Hawk agrees to restructuring

He's really middle-round talent and I'd be very unhappy if he was chosen anywhere in the first. That said, at least that price is much better than what he was scheduled to make.

Draft slot is irrelevant, IMHO.
Hawk has always been a good player, but just not what we need for Capers' defense.

I don't think draft slot is completely irrelevant when he's still on the team that drafted him. He's re-done his contract now a few times...mostly because the packers needed a little relief because he wasn't performing up to the value of each previous contract. I agree it's not his fault as to where he was drafted. He just hasn't fulfilled the expectations that come with a Top 5 pick.

A.J. has always been available & accountable that's why TT & MM like him. Very steady player gives the best he's got. He's not a blue chipper & so a salary adjustment seems fair to me...probably not to him. He's a class guy so we won't see or hear him bitching about the salary cut. PACKER People. Imo he'd be better in a 4-3 D.

Hawk's cap figure is going to be in the $5 Mil+ range, but the actual cash outlay over the next three seasons (if he is allowed to finish the contract) is around $10-11 Mil.

That's not terrible, and it's less per year going forward than Walden got on the open market.

Now let's see what they do to make Finley's cap # not terrible.

quote:

Originally posted by PackFoo:
"AJ, you underplayed your contract. Take less or we'll cut you."

How hard was that to fit into 140 characters?

Because you're smert

Regarding the draft position, how would you guys say the hate for Newhouse compares to Hawk? I'd classify Hawk as the epitome of league average while Newhouse probably skews just under that line, but it's a difference of the 5th overall pick and a 5th-round pick.

quote:

Originally posted by IL_Pack_Fan:
Regarding the draft position, how would you guys say the hate for Newhouse compares to Hawk? I'd classify Hawk as the epitome of league average while Newhouse probably skews just under that line, but it's a difference of the 5th overall pick and a 5th-round pick.

Fair point, but I think people see potential in Newhouse. He's still capable of getting better. Hawk is as good as he's going to get.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach:
Hawk's cap figure is going to be in the $5 Mil+ range, but the actual cash outlay over the next three seasons (if he is allowed to finish the contract) is around $10-11 Mil.

That's not terrible, and it's less per year going forward than Walden got on the open market.

Now let's see what they do to make Finley's cap # not terrible.

I think this is my only complaint with TT - his different thresholds on what constites overpaying forr a free agent vs. keeping a current Packer under contract.

If AJ Hawk was an unrestricted free agent from another team, would TT even consider giving him a 3 year $11 million deal? I don't think so...yet he renegotiates that level with him this year.

You can say the same thing with Finley; no way TT pays a guy like that $8 MM on the open market. Even if he's able to renegotiate to $6 MM, that seems excessive given what a Dustin Keller signed for.

I actually like TT's approach to free agency. But bad money is bad money -- whether it's for unrestricted free agents or your own players. There are some reasonable FA deals out there that seem preferrable to what we currently have with Hawk, Finley, Crosby, Kuhn, and even Pickett.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockin' Robin:

I think this is my only complaint with TT - his different thresholds on what constitutes overpaying for a free agent vs. keeping a current Packer under contract.

Good question and I am guessing its a case of Known vs Unknown

The Packers understand who they are and what's important in Green Bay WI, that's why they are so focused on keeping their own. Players that didn't grow up in their system will need to be assimilated and the success of that assimilation adds more uncertainty to an already risky process.
GB spends multi-millions scouting players and the ones who pass muster are ones that have been chosen through an exhaustive review - So those guys are "known" The Packers simply don't know quite as much about the guys they didn't draft because they aren't with them in practice as they morph into Pro's

While we all joke about " Packer People" but some guys just aren't a good fit in Green Bay and the ones that are get paid

The Packers training methods may be different from other teams, and players brought in from other squads may or may not have bad habits they need to un-learn. They may or may not get along with their teammates
Many large Corp's prefer hiring grads right out of college so they can be taught "the company way" without the challenge of guys saying " We did it differently at my former job"

There's many reasons the Packers choose to keep their own, and they may even pay more for those guys - what message does that send in the locker-room ?

"If you work hard here, you will be rewarded" vs "if you work hard here, we may still find another guy anyways"

It also gives them a negotiating tool in dealing with the agents. As an example, a mid-level DT named Anthony Garay signed a fat deal with the Chargers last year because they offered the most cash, only to be cut and never see that money. If you sign a deal in GB, your chances of actually seeing that money in your checking account are significantly higher than for other teams, especially ones with new coaches every other year. That carries value at the negotiating table

And finally, the Packers are exceedingly good at finding undrafted gems and developing them into NFL-caliber players. So they have a long time to get to know them , invest in them and they are willing to pay a little more knowing those guys came up in the Packer system and are hard-working players worth keeping around. With outsiders, there is a lot of uncertainty... especially since they are available for some reason.

Slow and steady, deliberate and thoughtful is the Packers way and while it drives some fans nuts in March...they'll
get over it. Those are my guesses for why GB has different thresholds for "overpaying" players

Exactly Satori.

TT has vetted his guys & he rewards them for their service especially when they perform.

If Finley isn't restructured, that says volumes about how the Packers do business.

If he is, they most likely need the cap space for rookies/other players (CM3 & Rodgers & Raji)

quote:

Originally posted by ChilliJon:
Not sure I can ever remember a starting LB under the age of 30 agreeing to have his current pay cut a little over $7 million. Not a restructure... just agreeing to lop off $7 million dollars.

Do you really want that guy as your captain on defense?

...and he is still over payed.