JJ Watt being released

[texaspackerbacker]

Great as J.J. Watt has been, he doesn't quite come up to the level of dominance Reggie was still at when the Packers signed him. And Reggie didn't have the home state thing going for him. On the other hand, CMI is closer to correct than RG on the inflation of contracts in a quarter century or so. I'd say maybe $10-12 million a year now is the equivalent of $4.25 then. I think we can get J.J. for maybe $5 or 6 million a year on a 3-4 year contract.

[call_me_ishmael]

True, but I read JJ has already made over $100 million. I mean, honestly, when does anybody have enough money? Maybe there is some truth in the rumors he just wants a crack at a Superbowl. I guess we will know soon enough..

I agree with that but would you take less money? Maybe you would, I dunno. I probably would not personally. Mo money mo problems but also mo prosperity and less worries to some extent.

[Tony Oday]

I agree with that but would you take less money? Maybe you would, I dunno. I probably would not personally. Mo money mo problems but also mo prosperity and less worries to some extent.

at $100 million you have no problems senor.

[HarveyWallbangers]

If Watt indeed wants $17 M/year, then that’s certainly feasible for the Packers.

Give Watt, say, a 4 year $70 M contract with $30 M in signing bonus. Structure the contract to include a $5 M base salary for 2021 ($12.5 M cap hit) and a $5 M base salary plus a $3 M roster bonus for 2022 ($15.5 M cap hit).

Let everyone and their baby’s mamas know that the contract pretty much is just a 2 year deal. Essentially, Watt pockets $43 M over two years and he gets to enter free agency again sooner rather than later. “Dead money” likely won’t be an issue in 2023, especially with new, even more lucrative, deals with the Networks being imminent. And the Great Arm of Butte could be Bruce “Aryans” new hotshot QB in Tampa by then.

$43 M is alotta money to a burger flipper like moi. Chump change to the Packers, and they could regroup that frogskins easily in 99 jersey sales. People tend to buy the jersey of the jock whose race they identified with. That’s why Claymaker and Hawk sold so many jerseys in predominantly Caucasiod Wisconsin.

We need that cap hit closer to $5M this year--rather than $12.5M--or we aren't going to get much else done. While I think he's still a very good player, I would not go that far for Watt--not with his recent injury history. I could see that turning into a Joe Johnson redux. It would have to have games played incentives and maybe some "not likely to be earned" incentives that would likely be earned (e.g. 6+ sacks), so that the NLTBE incentive goes on next year's cap.

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

at $100 million you have no problems senor.

Right, I guess I am just old. I have no clue how you would spend that much money. I have 1 million and it just sits there, and I still do everything I want..

[Spaulding]

I wonder if his wife (Kealia Ohai) playing in Chicago might have any additional impact on his signing. I realize that game weeks leave little free time for the players but on a short week or an extra day off due to scheduling, being within short driving distance of your wife's location might have a reasonable draw. Obviously there are further factors where she might be on the road that day, etc. but you have to think the distance being being within driving distance as would his Parent's home might have some impact. Then again when you make the kind of money JJ makes, a charter jet might be the thinking and so distance is less of a deal.

[GB-Brandon]

The thing is the guy was actually seriously contemplating retirement just a few years ago. How much of these sources can we believe and what really is making JJ tick right now is going to determine all this. As posted Green Bay fits “Everything You Could Think He Would Want” other then the salary he was making in Houston. Other then his brothers I don’t see the fit in Pittsburgh at all. I’m sure he is getting flattered right now with all these teams making him offers but him “Saying Yes” is a whole different thing. It’s probably really hard for him. He probably really wants to play for Green Bay and there is probably a difference of somewhere around 10 million dollars a year in making that decision. It’s a Near Perfect Scenario for him in Green Bay. What’s that worth to him? We’re gonna find out soon enough.

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

All gas, no brakes..

[RashanGary]

Contracts are greater than 10x what they were then, though. Brett Favre made less than 4M on his second contract.

I was using sarcasm. Brandon suggests a 7M / year deal for Ol number 99 there. Just do it Gute, dial it up. All on you.

[hoosier]

All the speculation about what Watt would or should be willing to sign for is leaving out an important factor. It's not just about whether you do or don't already have enough money. When you accept a discounted offer, especially when you leave a large chunk of money on the table ($10M/year vs. $17M as some are proposing), your decision has a negative effect on the earning power of all the other players in the league. Your "hometown discount" depresses the market, affecting not only guys like Watt who have already banked a considerable amount but also the up and coming guys who are negotiating their second contract. That makes the owners very happy. The players union, not so much.

[GB-Brandon]

I was using sarcasm. Brandon suggests a 7M / year deal for Ol number 99 there. Just do it Gute, dial it up. All on you.

Tex is talking 5-6!! I said somewhere between 7-10 with 10 being the Max the Packers should go and I stand by that.

What someone is willing to pay and what they are worth are two entirely different things!!

[run pMc]

I think expecting a hometown discount in the range of 40 or 50% is pretty naive. 10%, sure. These guys understand they have to get what they can, while they can.

The hometown discount concept is far, far less appealing than playing for a winner/contender.

[GB-Brandon]

It’s just comical. People think I say “We Need an All-Pro At Every Position.” LOL!! That’s not what I say at all!! You can’t just jump off the reservation every time you want a player. I’ll say the same thing about Corey Davis too when the time comes. if the Jets line up and offer Davis 17 mill per then the Packers shouldn’t match. You do have to stay within certain principles or this thing will go South Real Fast!

[RashanGary]

I think expecting a hometown discount in the range of 40 or 50% is pretty naive. 10%, sure. These guys understand they have to get what they can, while they can.

The hometown discount concept is far, far less appealing than playing for a winner/contender.

10% makes sense. Same for Rodgers. You get your stars on 10% less and that opens things up. Expecting 10M per for 32 year old JJ Watt is just wishful thinking.

[GB-Brandon]

I think expecting a hometown discount in the range of 40 or 50% is pretty naive. 10%, sure. These guys understand they have to get what they can, while they can.

The hometown discount concept is far, far less appealing than playing for a winner/contender.

Fine, but JJ Watt was in a deal and probably wasn’t playing up to that contract when you consider his sack numbers and availability over the last few years. So are you paying premium dollars for the “Name” or the “Current Production”?

Are you reaching that he is gonna regain a certain level of play at 32 after a bunch of injuries? What exactly is the vision of what your getting for 17 million dollars a year?