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Packers reward Tauscher by reworking his contract
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers have renegotiated the final two years of tackle Mark Tauscher's contract, giving him an additional $2.8 million in roster and workout bonuses, sources told the Journal Sentinel.
General manager Ted Thompson declined to confirm or deny the report, saying, "That's between us and Mark Tauscher."
Tauscher wasn't available Friday during the period when the locker room was open to reporters, and then didn't return a request for a telephone interview.
"Whatever it is, he deserves it," said cornerback Al Harris, who received a similar type of pay increase from the club in February. "I'm so happy for 'Tausch.' He's a very, very good and underrated football player."
According to National Football League Players Association salary figures, Tauscher signed the deal Sept. 8, one day before the regular-season opener.
In both 2007 and '08, Tauscher will receive roster bonuses of $1.3 million. In '08, he will get a workout bonus of $200,000.
The roster bonuses were structured the same each year, with Tauscher getting $600,000 for being on the 45-man active roster for the opener and then $700,000, divided into payments of $43,750, for each of the remaining 16 weeks that he's on the active roster.
A source close to the situation said Tauscher and his agent, David Cornrich, privately had registered their dissatisfaction with team officials about the six-year, $16.5 million deal that he signed in November 2002. Tauscher's point was that he had outperformed it.
That contract, which averaged $2.776 million, ranked Tauscher 14th on the team in average-per-year compensation. His new deal, which averages $4.515 million, moves him past Scott Wells, A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins and Bubba Franks and into ninth place.
Among the 64 starting tackles on opening day, Tauscher would have ranked 37th with his previous average-per-year compensation. With his new deal, he leapfrogged to 23rd. In July, Pro Football Weekly ranked him as the league's 22nd-best tackle.
Left tackle Chad Clifton, who has 97 starts in seven-plus seasons compared with 93 for Tauscher, leads the offensive line with an average of $5.392 million per year.
"If they did, I think it's very well deserved," said defensive end Aaron Kampman, who opposes Tauscher daily in practice. "They put him on an island a lot and people don't get production off him."
The Packers gave Tauscher the chance to earn the extra $2.8 million without getting anything in return. Because his contract wasn't extended, Tauscher still would become an unrestricted free agent in March 2009.
Whether the team even tried for a long-term extension that would have ensured that Tauscher ended his career in his home state is unknown.
"There's a lot of discussions that go on in a deal like that," Thompson said. "This is where the two parties felt comfortable."
It's possible that the Packers think Tony Moll will be ready to replace Tauscher in two years, if not sooner. Tauscher, 30, isn't as massive as many right tackles and, as a result, has left something to be desired as a run blocker.
However, the Packers also are well aware that Tauscher, a seventh-round draft choice in 2000, has allowed merely 12 sacks in his career mainly because of his resourcefulness, balance and technique.
"I think he's doing OK," Thompson replied when asked how Tauscher had started the season. "He's been a good pro here for a long time and we like him being here. Offensive linemen are pretty much in their prime about this time. We'll see. He's been relatively healthy."
Tauscher missed five games last season with a torn groin but impressed the coaches by returning for the final two weeks.
In September 2002, Tauscher blew out his knee in New Orleans and underwent reconstructive knee surgery. Two months later, with limited leverage, he decided to take a signing bonus of merely $1.5 million in return for a six-year extension. He had to wait until March 2004 to cash a roster bonus of $2.25 million.
Ever the good soldier, Tauscher didn't complain about his contract even as compensation for offensive linemen skyrocketed. In effect, the club probably was doing him a favor in return for his performance and loyalty.
Harris got $4 million in roster bonuses over the remaining three years of his contract but in return had to extend his contract two extra years.
In August, the Packers added one year to Donald Driver's deal. In return, Driver received $6.3 million in roster and workout bonuses from 2007-'09 and so-called "new money" totaling $4.2 million in 2010.
Like Tauscher, Harris and Driver must be on the 45-man roster to cash the roster bonuses.
"Philosophically, we feel like it's important for the club to recognize that the landscape changed a little bit with the collective bargaining agreement," Thompson said. "This is a mechanism that we've used to kind of help bridge that."
Not along ago, the Packers were averse to renegotiations. They refused to offer more money to Javon Walker in 2005 after he had outperformed the last two years on his contract, then traded the embittered wide receiver in April 2006.
"If you've got a happy locker room with guys that are happy about the business side of it and are enthusiastic about playing, you've got a really good football team," Harris said. "There's no bitchin'. None at all. Not that I know of."
Tauscher now counts $4.743 million against the salary cap, leaving the Packers $11.975 million of room.
"I think Ted's making a statement," Harris said. "They say there's no loyalty in the game, and in some cases that is true. But it really, really means a lot to players when they do come and take care of you.
"Money is a big thing, a real big thing. The thing about it is, if you're feeling you're underpaid, it's hard to go out every Sunday. Last year was hard for me. Ted really did (listen)."
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers have renegotiated the final two years of tackle Mark Tauscher's contract, giving him an additional $2.8 million in roster and workout bonuses, sources told the Journal Sentinel.
General manager Ted Thompson declined to confirm or deny the report, saying, "That's between us and Mark Tauscher."
Tauscher wasn't available Friday during the period when the locker room was open to reporters, and then didn't return a request for a telephone interview.
"Whatever it is, he deserves it," said cornerback Al Harris, who received a similar type of pay increase from the club in February. "I'm so happy for 'Tausch.' He's a very, very good and underrated football player."
According to National Football League Players Association salary figures, Tauscher signed the deal Sept. 8, one day before the regular-season opener.
In both 2007 and '08, Tauscher will receive roster bonuses of $1.3 million. In '08, he will get a workout bonus of $200,000.
The roster bonuses were structured the same each year, with Tauscher getting $600,000 for being on the 45-man active roster for the opener and then $700,000, divided into payments of $43,750, for each of the remaining 16 weeks that he's on the active roster.
A source close to the situation said Tauscher and his agent, David Cornrich, privately had registered their dissatisfaction with team officials about the six-year, $16.5 million deal that he signed in November 2002. Tauscher's point was that he had outperformed it.
That contract, which averaged $2.776 million, ranked Tauscher 14th on the team in average-per-year compensation. His new deal, which averages $4.515 million, moves him past Scott Wells, A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins and Bubba Franks and into ninth place.
Among the 64 starting tackles on opening day, Tauscher would have ranked 37th with his previous average-per-year compensation. With his new deal, he leapfrogged to 23rd. In July, Pro Football Weekly ranked him as the league's 22nd-best tackle.
Left tackle Chad Clifton, who has 97 starts in seven-plus seasons compared with 93 for Tauscher, leads the offensive line with an average of $5.392 million per year.
"If they did, I think it's very well deserved," said defensive end Aaron Kampman, who opposes Tauscher daily in practice. "They put him on an island a lot and people don't get production off him."
The Packers gave Tauscher the chance to earn the extra $2.8 million without getting anything in return. Because his contract wasn't extended, Tauscher still would become an unrestricted free agent in March 2009.
Whether the team even tried for a long-term extension that would have ensured that Tauscher ended his career in his home state is unknown.
"There's a lot of discussions that go on in a deal like that," Thompson said. "This is where the two parties felt comfortable."
It's possible that the Packers think Tony Moll will be ready to replace Tauscher in two years, if not sooner. Tauscher, 30, isn't as massive as many right tackles and, as a result, has left something to be desired as a run blocker.
However, the Packers also are well aware that Tauscher, a seventh-round draft choice in 2000, has allowed merely 12 sacks in his career mainly because of his resourcefulness, balance and technique.
"I think he's doing OK," Thompson replied when asked how Tauscher had started the season. "He's been a good pro here for a long time and we like him being here. Offensive linemen are pretty much in their prime about this time. We'll see. He's been relatively healthy."
Tauscher missed five games last season with a torn groin but impressed the coaches by returning for the final two weeks.
In September 2002, Tauscher blew out his knee in New Orleans and underwent reconstructive knee surgery. Two months later, with limited leverage, he decided to take a signing bonus of merely $1.5 million in return for a six-year extension. He had to wait until March 2004 to cash a roster bonus of $2.25 million.
Ever the good soldier, Tauscher didn't complain about his contract even as compensation for offensive linemen skyrocketed. In effect, the club probably was doing him a favor in return for his performance and loyalty.
Harris got $4 million in roster bonuses over the remaining three years of his contract but in return had to extend his contract two extra years.
In August, the Packers added one year to Donald Driver's deal. In return, Driver received $6.3 million in roster and workout bonuses from 2007-'09 and so-called "new money" totaling $4.2 million in 2010.
Like Tauscher, Harris and Driver must be on the 45-man roster to cash the roster bonuses.
"Philosophically, we feel like it's important for the club to recognize that the landscape changed a little bit with the collective bargaining agreement," Thompson said. "This is a mechanism that we've used to kind of help bridge that."
Not along ago, the Packers were averse to renegotiations. They refused to offer more money to Javon Walker in 2005 after he had outperformed the last two years on his contract, then traded the embittered wide receiver in April 2006.
"If you've got a happy locker room with guys that are happy about the business side of it and are enthusiastic about playing, you've got a really good football team," Harris said. "There's no bitchin'. None at all. Not that I know of."
Tauscher now counts $4.743 million against the salary cap, leaving the Packers $11.975 million of room.
"I think Ted's making a statement," Harris said. "They say there's no loyalty in the game, and in some cases that is true. But it really, really means a lot to players when they do come and take care of you.
"Money is a big thing, a real big thing. The thing about it is, if you're feeling you're underpaid, it's hard to go out every Sunday. Last year was hard for me. Ted really did (listen)."
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