Raji looks to be back

[mraynrand]

So like most of my employees, you and the rest of the people we all work with?

That's why they're employees. If they had the drive, they'd be cutting the checks.

I know it's different with a football player, but our entire workforce is made up of this attitude.

but it varies in degree. I assume you know some people who are less moody and more self-motivated?

[mission]

but it varies in degree. I assume you know some people who are less moody and more self-motivated?

Sure, but even our "stars" need pushing... especially the sales guy that's making more than he's ever made before. Obviously more talented than most of our team, but he still has challenges 'managing his own success' (MM tm).

All our sales team is paid based on performance, they all make six figures minimum... three times this year we've thrown out a simple $500 cash bonus to each salesguy if we can hit $500k for the week and every time they hit it. No other weeks have we done 500k this year. It was a bit of a trial from a mgmt perspective, but it's disheartening to think we need to pay them even more for short term motivation when their next quarter salary could go up/down 10-20k based on their previous quarter. They're just not capable of looking that far ahead it seems. These are sales people, generally the most ambitious self-starters in any company. You can only imagine the challenges we have with office staff punching clocks.

As far as moodiness goes-- there's definitely some that need more coddling and encouragement than others. I don't see BJ Raji as one of these guys. He did choose to stick around with the team all season when many wouldn't in that situation.

[smuggler]

Mission, can you get me a phone interview? :O

[mraynrand]

I don't see BJ Raji as one of these guys.

OK

[mission]

OK

Feel free to explain why you obviously think otherwise.

[MadScientist]

At this point the Packers need a NT. If Raji will take a minimum contract, possibly with a decent game day active roster bonus, then why not? If he demands more, let someone else take the risk.

[red]

Feel free to explain why you obviously think otherwise.

because two years ago, after green bay insulted him with just a 8 million a year offer, his play trailed waaaay off, and he looked like he was moving at full speed, and acting like he couldn't wait to get out of green bay, injury free

[red]

At this point the Packers need a NT. If Raji will take a minimum contract, possibly with a decent game day active roster bonus, then why not? If he demands more, let someone else take the risk.

i said the same thing last year, but no one wanted him, so we threw 4 million at him

there were no reports or rumors anywhere about anyone else wanting him

[pbmax]

because two years ago, after green bay insulted him with just a 8 million a year offer, his play trailed waaaay off, and he looked like he was moving at full speed, and acting like he couldn't wait to get out of green bay, injury free

Your contention is that he was so insulted, he didn't sign the insulting offer and then sulked his way to play worse, in order to secure an even worse contract?

You are basically arguing he is self destructive, worse than Finley?

[Joemailman]

McGinn's 2013 grade on Raji references the fact that Raji felt he did what he was asked to do, but also points our Raji's lack of productivity. I think Raji is still young enough to turn this around if he feels he has a role that capitalizes on his skills,

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...239782291.html

.J. Raji: The extension averaging $8 million per year that was on the table for some time is off the table now. The Packers still want Raji back, but given his dreadful production it's possible now that he'll return at a much lower rate. What worries some scouts is they say Raji's motor ran so hot and cold even in a contract year. They wonder what will happen after he gets paid. Raji insists he was only following orders to two-gap and protect the ILBs. In 2013, he functioned almost like a sumo wrestler. Raji ranked last on the D-line in tackles per snap (one every 16.4) and was fourth in pressures per snap (one every 87.3). In 2010, his best year, he registered a pressure every 32.4 snaps. Still, at 27, some teams might be extremely interested in him on the unrestricted market because 338-pounders with his athleticism are few and far between. Grade: C-minus.

I thought Raji looked pretty motivated in the preseason last year. He was playing well before he got hurt.

[red]

Your contention is that he was so insulted, he didn't sign the insulting offer and then sulked his way to play worse, in order to secure an even worse contract?

You are basically arguing he is self destructive, worse than Finley?

my point was, and it was a pretty common idea a year ago, that after he was insulted by that offer, he phoned in the rest of the year thinking he was done in green bay. problem was, no one else wanted him after seeing how he quit on his team

[pbmax]

my point was, and it was a pretty common idea a year ago, that after he was insulted by that offer, he phoned in the rest of the year thinking he was done in green bay. problem was, no one else wanted him after seeing how he quit on his team

He doesn't strike me as that dumb. Quite the opposite actually.

Finley clearly lived in a space in his head where everyone's concerns and his contract numbers mattered to him. I don't get that sense from Raji.

Now it didn't work out for him, so his gauge of the market and his performance plus role conspired to hurt him badly. But outside of second half foray's into being a consistently penetrating tackle regardless of the play design (often when the D was getting gashed), he seemed eminently coachable. Matthews has made more news about a position switch.

[mraynrand]

Feel free to explain why you obviously think otherwise.

OK

[Fritz]

I am in complete favor of bringing Raji back. You'll get him for a reasonable amount, and he can be very productive as a penetrating NT in the current system, which he has yet to play in.

It's a great fit. Do it, Ted!

[denverYooper]

Feel free to explain why you obviously think otherwise.

FWIW, I think Rand works in some kind of research environment, quite possibly academic but maybe commercial. For the most part, to get anywhere in that career you have to be very self-motivated because even if you're absolutely brilliant you have to slog through years of work and bullshit to get to any real sort of relevance.