He'll go to the bares to replace Marshall.
First significant play of his career there will be tackling Peppers just after a pick-6
Mark it down!
I can see that happening. The only way Jennings gets anywhere close to the money he wants is if he goes to a team that's rebuilding and the Bears fit that description.
Brees is going nowhere. He and Payton are joined at the hip, like Brady-Belichick and Rodgers-McCarthy. Those are just rumors.
As for your first question, the Saints ended up in salary cap hell. Therefore, it was a given that some contracts would be restructured and some high-priced players would be sent packin' in trades. My initial reaction to the Jimmy Graham trade was one of shock and a loud "WTF?!" However, once the reality of the trade sunk in, I've become okay with it. Jimmy's offensive production will be greatly missed, no doubt, as he was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses on passing plays, but his inability/unwillingness to block like a more traditional TE and his sub-par season last year (especially after getting the biggest payday for a TE) made him more expendable.
At the end of the Saints' dismal season last year, Payton promised major changes and now we see that he wasn't joking. He's becoming more like his mentor Bill Parcells as he gets older: Those who are all-in will stay and those who aren't will go. It's also the thought-process behind trading Kenny Stills to Miami and Ben Grubbs to KC. It's been reported that Brees had a problem with both players and questioned their work ethic. I believe that to be the case, especially with Stills.
Last preseason, the Saints were the favorites on some NFL analysts' lists to go to the Super Bowl. Then everything went tits up, especially on the defensive side of the ball. When things go awry that quickly, anything less than a seismic shakeup of the team won't do. Personally, I welcome it. Get rid of the dead weight on the roster and replace them with players who want to be here and contribute. It's going to take some time and doing, but I'm confident that the ship will be righted.
Getting Unger and a first-round pick in the Graham trade definitely softened the blow. A Pro Bowl center provides the perfect anchor for an OLine and the Saints' OLine has regressed over the last two seasons. Brees took more hits than normal and occasionally had to run the ball himself to move the chains, which was uncharacteristic for him.
As for Jimmy, Seattle will end up having to restructure his contract because their top priority right now is giving Russell Wilson his payday. Meanwhile, the Saints have some quality free agents (Unger, Browner, Spiller) and they're stockpiling draft picks. As long as they hit on the majority of those picks, they'll be just fine.
Fans can always find ways to rationalize anything their favorite team does.
I doubt Jennings was dumb enough to think he had any chance to play out that contract with the Vikings.
He built a big house in the Twin Cities and talked about wanting to stay there after retirement. He fully expected to stay in Minnesota for the 5 year contract. He really was stupid and arrogant enough to think he was going to make Christian Ponder into a Pro Bowl QB. That stuff his sister was Tweeting about Rodgers being an average talent surrounded by stars wasn't just her opinion, those were Gerg's feelings, too.
Nah, the housing market is rebounding so it's not a bad idea either way.
Temp job in Tampa. Sweet, if you can get it.
@AdamSchefter: So one of last year's free agent prizes, DE Michael Johnson, makes big money in Tampa before returning to Cincinnati.
@RapSheet: Former #Bengals DE Michael Johnson is again current #Bengals DE. He reached a deal with Cincy, as @AdamSchefter said. 4-year agreement.
@JasonLaCanfora: Michael Johnson cashing in with new deal with Bengals. Was already due $7M from Tampa and with no offsets now set to make about $14M in '15.
@PackerUpdate: Should be wearing a mask because he stole money from the Bucs.
Thinking the Wallace/Jennings thing over. Doesn't it have a fairly strong whiff of Wilf telling Spielman to get Wallace at any cost two years ago, settling on Jennings, then scuttling Jennings the instant Wallace became attainable?
Clown show! It gets better with Williams, Bucs, Bengals:
@adbrandt: Michael Johnson made $16M last year w/Bucs. Released, but to make $4M roster bonus, $3M salary from them (while playing for Bengals).
@pauldehnerjr: Funny aspect: Bengals will get a third round compensatory pick this year for losing MJ [to Bucs in 2014] even as he's back on team [in 2015].
Kind of bummed out that the Saints now appear to be done with their cap-saving measures and somehow ILB David Hawthrone is still with the team. Certainly not a star player, but he would have been a good player to add to the Packer's ILB group.
Temp job in Tampa. Sweet, if you can get it.
@AdamSchefter: So one of last year's free agent prizes, DE Michael Johnson, makes big money in Tampa before returning to Cincinnati.
Interesting to note that he chose Marvin Lewis's bungles over the Zimmers' Vikes
He chose Dalton over Bridgeunderwater too.
How bad do you suck when an FA picks the bungles over your squad ?
To be fair, Johnson played for the Bengals prior to last season. That probably had a lot to do with his choice.
And who was his defensive coach when he played for the bengals ?
Who was the guy credited with creating the stout defense in Cincy that allowed Johnson to reap multi-millions on a FA contract ?
Oh, that's right. vikings head coach Mike Zimmer
Was trying to tell my Vikings fan buddy that having Johnson hang out all day in Minny was not a good sign. He was convinced they had signed him. Never mind that he had heard a rumor that Tampa were willing to trade Johnson and the number 1 pick for Peterson. That would be the dumbest trade in NFL history.
Didn't prevent him from skipping to Tampa.
Have to think he visited Minny on Zimmers request. Maybe Rick didn't like the money involved. Maybe he didn't have the cap $$$. Maybe Rick is a dumbass (most likley)
One of the potential nasty byproducts of dabbling deep in the FA pool are the hurt feelings that might arise if a player someone wants Isnt a player another person wants.
Viking fan chimes in on Johnson:
"Even though my initial thoughts were that he would be a great addition, 26 sacks in 5 seasons under Zimmer in Cincy are certainly not big numbers, and the fact that Tampa let him go also speaks to certain red flags"
You know, as opposed to Mike Wallace who Miami begged to stay. Clown show.
Clown show! It gets better with Williams, Bucs, Bengals:
@adbrandt: Michael Johnson made $16M last year w/Bucs. Released, but to make $4M roster bonus, $3M salary from them (while playing for Bengals).
@pauldehnerjr: Funny aspect: Bengals will get a third round compensatory pick this year for losing MJ [to Bucs in 2014] even as he's back on team [in 2015].
The Bengals really like cake, huh?
And who was his defensive coach when he played for the bengals ?
Who was the guy credited with creating the stout defense in Cincy that allowed Johnson to reap multi-millions on a FA contract ?
Oh, that's right. vikings head coach Mike Zimmer
So the fact that Zimmer was his defensive coordinator supersedes the four years he spent living and playing in Cincinnati and the countless close friends he made while there? OK. Got it.
He left all of his good friends, connections, charities and goodwill for a little more money 12 months ago.
If he doesn't place much value on them, why do you ?
Clown show! It gets better with Williams, Bucs, Bengals:
@adbrandt: Michael Johnson made $16M last year w/Bucs. Released, but to make $4M roster bonus, $3M salary from them (while playing for Bengals).
@pauldehnerjr: Funny aspect: Bengals will get a third round compensatory pick this year for losing MJ [to Bucs in 2014] even as he's back on team [in 2015].
Wow, I want to see how Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht spins that to the Buc fans.
I'm not saying it's not the right move, just one hell of a tough sell.
To be fair, Johnson played for the Bengals prior to last season. That probably had a lot to do with his choice.
Or maybe he still has a house in Cinncy. And Gerg Jennings wanted to much for his in Minny.
NFLPA is meeting to vote on the next executive director tonight.
At the Four Seasons on Maui.
Clown shows breaking out all over right now.
Not good when the QB will be closer to 37 than 36 when the upcoming season ends. He will be tough to replace with anything even close to comparable. The Packers were soooo fortunate to have Rodgers follow Favre. Twenty-three consecutive years (and counting) of the caliber of QB they've had is truly a sports blessing.
Not unexpected. Don't think they are bringing Ryan Pickett back.
@RapSheet: Former #Patriots DT Vince Wilfork is in Houston visiting the #Texans, source says. Familiarity with DC Romeo Crennel is key.
Possible bargain for Washington as he will be given every chance to secure starting job. Safety play in Washington even worse than MD Jennings/McMillan level past couple of seasons.
@RapSheet: The #Redskins are signing safety & ST Jeron Johnson to a 2-year deal worth $4M, source said. He visited this weekend.
@AlbertBreer: Johnson is an interesting signing for the Skins. GM Scot McCloughan knows him from Seattle, and Seahawks have been incredible in ID'ing DBs.
Jerrah can take the flak. He always does.
america's team and all that.
@fishsports: BREAKING: sources tell me #Cowboys are negotiating to sign FA defensive end Greg Hardy @1053thefan
And this rumint. Pete is a playahs' coach, you know.
@JasonLaCanfora: Took the temp of a lot of teams on Greg Hardy over the weekend, came away with the sense DAL and SEA could emerge as legit suitors
Good vet let go by Miami after they signed donkey kong. Probably a good signing.
@RapSheet: DT Randy Starks is signing a 2-year deal with the #Browns worth roughly $8M, source said.
Chip is just trolling everybody now.
@AdamSchefter: Tim Tebow is working out today for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Damn it!
@AdamSchefter: Former Packers CB Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
Just hate losing him. Good player still, better leader and locker room influence.
Ouch. CB depth is hurting
@RapSheet: The #Browns are signing CB Tramon Williams to a 3-year worth $21M, source said. It’s his 32nd birthday.
@RobDemovsky: Tramon Williams gets three years from the Browns. Indications were the #Packers were offering two years.
@WesHod: Tramon Williams with #Packers: 127 regular-season games, 464 tackles, 115 deflections, 28 INTs. Not a bad run for a former undrafted CB.
A lot more than what Packers were rumored to have on the table.
Saw a factoid this weekend that there is no NFL corner currently on a roster (as of this weekend) 31 years or older. Tramon trying to beat Father Time. I wish him well, one of Ted's best finds.
No Bueno.
Heyward is more of a Zone corner where he can play off instincts than an outside man corner. Hyde lacks the speed to play outside. Gonna need the wizard to get creative to cover up that spot this season.
Good for Tramon, hope he got most of it guaranteed and didn't let his agent talk him into a all show no dough contract.
$7 million? Wow....didn't think he'd get more than $5 mill from anybody
Nice contract for Tramon.
Good summary here on Packer CB options. The undrafted practice squad guy sounds intriguing. Go to work, Joe Whitt.
Disappointed to see Tramon leave, but can't blame him a bit with those numbers. Pretty evident now that exposing Jumal Rolle to waivers was a big mistake by TT.
