is it thin-skinned to reply to questions that are asked?

[rbaloha1]

Sort of what I have been thinking for a couple seasons, that it would eventually get to that. If Raji was more consistently at the top of his game they might find a way to keep him. As it is, he might simply cost too much for what he gives them, even if the alternative to him isn't as good.

Raji is overrated and gets pushed around too much. This is Raji's money year so the effort could be great. Facade.

This draft is full of large defensive linemen -- no more undersized guys like Daniels and Worthy should be considered.

Expect Jolly to eventually get his starting job back.

[rbaloha1]

Well, then it makes even less sense? Is it thin-skinned to reply to questions that are asked?

Keep going aristotle.