DID DONALD DRIVER SIGN AN EXTENSION? RUMOR

[MJZiggy]

Grady Jackson played his ass off in Green Bay, was greatly underpaid given his contribution, compared to his peers at his position around the league. He didn't get his contract redone because he lacked the bargaining position (age & health were shaky.) Players are not paid out of loyalty or fairness.
The "good guys get paid" theory is a fairy tale.

Then how do you explain Tauscher's getting paid while waiting for a knee to heal. He didn't have great bargaining power according to your theory but was a "good guy" who got paid.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I doubt he woudl have held.

There are many underpaid players across the league. Not too many of them hold out. Look at Green.

Green is not underpaid.

Players don't stay underpaid for long, unless they are pushing up against retirement like Grady Jackson.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Then how do you explain Tauscher's getting paid while waiting for a knee to heal. He didn't have great bargaining power according to your theory but was a "good guy" who got paid.

Tauscher was a young guy that the Packers wanted to keep for the long term. That was his bargaining position.

Tauscher's deal was backloaded, much like Walker's deal is with Denver. Packer's didn't take that much risk. Either is Denver. Seems fair to all parties.

[RashanGary]

Walker was on a dominate offense. The offense was top 5 in the league before Walker really came on.

They had a DOMINATE power running attack that loosened up the defense for Walker to make explosive players. Brett Favre might be the best QB in the league when it comes to letting his guys make plays. Walker was in a pretty ideal situation to shine while Sherman, Favre, Green and one of the NFL's premier run blocking and pass blocking O-lines.

We'll see how good Walker is but he had it made in GB. Denver is a pretty good situation but guys like Owens and Moss do it year after year on not so great offenses. Walker was asking for Owens/Moss money. We'll see if he's worth it. I doubt it.

[Scott Campbell]

Walker is in jeopardy because of injury, not because of his holdout. I think he has a 50-50 chance of collecting a big contract.

50/50 - huh?

I can't imagine how well he'll have to play to earn that $10M bonus for what amounts to the club as nothing more than a 1 year deal.

[Scott Campbell]

Tauscher's deal was backloaded, much like Walker's deal is with Denver. Packer's didn't take that much risk. Either is Denver. Seems fair to all parties.

Much risk? Denver is taking on virtually no risk. A second round pick and a million bucks is all they've put on the line.

[RashanGary]

Favre just throws it out there and gives his guys a chance. I don't think he'll get the oppertunity to shine that he had here. Recievers want to play with Brett Favre.

[Scott Campbell]

Tauscher's deal was backloaded, much like Walker's deal is with Denver.

I'll never classify a deal with a second year $10M bonus as "backloaded".

[Scott Campbell]

Favre just throws it out there and gives his guys a chance. I don't think he'll get the oppertunity to shine that he had here. Recievers want to play with Brett Favre.

I wonder if Jake read Javon's comments comparing his play to military service. There's not one guy I know of in the NFL that is more likely to hold that statement against him.

[retailguy]

I disagree. Al Harris had his bargaining position enhanced because he was not stupid enough to hold out.

Losing McKenzie was a huge blow to the Packers, one that they are still recovering from. Al Harris became much more valuable to the Packers when McKEnzie went AWOL. A holdout by Harris would have been devestating.

Well, I guess it is all supposition. However, if you take ALL the statements that McCarthy and Thompson have made, what it equals for me, is that they say they are going to "take care of Packer People".

Who is Driver if not a "Packer Person". He, in my mind anyhow, fits that definition to a "T". No pun intended. Grady didn't get paid, because Grady didn't honor the terms of his contract. He came in out of shape every year, and didn't work the offseason program. The Packers honored the contract they gave him, but essentially said, you didn't earn an increase. Then he held out, and that was the "kiss of death". He wasn't that great to put up with the crap.

JW, on the other hand, proved he didn't put the Packers above all else. He proved he'd be just as happy elsewhere, and now his wish was granted. Same with McKenzie. Neither one will have the same career opportunities after football that they would have had if they had stayed in GB. Walkers young enough he may have them in Denver, but McKenzie won't.

Driver, whether he puts the Packers ahead of everything else, or not, SAYS THAT HE DOES. He got rewarded for two principle reasons in my mind, he was the consummate team player, AND his contract was undervalued. I think that both were key, or NOTHING would have been done. Hold out or not.

[Scott Campbell]

Mark Tauscher is scheduled to earn - $2.25 million in '06, $3 million in '07 and $3.5 million in '08. That does not fit my definition of a backloaded contract. He was and is likely to see all of that money.

A backloaded contract is one that inflates the final year or two of a contract by a ridiculous amount that is unlikely to be earned. See Bubba's, Woodson's or Wahle's deal. It is done to inflate the value of the contract to pad the resume of the agent and the ego of the player. Or as some speculate in the case of Wahle, it is structured by the player's agent to eventually get him out of a city he doesn't like.

[RashanGary]

I think H.H. was saying the contract isn't soemthing the team had ot pay if they didn't want to.

Pack could cut Tausch risk free. Den could cut Walk risk free.

[Scott Campbell]

I think H.H. was saying the contract isn't soemthing the team had ot pay if they didn't want to.

Pack could cut Tausch risk free. Den could cut Walk risk free.

Tauscher got a 50% bigger signing bonus than Walker, and that was like 3 or 4 years ago. It's hard to say what his $1.5M signing bonus would have been worth this year, given the extrodinary jump in the salary cap. It certainly represented a greater percentage of the Packer's available cap space.

[RashanGary]

That kind of shows you how rediculous Walkers request was. Agents are like vulchers. They sense weakness. Rosenhaus figured Thompson being a first time GM would be pressured into doing what he needed to not lose his job. Thompson stood strong. I doubt too many other players will consider doing what Walker did. I think Thompson will redo contracts early but they won't be 6 year 40 million dollar blockbusters. They'll probably be 4 year 17 million dollar deals to players who stand a good chance to earn it.

[Partial]

Unless Walker is a pro-bowler next year, no way does he see that next year of the contract. I think that contract is an incredible risk for Denver. They gave us a phenominal pick in exchange for what very well could be a one-year endevour.