Should They Stay Or Should They Go?

[Joemailman]

This dude have any redeeming qualities?

He has the physical ability to play in the NFL. Mental lapses are his achilles heel.

[Joemailman]

Most fans, myself included, need to recalibrate when it comes to what an average NFL salary costs these days. The average salary for a starter who isn't on a rookie contract is over 6 million. Guys like Bush, Hawk, Raji, and Kuhn probably aren't overpaid if they come back.

Hawk would be overpaid because he's not really a starter anymore. He's #22 in salary among ILB's. Brad Jones is #21.

[pbmax]

This dude have any redeeming qualities?

What Joe said. If he gets a limited package to run or if he and BridgeOverTroubledWaters work out their own deal, he could be useful.

But he isn't precise.

[Guiness]

forgot he had a 3 year deal. this year it's a pretty big bite (12m) but the Packers have cap space out the wazoo. get the priorities done, any other FAs done, and see how it settles. would like to see him back but wouldn't be surprised if he was let go.

He makes $9.5M next year, I think he's back.

[KYPack]

This dude have any redeeming qualities?

NFL body for sure.

I'd sign him.

He will bust his ass to prove he's not a total POS.

Wouldn't let him near the "hands" team agin, tho.

[3irty1]

Hawk would be overpaid because he's not really a starter anymore. He's #22 in salary among ILB's. Brad Jones is #21.

#22 in salary among ILB's doesn't necessarily mean starter money. Figure about a third of starters in the league are on rookie contracts making an average of 800k. Hawk's 4M or so puts him at the pay rate of a low-end starter high-end backup. Not unreasonable at all for him I think. If he doesn't contribute much that's a good problem to have but I'm anticipating rolling with some combo of rookies and unprovens in that position this year so a steady guy like Hawk is worth it IMO.

Jones should be delivering pizzas. Actually I don't know if I trust him with that.

[gbgary]

He makes $9.5M next year, I think he's back.

but his cap hit is 12m.

[Guiness]

but his cap hit is 12m.

Yes, but the other 2.5 is already spent - it's last season's signing bonus. It costs 9.5M of new money to keep this for 2015.

[pbmax]

He makes $9.5M next year, I think he's back.

Yeah, the number isn't outlandish, and I am not sure how much he would want to reduce it. It jumps $6 mil in base, but his base last year was very low ($1 mil).

Its mainly the cap hit I think the everyone is speculating about but with a $7.5 mil signing bonus, there was going to be a hit even if he left early in the deal.

[Patler]

This dude have any redeeming qualities?

When he first appeared on the scene, reporters said in practice they often confused Bostick and Finley. They looked and ran the same. Same athleticism.

I read in the last couple days, the reason he never saw the field on offense this year was because he never understood their no-huddle offense. After three seasons with the Packers, he still did not understand their offense.

[Patler]

Yeah, the number isn't outlandish, and I am not sure how much he would want to reduce it. It jumps $6 mil in base, but his base last year was very low ($1 mil).

Its mainly the cap hit I think the everyone is speculating about but with a $7.5 mil signing bonus, there was going to be a hit even if he left early in the deal.

Another way to look at Peppers is this: Is he worth $7M to keep? That's the difference between his cap number as a player and the dead money ($5M) if he is released.

Last year, he played for $8.5 million in compensation (7.5 million signing bonus + 1M salary).
In 2015, his contract will pay him $9.5 million (8.5M salary, 500k workout bonus, 500k roster bonus).

It's hard to know how much less he would be willing to play for. Some older players have played for very little just to have a shot at the SB. If that motivates Peppers, last season should show him that the Packers will certainly have a good chance to get there.

[Rastak]

NFL body for sure.

I'd sign him.

He will bust his ass to prove he's not a total POS.

Wouldn't let him near the "hands" team agin, tho.

I think I'll write that last part down and send it to Winter Park.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I think I'll write that last part down and send it to Winter Park.

If Winter Park doesn't know that already, you're in a whole lot of trouble.

[mraynrand]

I think I'll write that last part down and send it to Winter Park.

Tom Braatz will write you back.

[Rastak]

If Winter Park doesn't know that already, you're in a whole lot of trouble.

For those that didn't get it, that was a joke......anyway, they apparently do. From the combine today:

"Zimmer said Bostick is a good athlete who will come in and compete with the guys on the roster. He also said he is a solid special teams player, though he couldn’t resist making a joke when asked about Bostick botching that onside kick in the NFC title game. “We’ll try not to put him on the onside kick team,” Zimmer said"