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Out in the open
Green a free agent after he can't reach deal with Packers
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 1, 2007
The clock struck midnight Thursday night without the Green Bay Packers announcing a contract agreement with running back Ahman Green, making the club's second all-time leading rusher an unrestricted free agent.
Even though Ahman Green envisions returning to the Packers next season, he will test the free-agent waters to determine his value.
But it by no means ruled out Green's return.
By this morning, the Packers will have either negotiated a new deal with Green or they will be officially competing against the rest of the National Football League for his services. Even if it is the latter, the Packers have as good a chance as anybody of signing Green.
As of late Thursday night, representatives for Green did not report a meeting of the minds with the Packers on a deal and had the option of shopping their client around. Free agency in the NFL began at 11 p.m. Thursday (midnight Eastern time) and many pre-arranged deals were expected to become official.
Green, however, wants to remain in Green Bay and might wind up using free agency to prove to the Packers that he's worth more than they think. In a best-case scenario for him, Green gets several teams bidding for his services and forces Green Bay to meet his price tag.
But at 30 years old and a year and a half removed from a torn thigh tendon, it remains questionable whether Green has that much value on the market. Running backs who are younger and probably more attractive to free-agent buyers include Baltimore's Jamal Lewis and Indianapolis' Dominic Rhodes.
Coming off a year in which he made $2.75 million, $750,000 of which came via incentives, Green is seeking the security of a long-term deal worth upwards of $5 million a year. The Packers don't seem inclined to pay him that much even though they have unproven Vernand Morency and Noah Herron as alternatives. The draft is not particularly strong at running back and the Packers can't assume they'll be able to get a starter there.
The club did submit a one-year, $435,000 qualifying offer to Herron, according to the running back's agent, meaning Herron will be on the roster this off-season. But last year he was used primarily as a third-down back and Morency as Green's relief on other downs.
The length of the deal might seem like a matter of contention between the two sides but if the numbers are right over the first two seasons, the Packers probably won't object to a long-term deal. After two years, the Packers would be able to evaluate the deal and see whether it was worth continuing on.
Green isn't the only free agent the Packers were trying to keep Thursday night.
Tight end David Martin looked to be headed for the free-agent market and possibly a big payday. The Packers want Martin back despite his injury-filled past, but hadn't come close to meeting his financial demands in the weeks leading up to free agency.
Teams all around the NFL are looking for pass-catching tight ends in the mold of Martin, and it appeared that New England's Daniel Graham was going to lead the way for the free agents with a big-money deal in the early hours of free agency.
Martin, who turns 28 on March 13, would probably be able to draft off Graham's big contract and reap a fairly lucrative deal even though he has missed 16 games over the past three seasons.
His size and speed combination make him an attractive option for teams trying to stretch the field with their tight ends. For the Packers, he could be their starter next season given the huge drop-off by starter Bubba Franks last season.
Of the Packers' five other unrestricted free agents, linebacker Ben Taylor and defensive tackle Kenderick Allen appear highest on the priority list.
Agent Bob Lattinville said he was told the club would like to re-sign Taylor.
Lattinville said Taylor would listen to offers from other teams but said Taylor's preference was to play for the Packers. Taylor played in only 10 games because of a hamstring injury suffered against Philadelphia in Week 4. He played mostly on special teams, ranking tied for third with 13 tackles.
The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Allen played in only two games last season before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
As for their exclusive free agents, the Packers submitted one-year, qualifying offers to all four players, each based on years of service.
Nose tackle Colin Cole's offer was for $595,000, receiver Carlyle Holiday's and Herron's were for $435,000 and tight end Tory Humphrey's was for $360,000.
Green a free agent after he can't reach deal with Packers
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 1, 2007
The clock struck midnight Thursday night without the Green Bay Packers announcing a contract agreement with running back Ahman Green, making the club's second all-time leading rusher an unrestricted free agent.
Even though Ahman Green envisions returning to the Packers next season, he will test the free-agent waters to determine his value.
But it by no means ruled out Green's return.
By this morning, the Packers will have either negotiated a new deal with Green or they will be officially competing against the rest of the National Football League for his services. Even if it is the latter, the Packers have as good a chance as anybody of signing Green.
As of late Thursday night, representatives for Green did not report a meeting of the minds with the Packers on a deal and had the option of shopping their client around. Free agency in the NFL began at 11 p.m. Thursday (midnight Eastern time) and many pre-arranged deals were expected to become official.
Green, however, wants to remain in Green Bay and might wind up using free agency to prove to the Packers that he's worth more than they think. In a best-case scenario for him, Green gets several teams bidding for his services and forces Green Bay to meet his price tag.
But at 30 years old and a year and a half removed from a torn thigh tendon, it remains questionable whether Green has that much value on the market. Running backs who are younger and probably more attractive to free-agent buyers include Baltimore's Jamal Lewis and Indianapolis' Dominic Rhodes.
Coming off a year in which he made $2.75 million, $750,000 of which came via incentives, Green is seeking the security of a long-term deal worth upwards of $5 million a year. The Packers don't seem inclined to pay him that much even though they have unproven Vernand Morency and Noah Herron as alternatives. The draft is not particularly strong at running back and the Packers can't assume they'll be able to get a starter there.
The club did submit a one-year, $435,000 qualifying offer to Herron, according to the running back's agent, meaning Herron will be on the roster this off-season. But last year he was used primarily as a third-down back and Morency as Green's relief on other downs.
The length of the deal might seem like a matter of contention between the two sides but if the numbers are right over the first two seasons, the Packers probably won't object to a long-term deal. After two years, the Packers would be able to evaluate the deal and see whether it was worth continuing on.
Green isn't the only free agent the Packers were trying to keep Thursday night.
Tight end David Martin looked to be headed for the free-agent market and possibly a big payday. The Packers want Martin back despite his injury-filled past, but hadn't come close to meeting his financial demands in the weeks leading up to free agency.
Teams all around the NFL are looking for pass-catching tight ends in the mold of Martin, and it appeared that New England's Daniel Graham was going to lead the way for the free agents with a big-money deal in the early hours of free agency.
Martin, who turns 28 on March 13, would probably be able to draft off Graham's big contract and reap a fairly lucrative deal even though he has missed 16 games over the past three seasons.
His size and speed combination make him an attractive option for teams trying to stretch the field with their tight ends. For the Packers, he could be their starter next season given the huge drop-off by starter Bubba Franks last season.
Of the Packers' five other unrestricted free agents, linebacker Ben Taylor and defensive tackle Kenderick Allen appear highest on the priority list.
Agent Bob Lattinville said he was told the club would like to re-sign Taylor.
Lattinville said Taylor would listen to offers from other teams but said Taylor's preference was to play for the Packers. Taylor played in only 10 games because of a hamstring injury suffered against Philadelphia in Week 4. He played mostly on special teams, ranking tied for third with 13 tackles.
The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Allen played in only two games last season before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
As for their exclusive free agents, the Packers submitted one-year, qualifying offers to all four players, each based on years of service.
Nose tackle Colin Cole's offer was for $595,000, receiver Carlyle Holiday's and Herron's were for $435,000 and tight end Tory Humphrey's was for $360,000.
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