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Team optimistic Harrell will sign soon
Packers hope for no holdout
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: July 18, 2007
The Green Bay Packers have been one of the NFL's more successful teams when it comes to getting their draft picks into camp on time. And 2007 could very well follow a similar script.
To date, Green Bay has signed five of its 11 draft picks. That list includes safety Aaron Rouse (third round), offensive linemen Allen Barbre (fourth), wide receiver David Clowney (fifth), tight end Clark Harris (seventh) and running back DeShawn Wynn (seventh).
Now comes the tough stuff, though.
First-round defensive tackle Justin Harrell, taken with the 16th overall pick, will be the most difficult deal to do. But Eugene Parker, who represents Harrell and has a long working relationship with the Packers, is hopeful his client will be to camp on time.
Players are scheduled to report July 27 and the first practice is at 2 p.m. July 28.
"I've had good, positive relationships with the Packers and (negotiator) Andrew (Brandt) and I'd expect that will continue," Parker said. "It's hard to say how smooth something will go. But I'm optimistic."
The two sides have had some initial discussions. But Parker and Brandt didn't think things would heat up until later this week.
Parker represents wide receiver Greg Jennings and has also handled former Packers Ahmad Carroll and Hardy Nickerson. So Parker and Brandt have done their share of deals together.
"There's always additional challenges with a No. 1 pick," Brandt said. "But we've known each other 20 years. We'll work together on this."
Last year's 16th overall pick, safety Jason Allen of Miami, signed a six-year contract that included up to $9 million in guaranteed money. But Allen held out 10 days, was the second-to-last first-round draft pick to sign and played from behind all season.
In fact, Allen struggled to pick up the defensive scheme and didn't play a defensive snap until Week 7. He finished the year with just 20 tackles and was moved to cornerback this off-season.
The Packers hope to have much better luck with Harrell.
Harrell has had major issues with durability throughout his career. But both sides said that wouldn't play a part in the negotiations.
"That won't matter," Parker said. "They drafted him."
Harrell missed the final 10 games of his senior year at Tennessee with a partially torn biceps tendon. He also underwent surgeries on his leg and ankle earlier in his Tennessee career.
Harrell didn't take part in any contact drills during Green Bay's post-draft minicamps and OTA's. Harrell has been cleared, though, to fully participate when training camp begins.
If Harrell is going to be more than a bit player in 2007, though, it's imperative for the Packers to get him to camp on time.
Harrell is already behind because his work this spring was limited. And it's been nearly a year now since he's experienced live contact.
So if Harrell is standing on the sideline for long, the chances of him cracking a deep defensive line might be slim.
"As we all know when you get to training camp, we'll be playing real football with the pads and so forth," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "You learn a lot about the individuals from their movement, foot quickness and leg strength, things like that. But it's a different game when you put the pads on, so that will be the true test."
So far, Chicago tight end Greg Olsen, the 31st overall pick, is the only first-round draft pick to sign. And there might not be much movement with Harrell until some of the other first-round deals are done.
The Packers' rookie salary pool is $4.907 million, and they'll have to squeeze 11 draft picks into that window. Green Bay's rookie pool was $6.647 million in 2006 when the Packers had 12 draft picks. But one of those was A.J. Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick, who commanded far more money than Harrell will see.
It will be a challenge for Brandt to stay below that rookie cap number and he might need some creative deals to do so.
The first five contracts that the Packers have completed were all four-year deals.
Rouse's contract was for four years, $2.3 million and included a $649,000 signing bonus. Barbre's package was four years, $2.1 million with a $436,000 signing bonus.
Clowney's four-year deal was for a total of $1.8 million and included a $170,000 signing bonus. Wynn got $50,000 to sign his four-year, $1.7 million contract. And Harris received a four-year, $1.7 million deal with a $41,000 signing bonus.
Packers hope for no holdout
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: July 18, 2007
The Green Bay Packers have been one of the NFL's more successful teams when it comes to getting their draft picks into camp on time. And 2007 could very well follow a similar script.
To date, Green Bay has signed five of its 11 draft picks. That list includes safety Aaron Rouse (third round), offensive linemen Allen Barbre (fourth), wide receiver David Clowney (fifth), tight end Clark Harris (seventh) and running back DeShawn Wynn (seventh).
Now comes the tough stuff, though.
First-round defensive tackle Justin Harrell, taken with the 16th overall pick, will be the most difficult deal to do. But Eugene Parker, who represents Harrell and has a long working relationship with the Packers, is hopeful his client will be to camp on time.
Players are scheduled to report July 27 and the first practice is at 2 p.m. July 28.
"I've had good, positive relationships with the Packers and (negotiator) Andrew (Brandt) and I'd expect that will continue," Parker said. "It's hard to say how smooth something will go. But I'm optimistic."
The two sides have had some initial discussions. But Parker and Brandt didn't think things would heat up until later this week.
Parker represents wide receiver Greg Jennings and has also handled former Packers Ahmad Carroll and Hardy Nickerson. So Parker and Brandt have done their share of deals together.
"There's always additional challenges with a No. 1 pick," Brandt said. "But we've known each other 20 years. We'll work together on this."
Last year's 16th overall pick, safety Jason Allen of Miami, signed a six-year contract that included up to $9 million in guaranteed money. But Allen held out 10 days, was the second-to-last first-round draft pick to sign and played from behind all season.
In fact, Allen struggled to pick up the defensive scheme and didn't play a defensive snap until Week 7. He finished the year with just 20 tackles and was moved to cornerback this off-season.
The Packers hope to have much better luck with Harrell.
Harrell has had major issues with durability throughout his career. But both sides said that wouldn't play a part in the negotiations.
"That won't matter," Parker said. "They drafted him."
Harrell missed the final 10 games of his senior year at Tennessee with a partially torn biceps tendon. He also underwent surgeries on his leg and ankle earlier in his Tennessee career.
Harrell didn't take part in any contact drills during Green Bay's post-draft minicamps and OTA's. Harrell has been cleared, though, to fully participate when training camp begins.
If Harrell is going to be more than a bit player in 2007, though, it's imperative for the Packers to get him to camp on time.
Harrell is already behind because his work this spring was limited. And it's been nearly a year now since he's experienced live contact.
So if Harrell is standing on the sideline for long, the chances of him cracking a deep defensive line might be slim.
"As we all know when you get to training camp, we'll be playing real football with the pads and so forth," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "You learn a lot about the individuals from their movement, foot quickness and leg strength, things like that. But it's a different game when you put the pads on, so that will be the true test."
So far, Chicago tight end Greg Olsen, the 31st overall pick, is the only first-round draft pick to sign. And there might not be much movement with Harrell until some of the other first-round deals are done.
The Packers' rookie salary pool is $4.907 million, and they'll have to squeeze 11 draft picks into that window. Green Bay's rookie pool was $6.647 million in 2006 when the Packers had 12 draft picks. But one of those was A.J. Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick, who commanded far more money than Harrell will see.
It will be a challenge for Brandt to stay below that rookie cap number and he might need some creative deals to do so.
The first five contracts that the Packers have completed were all four-year deals.
Rouse's contract was for four years, $2.3 million and included a $649,000 signing bonus. Barbre's package was four years, $2.1 million with a $436,000 signing bonus.
Clowney's four-year deal was for a total of $1.8 million and included a $170,000 signing bonus. Wynn got $50,000 to sign his four-year, $1.7 million contract. And Harris received a four-year, $1.7 million deal with a $41,000 signing bonus.
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