Some random thoughts about the team moving forward

[pbmax]

From the NFLPA:




Notice how cheap that bastard Thompson is.

[beveaux1]

Notice how cheap that bastard Thompson is.

Looks like the Packers have spent the fifth most dollars during that time period. The question for me has always been "If you need a medium priced free agent to fill a position, or to make a position decidedly better, which of our players at the end of their contract do we decide to let go?"

We always seem to have 7-10 million to spend at the end of a year, but that money rolls over to the next year when our next years crop of players are up for renewal. It's pretty easy today to say we should have signed Josh Norman when he was available, but it's a lot harder when it means you can't sign your LT or your C or your 8 sack OLB. How do we then fill those positions.

Would we really have been better off signing Travathan to a free agent contract and not drafting Martinez? This might have kept us from signing Perry and/or Cook to a show me contract and also might keep us from signing Tretter or Bak for next year. It also would have given us a 4th round draft pick we can use on a Perry replacement or a Cook replacement. How many good pass rushers have been picked up in the 4th round? What about TEs? That's right, we got R Rodgers in the 3rd. Lot more of those than Wittens or Gonzalez'.

Anyway, I'll say it again, be careful what you wish for.

[beveaux1]

The NFL, with the salary cap and the draft ( where successful teams draft later) sets teams up to have good runs followed by bad runs. We've been able to beat the system for a long time now. Enjoy the ride, our time of reckoning will eventually come. We've been able to job the system so far.

[red]

oh come on, just because we are spending more money then everyone else, doesn't mean we are using the cap as effectively as other teams

maybe TT doesn't understand how to play the cap like other GM's do. if players are willing to sign funny money deals, why not use them?

not all that money spent was good money, and a lot of it was wasted on our own home grown crap

look at the patriots at proof of how to play the cap game. they spend about the same as us in cap space every year, are just as good as us, but have spent 83 million less then us over the last 5 years

[hoosier]

oh come on, just because we are spending more money then everyone else, doesn't mean we are using the cap as effectively as other teams maybe TT doesn't understand how to play the cap like other GM's do. if players are willing to sign funny money deals, why not use them? not all that money spent was good money, and a lot of it was wasted on our own home grown crap
look at the patriots at proof of how to play the cap game. they spend about the same as us in cap space every year, are just as good as us, but have spent 83 million less then us over the last 5 years

[Bretsky]

From the NFLPA:




Notice how cheap that bastard Thompson is.

I'd trade him for a 7th round draft pick and Wolf )

[pbmax]

oh come on, just because we are spending more money then everyone else, doesn't mean we are using the cap as effectively as other teams

maybe TT doesn't understand how to play the cap like other GM's do. if players are willing to sign funny money deals, why not use them?

not all that money spent was good money, and a lot of it was wasted on our own home grown crap

look at the patriots at proof of how to play the cap game. they spend about the same as us in cap space every year, are just as good as us, but have spent 83 million less then us over the last 5 years

But I thought Ted was cheap?

[Bretsky]

But I thought Ted was cheap?

Does this take into account how Ted often uses current year cap money for future contracts ?
Always decent, never great. That's what I think of when I consider Ted's use of he cap. He nearly almost always finds a way to use it up.

[ThunderDan]

He nearly almost always finds a way to use it up.

Channeling Yogi Berra I see.

[Teamcheez1]

The soon-to-be 37-year-old Peppers is heading into the final month of his contract with the Packers, and admitted he’s been giving thought to playing again next year.“I’m not saying that I don’t want to play next year,” Peppers said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “I’m not saying that I do. I’m just saying that right now, I don’t know. And I’ll figure it out at some point.

I think his time is up on this team.

[Tony Oday]

The soon-to-be 37-year-old Peppers is heading into the final month of his contract with the Packers, and admitted he’s been giving thought to playing again next year.“I’m not saying that I don’t want to play next year,” Peppers said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “I’m not saying that I do. I’m just saying that right now, I don’t know. And I’ll figure it out at some point.

I think his time is up on this team.

Depends at what price.

[Joemailman]

Depends at what price.

Yes. His days of playing for 10 million a year are over. But he can still play.

[Patler]

Yes. His days of playing for 10 million a year are over. But he can still play.

Their plan was to save Peppers for the end of the season. He has had a sack in each of the last three games. Maybe their plan is working?

[Joemailman]

Their plan was to save Peppers for the end of the season. He has had a sack in each of the last three games. Maybe their plan is working?

Sure, but can you afford to pay a guy 10 million for 6 games? Guys making that kind of money need to be helping you win all season. I'm open to him returning, but the Packers have some salary cap issues.

[Patler]

Sure, but can you afford to pay a guy 10 million for 6 games? Guys making that kind of money need to be helping you win all season. I'm open to him returning, but the Packers have some salary cap issues.

Of course not. Wasn't meaning to suggest that he has earned another contract as big as the last. Just agreeing with you that he still can play. The trick is fitting what he can contribute into a teams roster structure and salary cap limitations. A lot of older guys continue playing for quite a few years at a couple million per year. Spot/situational duty seems to work best for DL and LB types. If he wants to play, there are probably a few teams that will be interested. He could end up with 8-10 sacks again this year, and could even lead the Packers in that category by the end of the season. He should be at least their second most productive pass rusher.