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By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
Halfback Ahman Green took a free-agent visit to the Denver Broncos on Friday night in what appears to be the start of a weekend free-agent tour.
The Packers are trying to re-sign Green, who is an unrestricted free agent, and worked well into Thursday night as they tried to reach a contract agreement. However, with free agency opening on at 11:01 p.m. Thursday, Green decided to test the market to measure his value and see whether the Packers will pay him a comparable contract if another club will offer more than they already have.
The trip to Denver doesn’t mean he won't re-sign with the Packers, but that and the prospects that taking one and possibly two visits immediately thereafter could make his re-signing much more difficult.
Green is one of the top halfbacks in this year's lean free-agent market, though his value is diminished somewhat by his age (30) and recent injury history that includes a serious torn quadriceps tendon in 2005.
Denver is looking for a starting running back after trading Tatum Bell to Detroit as part of a deal to acquire cornerback Dre' Bly, and they use the same zone-blocking run scheme the Packers used last season. However, the Broncos reportedly also are exploring a possible trade with Buffalo for halfback Willis McGahee, along with other options in free agency. The other top backs in free agency are Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis and Indianapolis’ Dominic Rhodes, plus New England just released 32-year old Corey Dillon on Friday.
Green is believed to have two other visits set up this weekend, one with Houston, where former Packers coach Mike Sherman is the Texans’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. The other destination was unavailable, though teams looking for a starting running back include the New York Jets and the New York Giants.
Green has told the Packers he’d prefer to remain with them, so there’s a decent chance he’ll take his visits without signing and then resume negotiations with all interested teams. But there’s also the chance that one of the teams will make a strong offer that he’ll accept on the spot, or make a better offer after his visits than the Packers are willing to pay. Green appears to be seeking a bonus in the range of $5 million or more, and a multi-year deal that averages about that much a season.
If the Packers lose Green, it’s unclear whether they’d replace him with one of the aforementioned available halfbacks or via the draft. They have Vernand Morency as their change-of-pace No. 2 back, though considering his lack of size — he’s 5-feet-9 and 213 pounds — they’re unlikely to make him their No. 1 back because of the injury risk. Noah Herron is their No. 3 halfback.
Packers General Manager Ted Thompson appears to be laying low at the start of free agency and mainly keeping tabs on Green and his attempts to re-sign tight end David Martin. Martin’s agent, Terry Williams, could not be reached for comment, though the sides don’t appear close to a deal. Multiple league-wide sources said they’ve seen no reports to the league offices or heard from agents that any players are visiting the Packers this opening weekend, which is the most expensive time to sign free agents.
The Packers so far haven’t made a strong pitch for recently released receiver Joe Horn, a four-time Pro Bowler who was cut by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. His agent, Ralph Vitolo, said Atlanta and Jacksonville have shown the most interest in his client so far.
The Saints released the 35-year-old Horn on Thursday because they were unwilling to pay his full $4.45 million salary this year. Horn also is coming off a groin injury that sidelined him late last season but that Vitolo said is about a week away from being full strength.
Thompson has said he’s looking to add a veteran receiver, and Horn could be a possibility because he has a close relationship with Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who was New Orleans’ offensive coordinator from 2000-04. Atlanta is familiar with Horn from playing against him twice a year in divisional play since 2000, and Jacksonville’s director of pro personnel, Charles Bailey, knows Horn well after working for the Saints’ front office from 1999-2002.
“Going into free agency (the Packers) aren’t going to be throwing money around,†said Vitolo, who said he’s had preliminary contact with the team. “They’re going to be careful about what they’re doing and look into it and see if it’s a good move for them and Joe. Jacksonville and Atlanta are definitely interested and are doing their background checks into his injury and everything. They all have a need (at receiver). We just wanted to narrow the list to teams that have a need and know Joe. But who wouldn’t want to go to the Packers? They’re getting better and the organization itself — they all want to go there.â€
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
Halfback Ahman Green took a free-agent visit to the Denver Broncos on Friday night in what appears to be the start of a weekend free-agent tour.
The Packers are trying to re-sign Green, who is an unrestricted free agent, and worked well into Thursday night as they tried to reach a contract agreement. However, with free agency opening on at 11:01 p.m. Thursday, Green decided to test the market to measure his value and see whether the Packers will pay him a comparable contract if another club will offer more than they already have.
The trip to Denver doesn’t mean he won't re-sign with the Packers, but that and the prospects that taking one and possibly two visits immediately thereafter could make his re-signing much more difficult.
Green is one of the top halfbacks in this year's lean free-agent market, though his value is diminished somewhat by his age (30) and recent injury history that includes a serious torn quadriceps tendon in 2005.
Denver is looking for a starting running back after trading Tatum Bell to Detroit as part of a deal to acquire cornerback Dre' Bly, and they use the same zone-blocking run scheme the Packers used last season. However, the Broncos reportedly also are exploring a possible trade with Buffalo for halfback Willis McGahee, along with other options in free agency. The other top backs in free agency are Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis and Indianapolis’ Dominic Rhodes, plus New England just released 32-year old Corey Dillon on Friday.
Green is believed to have two other visits set up this weekend, one with Houston, where former Packers coach Mike Sherman is the Texans’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. The other destination was unavailable, though teams looking for a starting running back include the New York Jets and the New York Giants.
Green has told the Packers he’d prefer to remain with them, so there’s a decent chance he’ll take his visits without signing and then resume negotiations with all interested teams. But there’s also the chance that one of the teams will make a strong offer that he’ll accept on the spot, or make a better offer after his visits than the Packers are willing to pay. Green appears to be seeking a bonus in the range of $5 million or more, and a multi-year deal that averages about that much a season.
If the Packers lose Green, it’s unclear whether they’d replace him with one of the aforementioned available halfbacks or via the draft. They have Vernand Morency as their change-of-pace No. 2 back, though considering his lack of size — he’s 5-feet-9 and 213 pounds — they’re unlikely to make him their No. 1 back because of the injury risk. Noah Herron is their No. 3 halfback.
Packers General Manager Ted Thompson appears to be laying low at the start of free agency and mainly keeping tabs on Green and his attempts to re-sign tight end David Martin. Martin’s agent, Terry Williams, could not be reached for comment, though the sides don’t appear close to a deal. Multiple league-wide sources said they’ve seen no reports to the league offices or heard from agents that any players are visiting the Packers this opening weekend, which is the most expensive time to sign free agents.
The Packers so far haven’t made a strong pitch for recently released receiver Joe Horn, a four-time Pro Bowler who was cut by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday. His agent, Ralph Vitolo, said Atlanta and Jacksonville have shown the most interest in his client so far.
The Saints released the 35-year-old Horn on Thursday because they were unwilling to pay his full $4.45 million salary this year. Horn also is coming off a groin injury that sidelined him late last season but that Vitolo said is about a week away from being full strength.
Thompson has said he’s looking to add a veteran receiver, and Horn could be a possibility because he has a close relationship with Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who was New Orleans’ offensive coordinator from 2000-04. Atlanta is familiar with Horn from playing against him twice a year in divisional play since 2000, and Jacksonville’s director of pro personnel, Charles Bailey, knows Horn well after working for the Saints’ front office from 1999-2002.
“Going into free agency (the Packers) aren’t going to be throwing money around,†said Vitolo, who said he’s had preliminary contact with the team. “They’re going to be careful about what they’re doing and look into it and see if it’s a good move for them and Joe. Jacksonville and Atlanta are definitely interested and are doing their background checks into his injury and everything. They all have a need (at receiver). We just wanted to narrow the list to teams that have a need and know Joe. But who wouldn’t want to go to the Packers? They’re getting better and the organization itself — they all want to go there.â€
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