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Packers tried to keep Green, Thompson says
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
For now, the Green Bay Packers don’t know who will be their featured halfback in 2007.
It could be a draft pick. It could be a stop-gap free agent or player from a trade. It could be No. 2 back Vernand Morency sharing the top job with one of the above.
Regardless, losing the productive Ahman Green in free agency was something General Manager Ted Thompson knew might happen when he couldn’t sign Green before the start of free agency. Furthermore, it was something Thompson was unwilling to prevent by getting into a bidding war Sunday with the Houston Texans.
So Thompson, with about $21 million in salary-cap room, willingly let go a declining but effective halfback from the last seven years.
Asked about replacing such a player, Thompson, who is nothing if not even-keeled, responded: “There’s lots of twists and turns in an NFL year, especially in the offseason and most especially at the start of the new league year. There will be many twists and turns as we go along.â€
The Packers on Monday also lost free-agent tight end David Martin, a backup who might have pushed for a starting job this year, to Miami. Martin, who in six seasons in the NFL has been long on potential but with a history of injury problems, is believed to have received a signing bonus of about $1.5 million as part of his multiyear deal.
In the meantime, even in a year when teams are flush with salary-cap money, Green’s contract with Houston was surprisingly high for a 30-year-old halfback a season removed from major thigh surgery. According to a source with access to NFLPA salary figures, Green received a $5 million signing bonus, a $1.5 million roster bonus and a $1.5 million base salary for this season. That’s $8 million in the first year.
Next year, he’ll receive a $500,000 roster bonus, a $200,000 workout bonus and a $3.8 million salary, for a total of $4.5 million in 2008 pay. That means the first two years of the deal are worth $12.5 million, and unless something unusual happens, it appears likely Green’s $5 million salary guarantees him two seasons with the Texans.
In 2009, he’s scheduled to make $5.5 million in salary and bonuses, and in 2010 he’ll make $5 million total.
The Packers stayed in negotiations with Green until the end and increased their offer, apparently to more than $5 million the first year and $9 million the first two. Ultimately, the Texans offered substantially more than Thompson was willing to pay.
“Through our talks (Sunday), it sounded like (Houston’s offer) was pretty good,†Thompson said. “We adjusted ours some, but it wasn’t enough. I reiterate, some people will make out like we didn’t want to sign the guy; we were trying to keep Ahman. That’s the thing with free agency, you never know. But we wish him well.â€
Houston was willing to pay Green more because it was looking for a No. 1 back and apparently took strongly the recommendation from offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, the former Packers coach who could vouch for Green’s work ethic and toughness. Texans starter Domanick Williams is coming off a knee injury.
Last season, Green rushed for 1,049 yards and 4.0 yards a carry. As the season wore on, the Packers tried to limit to his touches to about 20 a game so he wouldn’t wear out.
“(Signing Green) does certainly answer our question at running back,†said Rick Smith, the Texans’ GM. “We feel like we’ve got a guy who can produce in this offense and can carry the load for us.â€
The Packers will explore the free-agent market and trades for a running back, though those markets would produce only a stop-gap type player to share the No. 1 load. More likely, they’ll have to select a running back on the first day of the draft for someone who can be their featured back.
Among the veterans available are Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis, who is believed likely to re-sign with the Ravens, Corey Dillon, Dominic Rhodes, Chris Brown and Correll Buckhalter.
There doesn’t appear to be a high demand for any of the remaining backs in free agency after Travis Henry signed with Denver on Monday, so the Packers don’t appear to be in a hurry to sign another running back.
Besides Morency, the Packers have No. 3 back Noah Herron plus undrafted Arliss Beach, who was on injured reserve all last season. Morency, acquired in an early-season trade with Houston last year, showed some quickness and gained 430 yards and averaged 4.5 yards a carry last season, but there are doubts whether he could withstand the load of a No. 1 back at 5-foot-10, 212 pounds.
“I couldn’t tell you that,†Thompson said of whether Morency can be a primary back for a full season. “I think he was kind of like that in college. He’s never had that opportunity in the pros.â€
Miami signed Martin as its starting tight end and released previous starter Randy McMichael, 27, who was due a $3 million roster bonus Wednesday. McMichael caught 62 passes for 640 yards last season, but had some problems with drops and appears to be a victim of the team’s coaching change from Nick Saban to Cam Cameron.
Martin, who caught 21 passes last season, might have pushed Bubba Franks for the starting job if he’d re-signed with the Packers. But he missed 26 games in his six-year career because of injuries.
The Packers might have interest in McMichael, depending on the contract offers he receives from other teams. They return Franks and re-signed No. 3 tight end Donald Lee, along with Tory Humphry, who was on injured reserve the final nine games because of a hamstring injury, and Zac Alcorn, a second-year pro who was on the practice squad for nine games and the 53-man roster for the final seven.
The Packers re-signed guard-tackle Tyson Walter, an unrestricted free agent who was on their roster the final six weeks last season.
Packers tried to keep Green, Thompson says
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
For now, the Green Bay Packers don’t know who will be their featured halfback in 2007.
It could be a draft pick. It could be a stop-gap free agent or player from a trade. It could be No. 2 back Vernand Morency sharing the top job with one of the above.
Regardless, losing the productive Ahman Green in free agency was something General Manager Ted Thompson knew might happen when he couldn’t sign Green before the start of free agency. Furthermore, it was something Thompson was unwilling to prevent by getting into a bidding war Sunday with the Houston Texans.
So Thompson, with about $21 million in salary-cap room, willingly let go a declining but effective halfback from the last seven years.
Asked about replacing such a player, Thompson, who is nothing if not even-keeled, responded: “There’s lots of twists and turns in an NFL year, especially in the offseason and most especially at the start of the new league year. There will be many twists and turns as we go along.â€
The Packers on Monday also lost free-agent tight end David Martin, a backup who might have pushed for a starting job this year, to Miami. Martin, who in six seasons in the NFL has been long on potential but with a history of injury problems, is believed to have received a signing bonus of about $1.5 million as part of his multiyear deal.
In the meantime, even in a year when teams are flush with salary-cap money, Green’s contract with Houston was surprisingly high for a 30-year-old halfback a season removed from major thigh surgery. According to a source with access to NFLPA salary figures, Green received a $5 million signing bonus, a $1.5 million roster bonus and a $1.5 million base salary for this season. That’s $8 million in the first year.
Next year, he’ll receive a $500,000 roster bonus, a $200,000 workout bonus and a $3.8 million salary, for a total of $4.5 million in 2008 pay. That means the first two years of the deal are worth $12.5 million, and unless something unusual happens, it appears likely Green’s $5 million salary guarantees him two seasons with the Texans.
In 2009, he’s scheduled to make $5.5 million in salary and bonuses, and in 2010 he’ll make $5 million total.
The Packers stayed in negotiations with Green until the end and increased their offer, apparently to more than $5 million the first year and $9 million the first two. Ultimately, the Texans offered substantially more than Thompson was willing to pay.
“Through our talks (Sunday), it sounded like (Houston’s offer) was pretty good,†Thompson said. “We adjusted ours some, but it wasn’t enough. I reiterate, some people will make out like we didn’t want to sign the guy; we were trying to keep Ahman. That’s the thing with free agency, you never know. But we wish him well.â€
Houston was willing to pay Green more because it was looking for a No. 1 back and apparently took strongly the recommendation from offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, the former Packers coach who could vouch for Green’s work ethic and toughness. Texans starter Domanick Williams is coming off a knee injury.
Last season, Green rushed for 1,049 yards and 4.0 yards a carry. As the season wore on, the Packers tried to limit to his touches to about 20 a game so he wouldn’t wear out.
“(Signing Green) does certainly answer our question at running back,†said Rick Smith, the Texans’ GM. “We feel like we’ve got a guy who can produce in this offense and can carry the load for us.â€
The Packers will explore the free-agent market and trades for a running back, though those markets would produce only a stop-gap type player to share the No. 1 load. More likely, they’ll have to select a running back on the first day of the draft for someone who can be their featured back.
Among the veterans available are Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis, who is believed likely to re-sign with the Ravens, Corey Dillon, Dominic Rhodes, Chris Brown and Correll Buckhalter.
There doesn’t appear to be a high demand for any of the remaining backs in free agency after Travis Henry signed with Denver on Monday, so the Packers don’t appear to be in a hurry to sign another running back.
Besides Morency, the Packers have No. 3 back Noah Herron plus undrafted Arliss Beach, who was on injured reserve all last season. Morency, acquired in an early-season trade with Houston last year, showed some quickness and gained 430 yards and averaged 4.5 yards a carry last season, but there are doubts whether he could withstand the load of a No. 1 back at 5-foot-10, 212 pounds.
“I couldn’t tell you that,†Thompson said of whether Morency can be a primary back for a full season. “I think he was kind of like that in college. He’s never had that opportunity in the pros.â€
Miami signed Martin as its starting tight end and released previous starter Randy McMichael, 27, who was due a $3 million roster bonus Wednesday. McMichael caught 62 passes for 640 yards last season, but had some problems with drops and appears to be a victim of the team’s coaching change from Nick Saban to Cam Cameron.
Martin, who caught 21 passes last season, might have pushed Bubba Franks for the starting job if he’d re-signed with the Packers. But he missed 26 games in his six-year career because of injuries.
The Packers might have interest in McMichael, depending on the contract offers he receives from other teams. They return Franks and re-signed No. 3 tight end Donald Lee, along with Tory Humphry, who was on injured reserve the final nine games because of a hamstring injury, and Zac Alcorn, a second-year pro who was on the practice squad for nine games and the 53-man roster for the final seven.
The Packers re-signed guard-tackle Tyson Walter, an unrestricted free agent who was on their roster the final six weeks last season.
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