Raji's contract

[Patler]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/packers.html

$500,000 signing bonus
$100,000 workout bonus
$18,750/game ($300,000 total)
$3.1 M salary

and he could have had $8M/year with $20M guaranteed a year ago, per reports.

[QBME]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/packers.html

$500,000 signing bonus
$100,000 workout bonus
$18,750/game ($300,000 total)
$3.1 M salary

and he could have had $8M/year with $20M guaranteed a year ago, per reports.

Sound like a good deal, all things considered. It makes for an interesting scenario - what if (hopefully) he has a good or great year? Will other teams and GM's wonder if he's just playing for a big contract, and he reverts to performing like the past couple of years? I think it's a real possibility that Raji might have eliminated any big dollar, long term deals from his future.

[Patler]

Sound like a good deal, all things considered. It makes for an interesting scenario - what if (hopefully) he has a good or great year? Will other teams and GM's wonder if he's just playing for a big contract, and he reverts to performing like the past couple of years? I think it's a real possibility that Raji might have eliminated any big dollar, long term deals from his future.

If he has a good 2014 season, I could see him being signed to a long term deal, for significant total dollars, but not a lot guaranteed. Something with a significant roster bonus each year, so it almost becomes year-by-year at the team's option, without a significant cap hit if they let him go.

[Patler]

He and his agent have got to be kicking themselves for getting greedy last year, and the Packers are probably breathing a sigh of relief.

[QBME]

He and his agent have got to be kicking themselves for getting greedy last year, and the Packers are probably breathing a sigh of relief.

Yep - I'd bet the new contract signing celebration was a lot more low key and subdued than the one they could of had. Outback instead of Morton's probably.

[denverYooper]

He and his agent have got to be kicking themselves for getting greedy last year, and the Packers are probably breathing a sigh of relief.

I wonder how he would have responded to the original contract. Would he have just coasted on that?

[Patler]

It's an interesting example of how quickly things can go wrong for a team. After Matthews and Rodgers were signed, most fans (not all) were clamoring for the Packers to get something done with Raji. His relatively poor 2012 seemed an aberration, just something that happened from over-use, whatever. Only a few would have complained if Raji had signed a year ago.

Now, the team would have been looking at that $20 M salary cap albatross (Raji's guarantee) for the next few years, and signing Nelson and Cobb after just signing Shields might not have been so easy to plan.

You can only afford a limited number of big money contracts, and if one ends up returning little for you on the field, it hurts.

[Patler]

I wonder how he would have responded to the original contract. Would he have just coasted on that?

It would be unusual if he played harder after signing than he did in an attempt to secure a big contract. Hopefully, his cool reception in free agency this year will convince him that effort is required always.

[denverYooper]

McGinn with some rather scathing comments on Raji's contract dealings:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/very-little-guaranteed-money-for-bj-raji-b99228288z1-250912861.html

"They said we could have him for 5 ($5 million per year)," said the executive. "Like, oh gee, thanks. First of all, he (stinks). What's the motivation this year? He blamed it on (the Packers') coaching. Not playing him right."

[mraynrand]

Raji's situation reminds me of that 7-11 pitch a couple decades ago. Selling their coffee, they advertised "If it isn't fresh, you get it free"

Well, who the hell wants crappy coffee, even if it's free? Who wants a crappy Raji, even if he's free?

It's gonna be interesting to see if this turd gets motivated or not.

[denverYooper]

Raji's situation reminds me of that 7-11 pitch a couple decades ago. Selling their coffee, they advertised "If it isn't fresh, you get it free"

Well, who the hell wants crappy coffee, even if it's free? Who wants a crappy Raji, even if he's free?

It's gonna be interesting to see if this turd gets motivated or not.

If it isn't fresh, do they blame it on the manager?

[mraynrand]

If it isn't fresh, do they blame it on the manager?

That's funny. I remember at the time Jay Leno made a joke about the bad coffee and the 'free' deal saying something like "did they come up with this deal to save the manager a trip out to the dumpster?" Raji, dumpster - the two kinda go together at this point don't they....

[Smidgeon]

McGinn with some rather scathing comments on Raji's contract dealings:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...250912861.html

"They said we could have him for 5 ($5 million per year)," said the executive. "Like, oh gee, thanks. First of all, he (stinks). What's the motivation this year? He blamed it on (the Packers') coaching. Not playing him right."

Not to excuse his finger pointing, 'cause that's just not cool, but it seems that even the Packer's coaches agree if they're moving him back to NT... From articles early in the year, there was a lot of noise made about him staying within the system and doing what he's asked. I don't know enough to comment beyond the observational, but I don't think the coaches are absolved in this either.

[pbmax]

Misuse seems a tad misleading to my recollection. Raji was not a force at NT in run D even as he had an overall good 2010 (exceptional pass rush). In 2011, he was getting moved. He was never Pickett with his anchor.

I took the creation of the Eagle Oakie signifying the coaches desire to take advantage of his quickness over his lack of anchor. He was at a traditional DT 3 tech in that spot in base.

I suppose the proof will be in the pudding. If he really is built to be a NT, he's getting his chance. But evidence so far points to no. I hope he makes the transition.

[Fritz]

It's one year, low cost, to see if he's learned anything about hard work and humility. He's got talent.

If it were simply a question of "duh" coaching, surely other GM's would've sniffed that out and signed him to a team that ran a system conducive to his talents and to a contract that would've reflected those talents.

Those GM's are hungry as dogs for defensive linemen who can get upfield and know how to play. None of them wanted Raji for five mill a year, not even, apparently, for one year. That should tell you something.