Packers $13.3 million beneath salary cap

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Here are the best free agents of next year at each position. However, with tags and the increase in the cap I doubt any will make it to the market.

QB:

Rex Grossman, UFA, Chicago Bears ( I really want this guy )
Tony Romo, UFA, Dallas Cowboys
Kyle Boller, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Josh McCown, UFA, Oakland Raiders

RB:

Michael Turner, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Jamal Lewis, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Fred Taylor, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Vernand Morency, RFA, Green Bay Packers
Chris Brown UFA Tennessee Titans
T.J. Duckett UFA Detroit Lions
Mewelde Moore UFA Minnesota Vikings
Musa Smith UFA Baltimore Ravens
Justin Fargas UFA Oakland Raiders

FB:

Mike Alstott UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brad Hoover UFA Carolina Panthers
Tony Richardson UFA Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Wimbush RFA Jacksonville Jaguars

WR:

Bernard Berrian, UFA, Chicago Bears
Patrick Crayton, UFA, Dallas Cowboys
Bryant Johnson, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Doug Gabriel UFA Oakland Raiders
Justin Gage UFA Tennessee Titans
D.J. Hackett UFA Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Robinson UFA Detroit Lions
Brandon Stokley UFA Denver Broncos

TE:

Chris Cooley, TE, UFA, Washington Redskins (would love him)
L.J. Smith, TE, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Ben Troupe UFA Tennessee Titans
Eric Johnson UFA New Orleans Saints
Stephen Alexander UFA Denver Broncos
Jermaine Wiggins UFA Jacksonville Jaguars
Marcus Pollard UFA Seattle Seahawks

OL:

Alan Faneca, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ryan Lilja, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Ruben Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears
Max Starks, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Floyd Womack, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
OG P.J. Alexander UFA Atlanta Falcons
OG Rick DeMulling UFA Indianapolis Colts

DL:

Jared Allen, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Simeon Rice, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Justin Smith, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Jordan Carstens UFA Carolina Panthers
Ebenezer Ekuban UFA Denver Broncos
Tommy Kelly UFA Oakland Raiders
Sam Rayburn UFA San Francisco 49ers
Mike Rucker UFA Carolina Panthers
Paul Spicer UFA Jacksonville Jaguars
Randy Starks UFA Tennessee Titans
Renaldo Wynn UFA Washington Redskins

LB:

Tedy Bruschi, UFA, New England Patriots
Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Demorrio Williams, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Boss Bailey, UFA, Detroit Lions
Jordan Beck RFA Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Bentley UFA Seattle Seahawks
Darryl Blackstock RFA Arizona Cardinals
Brandon Chillar UFA St. Louis Rams
Danny Clark UFA Houston Texans
Na'il Diggs UFA Carolina Panthers
Landon Johnson UFA Cincinnati Bengals
Teddy Lehman UFA Detroit Lions
Lemar Marshall UFA Washington Redskins
Kawika Mitchell UFA New York Giants
Mark Simoneau UFA Philadelphia Eagles
Sam Williams UFA Oakland Raiders

DB:

Mike Doss, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Domonique Foxworth, RFA, Denver Broncos
Chris Carr RFA Oakland Raiders
Drayton Florence UFA San Diego Chargers
Randall Gay UFA New England Patriots
Tory James UFA New England Patriots
Karl Paymah RFA Denver Broncos
B.J. Sams UFA Baltimore Ravens
Chad Scott UFA New England Patriots
Jordan Babineaux UFA Seattle Seahawks
William Bartee UFA Kansas City Chiefs
Jay Bellamy UFA New Orleans Saints
Omar Stoutmire UFA Washington Redskins
Derrick Strait UFA Carolina Panthers
Gibril Wilson UFA New York Giants

ST:

Rob Bironas RFA Tennessee Titans
Josh Brown UFA Seattle Seahawks
Dave Rayner UFA Green Bay Packers
Lawrence Tynes UFA New York Giants
Jeff Feagles UFA New York Giants
Scott Player UFA Arizona Cardinals
Todd Sauerbrun UFA Denver Broncos

[Merlin]

Two words, Woody. Brett Favre.

To be honest...I disagree with that.

I think Brett Favre is one of the few reasons guys might actually come to Green Bay. The players realize he hasn't lost it, even if the talking heads prefer to use wheelchair and nursing home illustrations when discussing Favre.

I think the biggest factor is the city of Green Bay, which doesn't offer the glitz and glamour of many other NFL cities. For a limited few, that small town feel and nostalgia will be a draw. For most, the bright lights and warmer climates elsewhere will be hard to beat if the money and opportunity are equal.

Unless Green Bay is a WINNING team that is a contender to win the conference (which it currently is NOT in the eyes of most) it will almost always be at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to wooing free agents.

I agree that Favre is the main reason any decent player would want to come here. I disagree that the city of Green Bay has much to do with it. There is a small city called Milwaukee only 60-90 minutes away and with the money these guys make, that isn't a long haul. So much for the glitz and glamor of Green Bay being a big issue. The largest issue is the combination of Favre and winning, which you did touch on.

[Scott Campbell]

I think we have bigger problems in SLC that GB does - and we've managed to field a competitive team. There are always going to be players that don't want to play in GB. And there always will be players who don't want to play in NYC.

[The Leaper]

There is a small city called Milwaukee only 60-90 minutes away and with the money these guys make, that isn't a long haul.

You can sit here and try to prop it up all you want. For a free agent who can have his pick of the lot, places like Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, Miami, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tampa, Dallas...they ALL are more "hip", have more of a year-round climate to enjoy, and a larger culture of successful young people to hang out with. Other places like New York, Boston, Denver or Philly might not have the climate...but are still major cities with a lot of important people and places to be seen with/at.

Those are big draws for young adults who are about to sign their name on the dotted line for a pile of cash. These aren't guys looking to settle down or raise a family. Most of these guys are looking for a vibrant nightlife and place they can feel comfortable.

With that in mind, Green Bay doesn't fit the profile...especially for a minority who is a millionaire. Wisconsin is mostly white and mostly blue collar. It won't be at the top of their list...and more than likely is near the bottom.

[GBRulz]

Perhaps I worded that incorrectly, Leaper. I am saying that because of Brett Favre, that is why so many FA's have come here in the past. He was a big reason for that. Plus, we were a winning organization for so many years.

As far as attracting FA's to GB. I think the climate is the biggest downfall vs the glitzy nightlife. I see players out all the time at many places around here, in which the locals are really good at just leaving them alone. It's not like they need to escape to a VIP area to get some privacy. but if they do want a nice night out on the town, downtown Milwaukee is 90 minutes away.

[The Leaper]

I think we have bigger problems in SLC that GB does - and we've managed to field a competitive team.

Football is a little different than basketball. Football players spend a lot of time during the season in their home city. They are there every week for at least 4 days within a pretty normal routine from MON-THU. The season is only 6 months long as well.

Basketball teams are constantly travelling...and even if they are back in their home town, it usually isn't long enough to establish any kind of routine.

Bottom line...the chances you are going to run into Carlos Boozer in SLC is much lower than the chance of you running into Cullen Jenkins in Green Bay. NFL players spend more time in their home city, and therefore it is a larger part of the equation.

I'm not saying it is impossible for Green Bay to attract guys. I'm merely pointing out that the small town/rural community isn't going to be a big draw for most...and likely is the biggest obstacle in attracting talent. I would agree the climate probably may be the biggest obstacle though...both kind of go hand in hand. There aren't many "hip" communities in crappy climates these days.

Honestly, it is a good thing...the team's tradition and facilities are top notch, and it helps Green Bay avoid guys like Pac Man Jones.

[Scott Campbell]

I think we have bigger problems in SLC that GB does - and we've managed to field a competitive team.

Football is a little different than basketball. Football players spend a lot of time during the season in their home city. They are there every week for at least 4 days within a pretty normal routine from MON-THU. The season is only 6 months long as well.

Basketball teams are constantly travelling...and even if they are back in their home town, it usually isn't long enough to establish any kind of routine.

Bottom line...the chances you are going to run into Carlos Boozer in SLC is much lower than the chance of you running into Cullen Jenkins in Green Bay. NFL players spend more time in their home city, and therefore it is a larger part of the equation.

I'm not saying it is impossible for Green Bay to attract guys. I'm merely pointing out that the small town/rural community isn't going to be a big draw for most...and likely is the biggest obstacle in attracting talent. I would agree the climate probably may be the biggest obstacle though...both kind of go hand in hand. There aren't many "hip" communities in crappy climates these days.

Honestly, it is a good thing...the team's tradition and facilities are top notch, and it helps Green Bay avoid guys like Pac Man Jones.

Derek Harper was caught on video tape during trade speculation as saying "Utah? I ain't going to Utah. You go to Utah". This happened while Utah was a contender.

Rony Seikely ivoked his trade approval contract clause and voided his trade to the Jazz - while they were a contender with Stockton and Malone. At the time he was playing for the perrenial bottom dwelling Nets.

You can say whatever you like about football vs. basketball, but I don't ever remember Green Bay having anyone void a trade to GB, or get caught on video tape throwing a hissy fit over a possible trade to GB.

SLC a tougher sell for players than you think. That may be tough to understand if you don't live here.

Rick Majerus on the difficulty of recruiting at the University of Utah "I don't want my players hanging out at bars, but I wouldn't mind it if they walked by one once in a while".

[The Leaper]

SLC a tougher sell for players than you think. That may be tough to understand if you don't live here.

Yeah, it probably is. I never said that Green Bay's size/climate made it impossible to attract talent or be successful...just that it was probably the greatest obstacle to overcome in that regard.

NBA players also tend to be much more immature than NFL players...they spend less time in college and typically have more disposal income to get in trouble with. I think the size of their contracts allows them to be more picky...bad NBA players can still make $5M a year easy. In the NFL, money talks louder...because there are far more players to cut the pie for, and contracts aren't all guaranteed money like the NBA. If Green Bay offers significantly more money, it is HIGHLY unlikely an NFL player wouldn't jump at it regardless.

Trade clauses also aren't as prevalent in the NFL, which is why you don't see voids. Nearly every team in the NBA probably has been nixed by someone at some point.

The whole Mormon impact is a major factor too...although I guess it can work in your favor if there is a good Mormon basketball player.

[Scott Campbell]

Nearly every team in the NBA probably has been nixed by someone at some point.

Not while they're a perrenial contender like the Jazz were in the 90's. I don't ever remember a trade getting nixed for any reason other than the destination team was a bottom dweller.

[mission]

As far as attracting FA's to GB. I think the climate is the biggest downfall vs the glitzy nightlife. I see players out all the time at many places around here, in which the locals are really good at just leaving them alone. It's not like they need to escape to a VIP area to get some privacy. but if they do want a nice night out on the town, downtown Milwaukee is 90 minutes away.

Not to single anyone out this isnt the only post that made me laugh but you guys don't really get it. Being from Green Bay and Chippewa Falls and wherever else doesn't qualify anyone to comment on "nightlife"... it's not about having clubs or privacy or whatever...

It's about "how many ridiculously gorgeous black single woman are available?" i dont want privacy... i want 20 chicks fightitng over me at a club. im a kid with $10mil remember? im not Jordan yet...

Sound like an ignorant comment? Well Im from Milwaukee and spent many a night in VIPs on Milwaukee Ave and pounding shots with everybody on Water St... doing the east side thing. That is NOT life. It's being aLive at night.

I live in Atlanta now and there is no place I'd rather be. Im getting text and gmail msgs on my phone all day about this private rooftop party with luda and TI and this condo party in the warehouse district with the hawks cheerleaders, djs, free cases of grey goose and that party and this VIP to respond and come to the game, my boy has luxury box seats tonight etc... there is like a 5-1 single girl to man ratio here and I have never HAD to choose between which of these 6 girls that wants to hang out tonight should I hang out with? and can i pull off two of them? lol

in small towns, people get reputations -- fast. big towns, you can pretty much just blend in and no one knows -- so everyone DOES. driving 90 miles to go to EVE on milwaukee ave is not night life. it's not hanging out with dallas austin and talking bentleys. i dont even consider myself a celebrity, yet i enjoy some perks that i never came close to seeing at all living in the midwest given that i produce *some* music for *some* people who actually are celebrities. imagine if i made 10 mil a year and was on TV every sunday. you forget most of these guys are "kids" ... and we like to have fun and until i have my own kids and my body turns to shit or whatever, then im going to have as much fun as possible while people are still tryin to have it with me.

the last last last place id want to play football (assuming i wasnt a DIEHARD packer fan) would be green bay. if i wasnt from wisconsin, i dunno -- is that in canada? take me to atlanta baby... the women are ridiculous and the parties honestly dont stop til 8 in the morning. sometimes later!

[GBRulz]

thanks for that extra special glimpse into your life.

[Freak Out]

As far as attracting FA's to GB. I think the climate is the biggest downfall vs the glitzy nightlife. I see players out all the time at many places around here, in which the locals are really good at just leaving them alone. It's not like they need to escape to a VIP area to get some privacy. but if they do want a nice night out on the town, downtown Milwaukee is 90 minutes away.

Not to single anyone out this isnt the only post that made me laugh but you guys don't really get it. Being from Green Bay and Chippewa Falls and wherever else doesn't qualify anyone to comment on "nightlife"... it's not about having clubs or privacy or whatever...

It's about "how many ridiculously gorgeous black single woman are available?" i dont want privacy... i want 20 chicks fightitng over me at a club. im a kid with $10mil remember? im not Jordan yet...

Sound like an ignorant comment? Well Im from Milwaukee and spent many a night in VIPs on Milwaukee Ave and pounding shots with everybody on Water St... doing the east side thing. That is NOT life. It's being aLive at night.

I live in Atlanta now and there is no place I'd rather be. Im getting text and gmail msgs on my phone all day about this private rooftop party with luda and TI and this condo party in the warehouse district with the hawks cheerleaders, djs, free cases of grey goose and that party and this VIP to respond and come to the game, my boy has luxury box seats tonight etc... there is like a 5-1 single girl to man ratio here and I have never HAD to choose between which of these 6 girls that wants to hang out tonight should I hang out with? and can i pull off two of them? lol

in small towns, people get reputations -- fast. big towns, you can pretty much just blend in and no one knows -- so everyone DOES. driving 90 miles to go to EVE on milwaukee ave is not night life. it's not hanging out with dallas austin and talking bentleys. i dont even consider myself a celebrity, yet i enjoy some perks that i never came close to seeing at all living in the midwest given that i produce *some* music for *some* people who actually are celebrities. imagine if i made 10 mil a year and was on TV every sunday. you forget most of these guys are "kids" ... and we like to have fun and until i have my own kids and my body turns to shit or whatever, then im going to have as much fun as possible while people are still tryin to have it with me.

the last last last place id want to play football (assuming i wasnt a DIEHARD packer fan) would be green bay. if i wasnt from wisconsin, i dunno -- is that in canada? take me to atlanta baby... the women are ridiculous and the parties honestly dont stop til 8 in the morning. sometimes later!

Thats all well and good but there are a limited number of seats at the NFL table for players and they know it. Given the choice between making good $$$ in Green Bay for 7 months or not making the cash but being able to nail slamhounds at will I tend to think they would take the $$$.

[falco]

As far as attracting FA's to GB. I think the climate is the biggest downfall vs the glitzy nightlife. I see players out all the time at many places around here, in which the locals are really good at just leaving them alone. It's not like they need to escape to a VIP area to get some privacy. but if they do want a nice night out on the town, downtown Milwaukee is 90 minutes away.

Not to single anyone out this isnt the only post that made me laugh but you guys don't really get it. Being from Green Bay and Chippewa Falls and wherever else doesn't qualify anyone to comment on "nightlife"... it's not about having clubs or privacy or whatever...

It's about "how many ridiculously gorgeous black single woman are available?" i dont want privacy... i want 20 chicks fightitng over me at a club. im a kid with $10mil remember? im not Jordan yet...

Sound like an ignorant comment? Well Im from Milwaukee and spent many a night in VIPs on Milwaukee Ave and pounding shots with everybody on Water St... doing the east side thing. That is NOT life. It's being aLive at night.

I live in Atlanta now and there is no place I'd rather be. Im getting text and gmail msgs on my phone all day about this private rooftop party with luda and TI and this condo party in the warehouse district with the hawks cheerleaders, djs, free cases of grey goose and that party and this VIP to respond and come to the game, my boy has luxury box seats tonight etc... there is like a 5-1 single girl to man ratio here and I have never HAD to choose between which of these 6 girls that wants to hang out tonight should I hang out with? and can i pull off two of them? lol

in small towns, people get reputations -- fast. big towns, you can pretty much just blend in and no one knows -- so everyone DOES. driving 90 miles to go to EVE on milwaukee ave is not night life. it's not hanging out with dallas austin and talking bentleys. i dont even consider myself a celebrity, yet i enjoy some perks that i never came close to seeing at all living in the midwest given that i produce *some* music for *some* people who actually are celebrities. imagine if i made 10 mil a year and was on TV every sunday. you forget most of these guys are "kids" ... and we like to have fun and until i have my own kids and my body turns to shit or whatever, then im going to have as much fun as possible while people are still tryin to have it with me.

the last last last place id want to play football (assuming i wasnt a DIEHARD packer fan) would be green bay. if i wasnt from wisconsin, i dunno -- is that in canada? take me to atlanta baby... the women are ridiculous and the parties honestly dont stop til 8 in the morning. sometimes later!

This post nearly had me in tears! Too funny.

[mission]

it's funny but it's true... and gbrulz: im sorry for being honest and kind of cool . heaven forbid that kids like going out and getting laid ... im such an anamoly

i dont know how many of you middle-wisconsin folks are mid-twenty-somethin' black dudes but if you think there's no accuracy in my orieginal post you're dead wrong. could i have worded things differently to, perhaps, relate a bit more? sure... the point is that that's the point.

there's a huge relational gap to bridge between northern wisconsin and most of the country.

i love y'all, i've loved GB and the people up there every time i've been to a game, but i live in atlanta for a reason... it's fun, there are opportunities for everything here and im not going to get pulled over because my car is over 40k and I have my windows tinted (like has happened to me in GB just "because").

And we arent talking about a limited amount of spots on NFL rosters. we're talking about attracting free agents who're more desirable than Frank Walker (who?). These are guys we can't get to come to Green Bay -- not guys who're begging for a chance to get on the field. We sign *them* all the time.

[Partial]

it's funny but it's true... and gbrulz: im sorry for being honest and kind of cool . heaven forbid that kids like going out and getting laid ... im such an anamoly

i dont know how many of you middle-wisconsin folks are mid-twenty-somethin' black dudes but if you think there's no accuracy in my orieginal post you're dead wrong. could i have worded things differently to, perhaps, relate a bit more? sure... the point is that that's the point.

there's a huge relational gap to bridge between northern wisconsin and most of the country.

i love y'all, i've loved GB and the people up there every time i've been to a game, but i live in atlanta for a reason... it's fun, there are opportunities for everything here and im not going to get pulled over because my car is over 40k and I have my windows tinted (like has happened to me in GB just "because").

And we arent talking about a limited amount of spots on NFL rosters. we're talking about attracting free agents who're more desirable than Frank Walker (who?). These are guys we can't get to come to Green Bay -- not guys who're begging for a chance to get on the field. We sign *them* all the time.

Your "baller" lifestyle doesn't exist in more than a few places. That is not at all an accurate representation of the USA. Maybe NYC, LA, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and maybe a few others. In fact, most NFL cities don't have that lifestyle going on and the players would be in deep shit if they went out and partied like that.

Pacman lived a baller lifestyle too. See where that got him.