Raji's Going To Have To Earn It

[pbmax]

Thompson rolling the dice:

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 2h
MT @RapSheet: After early talks, #Packers plan to make @rajifreezer90 play out final year of his deal to earn big, long-term payday

http://t.co/I5Jf38KKCB

[pbmax]

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
If DT BJ Raji has the huge year he wants, it'll benefit #Packers on the field, then benefit him off it (either with a deal from GB or in FA)

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
From Total Access: BJ Raji is eating healthier, in shape. Scheme will help. He'll be allowed/asked to attack & create like in 2010 (7 sacks)

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
From Total Access: After early talks, #Packers plan to make DT BJ Raji play out the final year of his deal to earn a big, long-term payday

[pbmax]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000208778/article/packers-to-take-waitandsee-approach-with-bj-raji?campaign=Twitter_atl

Rapoport has been told that Raji is focused, in shape and eating healthy. The Packers are confident some tweaks to their scheme will help Raji, who will be asked to attack and create like he did in 2010. That was Raji's breakout season, which he finished with seven sacks.

I dunno, he was on the nose in a 3-4 Oakie in 2010 and then played a metric ton of 3 tech in the nickel and dime. We'll have to see if he really gets a different role. could spell trouble for Hawk and Bishop. And it didn't work against Peterson. The more I think about this quote, the more it sounds like his agent's wishful thinking.

[packer4life]

Perfect play from TT. Takes the guesswork out of paying a guy who has underachieved but flashed at times.

[Patler]

"After early talks......"

A week ago or so Raji said there had been no discussions yet.
Now, the Packers have already determined it is a waste of time to continue discussions.

Sounds to me like they were quite far apart in the terms.

Maybe Raji DOES have big dollar signs in his eyes, and/or isn't as committed to GB as his comments last week implied. It always makes me question motives when the first time we hear how much a player loves GB and wants to stay there is just before contract negotiations start.

[pittstang5]

There's always the Franchise tag. I have no idea what that would cost, but it could be an option. I'd hate to see another decent player go and all the Packers get is a Comp. Pick the following year.

Is Raji the only "Big" free agent possiblity after this upcoming season?

[Joemailman]

There's always the Franchise tag. I have no idea what that would cost, but it could be an option. I'd hate to see another decent player go and all the Packers get is a Comp. Pick the following year.

Is Raji the only "Big" free agent possiblity after this upcoming season?

James Jones and Finley.

[Patler]

Is Raji the only "Big" free agent possiblity after this upcoming season?

James Jones and Finley.

Shields, too as a possible "big" one.

Lesser ones include lots of starters from last year:
Newhouse
Pickett
Burnett
Wilson
Jennings
EDS
Kuhn

To complete the list of those who should play regularly:
Neal
Quarless

[pbmax]

"After early talks......"

A week ago or so Raji said there had been no discussions yet.
Now, the Packers have already determined it is a waste of time to continue discussions.

Sounds to me like they were quite far apart in the terms.

Maybe Raji DOES have big dollar signs in his eyes, and/or isn't as committed to GB as his comments last week implied. It always makes me question motives when the first time we hear how much a player loves GB and wants to stay there is just before contract negotiations start.

How was the Q&A phrased? Because there could have been discussions weeks ago when Matthews and Rodgers were negotiating and Raji was saying there had been nothing substantial recently. Not sure if that changes the inference that there is a substantial gap between player and team.

Its a strange story to leak for the player, you would think his agent would want to play up the connection to the team and city and not focus on having to prove it.

[rbaloha1]

This is the right move to motivate the fat pig that is underachieving.

Use the cap money for Shields and Jones.

[Patler]

How was the Q&A phrased? Because there could have been discussions weeks ago when Matthews and Rodgers were negotiating and Raji was saying there had been nothing substantial recently. Not sure if that changes the inference that there is a substantial gap between player and team.

Its a strange story to leak for the player, you would think his agent would want to play up the connection to the team and city and not focus on having to prove it.

Ya, nothing conclusive, but somehow these things always tend to follow specific patterns; and this one is starting to look like one that might be a difficult negotiation.

In thinking more about it, it probably doesn't matter if there were discussions weeks ago or not. Breaking off discussions at the end of May, three months before the start of the season is not a good sign. It could be a ploy by the Packers to get Raji to come back closer to what GB has in mind by adding the element of doubt. Regardless, it still seems to suggest (not conclusively) that the negotiations were not making progress. Maybe GB's show of indifference will be the catalyst to more aggressive discussions later this summer, and they will still get it done.

[Patler]

This is the right move to motivate the fat pig that is underachieving.

Use the cap money for Shields and Jones.

It kind of always perturbs me when I read about the player who, in his contract year, suddenly decides to "eat healthier", or work extra hard in the off-season. I have read both about Raji, It seems like contract year effort is rarely of the life-changing variety, and the player often reverts quickly to his old ways after getting his new contract from somebody.

Raji, Shields, Jones, Finley - hard to see how they can sign all of them.

[Fritz]

It kind of always perturbs me when I read about the player who, in his contract year, suddenly decides to "eat healthier", or work extra hard in the off-season. I have read both about Raji, It seems like contract year effort is rarely of the life-changing variety, and the player often reverts quickly to his old ways after getting his new contract from somebody.

Raji, Shields, Jones, Finley - hard to see how they can sign all of them.

I imagine one of the factors the team considers is which players seem to be motivated more often than in just a contract year.

If I remember, James Jones did not amp up his offseason training to super-human levels until after he'd hit the free agent market, found himself mostly unwanted, and re-upped with the Pack.

I would imagine that Finley's future with the Pack depends in large part upon the shape he's in when he gets to camp and his attitude as well as his play; same for Shields.

And I've said several times that I just don't think Raji will re-up with the team. I don't think he really wants to. I have no solid proof, just a suspicion that he doesn't like the scheme or the town.

[run pMc]

I just don't think Raji will re-up with the team. I don't think he really wants to. I have no solid proof, just a suspicion that he doesn't like the scheme

This.
For some reason I have the idea stuck in my head that he'd rather play 3 tech in a 4-3. Good player, somewhat miscast in Capers scheme IMO. You'd think by now they know how to best use him. I think he'll chase the money elsewhere and TT will spend the money elsewhere. If that's the case, I wish Raji well as long as he stays out of the NFCN.

[rbaloha1]

It kind of always perturbs me when I read about the player who, in his contract year, suddenly decides to "eat healthier", or work extra hard in the off-season. I have read both about Raji, It seems like contract year effort is rarely of the life-changing variety, and the player often reverts quickly to his old ways after getting his new contract from somebody.

Raji, Shields, Jones, Finley - hard to see how they can sign all of them.

Yup -- Cleditus Hunt, Joe Johnson, etc.