Jennings is a good dude and a great football player. While I agree that my comparison to Finley isn't fair, my point is that I'm growing a bit tired of hearing him talk about his contract situation, especially when he stated he wouldn't be.
While I'd like to see Jennings stay in GB at a reasonable price, I don't think it's going to happen. There's too many things going against that grain:
- Age: While he's not old, he's not a pup either
- Price: He's going to want and deserve a lot of money. I don't think GB pays it.
- Other Contracts: You can only pay so many. CMIII, Raji and Rodgers are priorities.
- Other receivers: Jordy, Jones and Cobb offer plenty of talent at the WR position.
The only way I can see GB signing GJ is if they create money elsewhere. Cutting Driver is a given. Restructuring Hawk and Woodson might happen too. Finley might be gone too.
I think Finley will definitely be gone. I could see Hawk being jettisoned also if he isn't willing to restructure. I have a hunch Woodson will restructure. Here are the 2013 FA's:
Cedric Benson
Greg Jennings
Donald Driver
Sam Shields (RFA)
Jarrett Boykin (RFA)
Tom Crabtree
Evan Dietrich-Smith
Robert Francois (RFA)
Ryan Grant
DuJuan Harris
Brad Jones
Jeremy Ross
Erik Walden
Frank Zombo
Outside of the top 3 (Benson, Jennings, Driver) I don't see anyone who I don't think will be re-signed. Some think Walden won't be re-signed, but I think he will test the market, it will be cold, and ultimately he will be back for a modest deal. Drive will retire IMO and Jennings will move on. Benson I think will return for less than what he signed this past offseason.
This offseason and 2013 season will be interesting with contracts. 2014 FA's are:
Clay Matthews
Mike Neal
Morgan Burnett
BJ Raji
Ryan Pickett
Marshall Newhouse
MD Jennings
CJ Wilson
James Jones
Clay is going to be the priority IMO, followed by Raji. I think James Jones gets a new deal in the offseason, maybe also Burnett. It will be interesting to see how this plays out though.
Cedric Benson
Greg Jennings
Donald Driver
Sam Shields (RFA)
Jarrett Boykin (RFA)
Tom Crabtree
Evan Dietrich-Smith
Robert Francois (RFA)
Ryan Grant
DuJuan Harris
Brad Jones
Jeremy Ross
Erik Walden
Frank Zombo
Outside of the top 3 (Benson, Jennings, Driver) I don't see anyone who I don't think will be re-signed. Some think Walden won't be re-signed, but I think he will test the market, it will be cold, and ultimately he will be back for a modest deal. Drive will retire IMO and Jennings will move on. Benson I think will return for less than what he signed this past offseason.
This offseason and 2013 season will be interesting with contracts. 2014 FA's are:
Clay Matthews
Mike Neal
Morgan Burnett
BJ Raji
Ryan Pickett
Marshall Newhouse
MD Jennings
CJ Wilson
James Jones
Clay is going to be the priority IMO, followed by Raji. I think James Jones gets a new deal in the offseason, maybe also Burnett. It will be interesting to see how this plays out though.
I don't think Finley is gone, they got a good price for him, and will let him play out the contract and then see him off. Plus it might take next year to see how Quarless is improving, so it would be a good safety blanket to have Finley at the modest contract they signed him to last year.
As for 2013 FA, Shields has to be re-signed, Walden, EDS, and Jones, I would think would be priorities.
2014 is a monster and hopefully the cap goes up, to get these guys signed, but priorities, IMO, are.... CM3, Raji, Burnett, JJ, Newhouse, Neal and the Doctor.
JJ and Burnett might get new deals this year, since they have played extrememly well.
Isn't AR up in 2014 as well?
As for 2013 FA, Shields has to be re-signed, Walden, EDS, and Jones, I would think would be priorities.
2014 is a monster and hopefully the cap goes up, to get these guys signed, but priorities, IMO, are.... CM3, Raji, Burnett, JJ, Newhouse, Neal and the Doctor.
JJ and Burnett might get new deals this year, since they have played extrememly well.
Isn't AR up in 2014 as well?
The only three guys this offseason they need to sign are Shields, Jones and Harris. I think those three guys can be long-term pieces. Every other player is replaceable so if they're not willing to come back for the minimum (or close to it), then they're gone. I think most will be back though, save Francois, Grant, and Zombo. When everyone is healthy, those three guys are completely buried on the depth chart.
2013 is going to be interesting. They need to start negotiating these contracts ASAP, b/c all 9 of those guys are significant pieces on this team and most are young players that are really coming into their prime. Thank you TT for stocking this team with talent each year, b/c there is a chance that he won't be able to bring all those guys back.
2013 is going to be interesting. They need to start negotiating these contracts ASAP, b/c all 9 of those guys are significant pieces on this team and most are young players that are really coming into their prime. Thank you TT for stocking this team with talent each year, b/c there is a chance that he won't be able to bring all those guys back.
quote:Here are the 2013 FA's:
Sam Shields (RFA)
Oh boy...
That Rodgers guy is playing on a peanuts contract.
Rodgers is a FA in the 2015 offseason.
He's not that badly underpaid. He's 5th among QBs in terms of base salary with 8 mil. this year. His cap hit is peanuts compared to Manning and Sam Bradford though. In 2013 his base goes up to 9.25, which won't be in the top 10 for QBs, but is only 500,000 less than what Brady will be making (he's far ahead of Brady in 2012 though). He will be 10th among QBs for base salary in 2014 making 10.5. He's making competitive money, it seems like he realizes the importance of not being greedy though...something Tom Brady also seems to recognize while Peyton Manning does not.
He's not that badly underpaid. He's 5th among QBs in terms of base salary with 8 mil. this year. His cap hit is peanuts compared to Manning and Sam Bradford though. In 2013 his base goes up to 9.25, which won't be in the top 10 for QBs, but is only 500,000 less than what Brady will be making (he's far ahead of Brady in 2012 though). He will be 10th among QBs for base salary in 2014 making 10.5. He's making competitive money, it seems like he realizes the importance of not being greedy though...something Tom Brady also seems to recognize while Peyton Manning does not.
All the other QB's got large signing bonuses.
My memory could be off, but it seems to me there was a lot of yapping from Jennings before he signed his last contract. Could just be his style, but the timing of his injuries sure sucks for him. Maybe a big flurry in the playoffs could help TT overlook it, but absent that, he'll be paid big elsewhere.
TT's record on people like Wells, Ahman Green, Jenkins, Javon Walker, etc., is pretty good.
TT's record on people like Wells, Ahman Green, Jenkins, Javon Walker, etc., is pretty good.
quote:Originally posted by Hungry5:
Certainly part of this is Cobb's ability/emergence, but a bigger part IMO is the time Jennings and Jordy have missed.
@Packerpedia
With 4 more receptions, Randall Cobb would break Greg Jennings' career high for receptions in a season (80 in '08).
That's one of the more interesting stats I've seen. I suppose you can say Cobb has officially replaced Jennings, especially considering his versatility. The fact that he's only in his second year is good news as well.
I think TT can totally let Cobb become the franchise WR at this point and let Jennings get his payday elsewhere. Cobb will want his payday at some point as well and there's no way he's going to pay for two #1 WR's.
PackerUpdate
The Green Bay Packers will be spending a lot of money in the next 15 months. A lot. That’s because the organization will need to extend the contracts of two of the best players in the National Football League (Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews) – not to mention re-sign a bunch of other key contributors (i.e. B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Brad Jones, James “TD” Jones, Sam Shields and Morgan Burnett).
Considering that the salary cap isn’t expected to go up very much in the next couple of years, it’s fair to question where the Packers will find the money to keep all of these good players. Fortunately, there is an answer. By cutting the cord to a group of talented but very replaceable veterans, general manager Ted Thompson should be able to extend or re-sign the vast majority of the nine players mentioned above.
Here are the veteran players I’d be willing to sacrifice in the coming offseason. The first number in the parentheses is their scheduled base salary for 2013 and the second number is their projected cap hit for 2013):
The Green Bay Packers will be spending a lot of money in the next 15 months. A lot. That’s because the organization will need to extend the contracts of two of the best players in the National Football League (Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews) – not to mention re-sign a bunch of other key contributors (i.e. B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Brad Jones, James “TD” Jones, Sam Shields and Morgan Burnett).
Considering that the salary cap isn’t expected to go up very much in the next couple of years, it’s fair to question where the Packers will find the money to keep all of these good players. Fortunately, there is an answer. By cutting the cord to a group of talented but very replaceable veterans, general manager Ted Thompson should be able to extend or re-sign the vast majority of the nine players mentioned above.
Here are the veteran players I’d be willing to sacrifice in the coming offseason. The first number in the parentheses is their scheduled base salary for 2013 and the second number is their projected cap hit for 2013):
I think Cobb's production compared to Jennings has a lot to do with how thin they've been at WR this year with Greg and Jordy missing so much time. Through Jennings whole career there's been a ton of talent on offense and the ball has been spread around accordingly. I think it's also worth noting how much Greg opened up things for the other WR's.
I know Jennings is as good as gone but we've been extremely fortunate with WR's staying healthy before this year. You lose two next year for any amount of time and it's scary, scary thin. As good as they've been at drafting WRs it's very rare that guys come in and can be counted on in year one. If there's a young guy around (and there will be) Jennings can help him along and keep him from having to deal with too much pressure. Jennings might not have 6 years of football left but he definitely can come back strong next year.
I basically look at it as if I have to choose between keeping J-Mike or keeping Jennings for one more year I know which bet I'd put my chips on. I trust Jennings a lot more for one year at 31 years old than I do Finley at 26. If Jennings isn't happy with it, tough breaks. That's the way the cookie crumbles and he'll have to go out and make the best of it.
If I'm a DC and I see Cobb in the backfield and Jennings in the slot my head is spinning and I'm a bit worried about what's about to happen.
I know Jennings is as good as gone but we've been extremely fortunate with WR's staying healthy before this year. You lose two next year for any amount of time and it's scary, scary thin. As good as they've been at drafting WRs it's very rare that guys come in and can be counted on in year one. If there's a young guy around (and there will be) Jennings can help him along and keep him from having to deal with too much pressure. Jennings might not have 6 years of football left but he definitely can come back strong next year.
I basically look at it as if I have to choose between keeping J-Mike or keeping Jennings for one more year I know which bet I'd put my chips on. I trust Jennings a lot more for one year at 31 years old than I do Finley at 26. If Jennings isn't happy with it, tough breaks. That's the way the cookie crumbles and he'll have to go out and make the best of it.
If I'm a DC and I see Cobb in the backfield and Jennings in the slot my head is spinning and I'm a bit worried about what's about to happen.
quote:Originally posted by packerboi:
And the other part of this is that Randall Cobb is cleary Aaron's new favorite toy. Their chemistry is unquestionable and him and James Jones are who Rodgers is looking to. Cobb between the 20's. James Jones closes the deal.
He's "looking to them" only because there's been no alternative. Cobb is going to be a great receiver for many years, but if Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson are out there at full speed, Cobb isn't getting as many passes coming his way.
I hope something is worked out, and Greg stays. Greg, Jordy, Randal and James could be just a special four man receiver group.
Unless the market isn't as expected or Greg unexpectedly decides to give a rather significant Packer discount financially it just doesn't seem to work. It comes down to priorities and Greg just isn't that high on the list.
quote:
Good article, and I agree with most of his assessments. HOWEVER, he really loses me on his opinion of Desmond Bishop. He's quietly become one of the best ILBs in the NFL. He's going nowhere. I also think he sells Woodson a bit short, although there is some validity to his opinion.
PU has slowly lost me over the years. It's become one of those sites that tries to find the negative in everything. His live tweeting of games i particularly unbearable.
FDA: I agree on Bishop. I don't see him going anywhere. I'd like to think Hawk would take a pay cut to stick around.
I do agree with him on Woodson though. He's a declining football player with a huge contract. His specialty was playing the slot and CH has proven to be not only be more than capable of filling that role, but dare I say an upgrade at this point in Woody's career??
I do agree with him on Woodson though. He's a declining football player with a huge contract. His specialty was playing the slot and CH has proven to be not only be more than capable of filling that role, but dare I say an upgrade at this point in Woody's career??
quote:Originally posted by Pakrz:
I do agree with him on Woodson though. He's a declining football player with a huge contract. His specialty was playing the slot and CH has proven to be not only be more than capable of filling that role, but dare I say an upgrade at this point in Woody's career??
My opinion only, but I think the Packers not activating Woodson has as much to do with not wanting to disrupt the existing chemistry in the D backfield as it does the collarbone. Listening to Woodson and reading between the lines, I get the feeling he feels he is ready to go. It's a delicate balance for the Packers. Woodson is one of the all-time great Packers, yet it is clear he is declining and, imo, the defense is better (right now) without him.
As for Jennings . . . one of the things that really grates on me with today's professional athlete is this sense of entitlement that come through in their comments. Sure, Jennings has had a great career, made lots of big plays, but he has had HOF QB's throwing him the ball, too. He disappears (or tends to) in cold weather games, and he has been a non-contributor for a year now, going back to last season. Yet, he expects to be paid on a level like Megatron or Roddie White or Fitz? C'mon, let's be realistic. These guys, by the time they are Jennings' age, should be set for life. The risk of injury is always there, sure, but they buy into that risk when they sign on the dotted line. And no one can say they aren't well compensated to take on that risk. Jennings has been great, but I agree with others who say he just needs to STFU.
GD- Benson can't sign for less next season. He was paid the minimum this season.
Jennings has already said he wouldn't want to stick around for the franchise tag salary. If NFL.com is right, that tag number is in the area of 9.4 million for the season. I understand players want a long-term deal, but damn, I can think of worse things to have to go through.