Official 2021 Free Agency/Trades Thread

Keep in mind, OBJ is already getting 4 million from the Browns as a parting gift. He will get that plus what GB offers. 

@packerboi posted:

Some Packers are giving not so subtle hints to the front office RE: OBJ

Do I need to tweet it again @packers 👀

— Preston Smith (@PrestonSmith94) November 9, 2021

Preston is irrelevant. This is Aaron Rodgers call as GM.

I think in the end this will be like a lot of free agency deals where he uses the threat of signing with the Packers to get more money from another playoff contender in the NFC. He will be a Saint and will be watching the NFC Championship game from his couch, not to mention the SB.

Forgot about the Saints jacked up cap. They have less than a million. KC has $3 million and GB $4 million. So if those are really his final 3 then he's not getting much $$$.

Which is why he will sign with the Eagles for $5 million.

Update: #Packers do have a one-year offer on the table that Odell Beckham Jr. is seriously considering. He wants to play in Green Bay, but does have at least one other offer that's worth more money. Tough decision looming.

— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) November 10, 2021

I hope he's figuring in the additional money he earns by playing in the playoffs.

When I first began to read the reports that OBJ was becoming available I thought “no way”. First, he is a reported cancer in the locker room. I did not want that infection. I wanted the team to stay immunized~. Yet, a half year deal for a superior player might be worth considering. And besides, if he sucks we could drop him like we did Smith after we got him from Dallas.

And I doubt that it happens anyway.

Reports are Packers are offering vet minimum. He will sign elsewhere.

Are you working as his agent on this one?

@tsr86free posted:

Reports are Packers are offering vet minimum. He will sign elsewhere.

If he wants to chase a ring he will take it.

@Fandame posted:

Yeah, that's part of the problem. Everyone saw how Rodgers got his way with Cobb and by criticizing the FO, and now everyone wants in on the action. Players openly saying to sign OBJ... the FO is now in a bind. They have to consider where does Rodgers stand given the stink he made last summer. What if they don't consult him -- does he get PO'd again? How do the rest of the receivers really feel about signing OBJ? What does Adams think about him since Adams will probably get fewer passes thrown his way and he's in a contract year?

When I step back and look at this, I feel like it could very well -- it probably is already behind the scenes -- be a real disruption.

I think the bigger issue might be what does OBJ think of playing second fiddle to Adams. They entered the league at the same time. One made a huge splash and the other had to put his head down and work his ass off to become the best wr in the league. It was a big deal when Beckham was reunited with his buddy Landry in CLE. That never worked out quite like people believed it would. Is OBJ capable of settling into a role on a well rounded offense?

Per source, the #Packers believe they have a good chance to land Odell Beckham Jr. However, a deal is NOT done and he is still weighing options and listening.

— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) November 10, 2021

And then OBJ: pic.twitter.com/aSiWTS8Owj

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 10, 2021

@artis posted:

I think the bigger issue might be what does OBJ think of playing second fiddle to Adams. They entered the league at the same time. One made a huge splash and the other had to put his head down and work his ass off to become the best wr in the league. It was a big deal when Beckham was reunited with his buddy Landry in CLE. That never worked out quite like people believed it would. Is OBJ capable of settling into a role on a well rounded offense?

I haven’t been able to find the quote, but I saw something from a Cleveland sportswriter saying OBJ worked his tail off as a blocker in the run game (and was quite good) and accepted a role as a decoy for most of his Cleveland stint.

For me, it's a question of does he have MVS speed or better. That would seem to be his only value at WR. We've got plenty of slower guys on the roster already.

@by_JBH: Odell Beckham Jr.'s deal with the Browns included offset language, per @JFowlerESPN. If so, neither the Packers nor Beckham have incentive to go higher than the veteran minimum.

If true then Beckham would be crazy not to sign with GB, IMO

@ilcuqui posted:

I haven’t been able to find the quote, but I saw something from a Cleveland sportswriter saying OBJ worked his tail off as a blocker in the run game (and was quite good) and accepted a role as a decoy for most of his Cleveland stint.

Yeah, by all accounts, he was pretty quiet during his time there. He was also a nonfactor much of the time. He blames Mayfield for that. He blamed Eli when things got bad in NY. I'm not saying it couldn't work out. But are you willing to potentially blow up what is probably a last chance at a ring by taking a chance on this guy? I don't know that he brings anything to that unit that they don't already possess. They have great blocking wrs. MVS speed in tandem with 17 opens things up for other guys. And Beckham's burst at this point is highly questionable.

What is "offset language" exactly?

If you bring him in and he sucks or is a dick  in the locker room then cut his ass like you did Jaylon Smith. Not to be cold, but that’s the advantage in dealing with these players who have been cut and cleared waivers. I think we all appreciate the look the front office has been giving these type of players. Quite a departure from years past. A lot to gain, not a ton to lose.

Re: offset language…

As I understand it, any new salary will be used to offset what a player is owed from his previous team. Cleveland is on the hook for $4 million at present, that will be reduced by the amount of any contract with a new team.

So unless a team is willing to pay OBJ more than $4 million for the rest of the season, his total remaining earnings are capped at $4 million.

Hence, why offer him more than the minimum if his total earnings (Cleveland + new team) are set at $4 million?

@PackerPatrick posted:

When I first began to read the reports that OBJ was becoming available I thought “no way”. First, he is a reported cancer in the locker room.

It seems there are plenty of teammates who really liked and respected him too.  

ok @obj you playing hard ball!, well i will give you 2 cases of my award winning Vodka @LeapSpirits i will even sign the bottles if you come to the @packers 🙏🏽

— leroy butler (@leap36) November 10, 2021

A key person is recruiting :

#Packers WR Davante Adams said his hopes for the #Packers signing OBJ are high. He said they have talked. "Just let him know he's got a home over here if he wants to come," Adams said.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) November 10, 2021

LeRoy ups the ante!

Does anyone else cringe sometimes when LeRoy says or posts some stuff? I love the guy, but sometimes like on WSSP he goes off on these tangents where I have no idea what he ends up talking about bu the end of the segment……

allegedly

I'm afraid to google him because I don't recall why he split from NYG, and the Cleveland thing is a clown show. On the other hand the dude can ball right?

Not seeing a huge downside to signing him for the rest of the year.

@Tavis Smiley posted:

Does anyone else cringe sometimes when LeRoy says or posts some stuff? I love the guy, but sometimes like on WSSP he goes off on these tangents where I have no idea what he ends up talking about bu the end of the segment……

allegedly

see I love it.  36 is a packer forever, more important he's a WI guy ...could be in FL - but he chooses WI - that's cool.

Isn't it also possible that the other mystery team is offering a multi-year deal as opposed to one and done?

@Schultz_Report: Odell Beckham, Jr. Update: #Pats are making a “strong push” to sign OBJ, source says. Belichick wants Beckham on the roster badly.

If the Packers sign OBJ to a longer deal, pretty much means they are giving up on re-signing 17. Don't think there's enough cap for both of them.

@Tavis Smiley posted:

Does anyone else cringe sometimes when LeRoy says or posts some stuff? I love the guy, but sometimes like on WSSP he goes off on these tangents where I have no idea what he ends up talking about bu the end of the segment……

allegedly

He wore leg braces as a child. Leave him alone.

@ilcuqui posted:

@Schultz_Report: Odell Beckham, Jr. Update: #Pats are making a “strong push” to sign OBJ, source says. Belichick wants Beckham on the roster badly.

Playing for a slightly above .500 team with a rookie QB that has an outside chance of making the playoffs as a WC team.

OBJ would be better off staying in CLE. 

@Chongo posted:

If the Packers sign OBJ to a longer deal, pretty much means they are giving up on re-signing 17. Don't think there's enough cap for both of them.

Then I for one don’t want him.....I want #17 to get ALL and MORE he deserves it and I don’t want nothin or anyone getting in the way of that.

This is all theater to get the Packers to up their offer. Call his agents bluff...he needs the Packers more than the Packers need him.

@artis posted:

I don't know that he brings anything to that unit that they don't already possess. They have great blocking wrs. MVS speed in tandem with 17 opens things up for other guys. And Beckham's burst at this point is highly questionable.

OBJ, if even he lost some speed, would immediately become the second best WR on the team.  I like the Packers receiving Corp, but he would be a significant upgrade. Significant.

As far as a contract being offset and him signing elsewhere, I would assume another team(s) is considering paying him more than what the Browns owe him for this year (doubtful), or another team(s) is considering giving him a contract beyond this half season (which would be presumably more money).

Regarding his potential of being a problem, if he’s only signed for this season, he’s easily cut without a problem.

@Chongo posted:

This is all theater to get the Packers to up their offer. Call his agents bluff...he needs the Packers more than the Packers need him.

I believe they will call his bluff.  That’s the beauty of the position GB is in.  The don’t really need to sign him. He’d be a luxury (maybe).

If he signs in NE for a multi year deal than he values being the primary target over winning.  That's fine, that's just not what we are looking for.   

If he wants a shot at a title, he can come here and get his 4 million from CLE while seeing what it feels like to play with a top QB in the playoffs.

I'm just happy that we are finally offering guys like this the chance to make that choice. 

@H5 posted:

ok @obj you playing hard ball!, well i will give you 2 cases of my award winning Vodka @LeapSpirits i will even sign the bottles if you come to the @packers 🙏🏽

— leroy butler (@leap36) November 10, 2021

Can we get Charles Woodson to throw in a couple cases of wine>?

@Chongo posted:

This is all theater to get the Packers to up their offer. Call his agents bluff...he needs the Packers more than the Packers need him.

If it's true about the offset language he's getting vet minimum period. No one is paying him over $4 million for half a season.

Depends on how bad Bellicheat wants him and for how long.

Possible the Packers *could* add 4 different All-Pros to a 7-2 football team between now and the end of the season. Bakhtiari is off the PUP list, Beckham is still a possibility, and you certainly get the sense that the Packers are optimistic about Za'Darius and Jaire.

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) November 10, 2021

Today was the first day Alexander was seen at practice.