God needs to step in here.
This is as close to the Reggie White courtship as we'll likely see. We know how that turned out. Get it done, Jehovah.
Per CBS Sports, Packers still #1 spot to land Jones:
1. Green Bay Packers
Approximate Cap Space: (-)$6.5 million
They have the inside track to landing Jones, but they'll have to truly massage the cap to get him the numbers he feels he deserves, and his decision to not accept their 2020 offer indicates they didn't work it over enough. It'll be just as difficult to do so in an offseason where they're in the red and need to make moves simply to get into league compliance by mid-March, but Jones also has to know not every team has a talent like Aaron Rodgers at quarterback or a wideout like Davante Adams at receiver. Those two variables allow Jones to operate more freely in the offense -- opposing defenses being forced to scheme for the macro and not the micro -- and he might find it much more challenging to rack up numbers with less talented players around him. That isn't to say he won't still be able to, but it is to say it's an NFL reality that warrants consideration.
NFL free agency 2021: Packers' Aaron Jones has several attractive potential landing spots (msn.com)
Still do not see it happening but have also heard on local radio here the Packers remain "very interested" in signing him. That tells me if they are bent on keeping Jones, they may have no choice but to tag him.
And that hasn't happened since Ryan Pickett in 2010.
@FLPACKER posted:Multiple reports today say it is down to us, Bills, & Titans.
That all started with Clayton's report and he later qualified that it's not down to three but they are the front runners. Over a dozen teams still in the hunt.
If you're goal is to be competitive every year you don't sign Watt. If you're goal is to win a Superb Owl in the next couple of years you do it. I'm over 60.Sign his ass!
Russell Wilson’s camp has broached trade destinations with the Seahawks, per @MikeDugar, @SandoNFL and @JaysonJenks
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2021
The Dolphins, Jets, Saints and Raiders have been mentioned. Some people in the NFL think a trade could happen “in the near future.”
🍿 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/70ONjhVMmJ
Being in the cap situatation they're in, I guess I just can't see how they would keep Jones with Dillon drafted in RD3 and showing what he did last year. Especially if Gutewatt happens.
Given Deshaun Watson wants out of Houston, a crazy trade scenario where the Jags wind up with picks 2 & 3 (plus Sam Darnold) while the Texans get Trevor Lawrence and the Jets get Tua while Watson winds up in Miami: https://t.co/lcpb7Iuums @RealMichaelKay @DonLagreca
— Gekko Pap (@Gekko_Pap) February 25, 2021
If Watt's Happining happens, Jones is gone. If it Happens, sign Williams
If Russ Wilson is truly on the trade market that’s not good news for Deshaun Watson. There’s only so many destinations either guy can land given the draft capital necessary to acquire either of them.
It’s really the Dolphins and the Jets and the Jags.
The Dolphins have the most to gain because they have a decent roster, Tua, and two 1st rounders this year. That would be appealing to either Seattle or Houston as I think it would take Miami’s two 1st rounders and Tua to get one of them. It would also be important to Miami as they could instantly become a contender to Buffalo and KC for AFC supremacy.
The Saints are underwater on the cap. The Bores are a mess. Dallas? Haven’t they committed to Dak? And Vegas, is well, Vegas.
@Tschmack posted:The Saints are underwater on the cap. The Bores are a mess. Dallas? Haven’t they committed to Dak? And Vegas, is well, Vegas.
You summed up what I think Pikes Peak was getting at nicely.
Crap, I don’t want Mr. X Badger anywhere near Chicago....... 😡 😡 😡
I say go all in for 2021 and 2022, then transition to Love in 2023 when GB goes into cap hell. Rodgers will be 40 then and probably makes sense to move on. Restructure every contract on the books to push the cap hits to 2023 and 2024, when you can move on from all those veterans to shed salary.
Free-agent defensive lineman J.J. Watt has received contract offers from multiple teams, league sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.
Multiple sources told Russini that the most lucrative offer Watt currently has on the table is believed to be worth between $15 million and $16 million.
The Browns are among the teams interested in Watt, according to ESPN and multiple reports, but it was not clear as of Thursday morning whether Cleveland has submitted an offer to the five-time Pro Bowler. Cleveland.com reported last week that Watt had some mutual interest in signing with the Browns
You can pretty much guarantee the Packers are not the team offering him that. And they won’t be at any point either. So the only way he plays here is for much, much less.
I can’t blame Watt for taking that offer if he wants it. Make what you can when you can. That kind of per year coin is paying Watt to be a full-time/80 + percent of plays player. At this stage of his career, that’s not what he is. And I don’t want the Packers paying him that much pretending like he is.
@Boris posted:Russell Wilson’s camp has broached trade destinations with the Seahawks, per @MikeDugar, @SandoNFL and @JaysonJenks
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2021
The Dolphins, Jets, Saints and Raiders have been mentioned. Some people in the NFL think a trade could happen “in the near future.”
🍿 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/70ONjhVMmJ
What the hell is the story here? Jesus Water unhappy getting brutalized behind the Seahawks oline?
If Watt wants a championship, he's not getting $16m per year. Teams that you'd consider to be championship caliber teams right now: Packers, Chiefs, Bills, Bucs, 49ers (if healthy), Rams (with Stafford), and Dolphins (if they get Watson). I don't see any of these teams giving Watt $16m per year.
Veterans looking to get onto a championship team don't usually get paid their full market value. If market value for Watt is $16m, I'd guess a championship caliber team would pay hm $10-12m.
And no, i don't consider the Browns to be championship caliber team.
And no, i don't consider the Browns to be championship caliber team. Ah, ya think?? The Browns are ok, but they will not be where JJ goes.... JMHO. 
@Tschmack posted:The Saints are underwater on the cap. The Bores are a mess. Dallas? Haven’t they committed to Dak? And Vegas, is well, Vegas.
Explain how Dallas has committed to Dak. By not reaching a contract agreement with him last year? By probably riding another season with him under the franchise tag? By completely leaving him out of their 2021 team hype video?
I'd love to see Wilson somehow end up in Dallas with McStupidface as his head coach. I'd give that marriage 1-2 years. At least he would get his wish and throw the ball more.
Pass, pass, pass punt baby! It's the MM way.
It's the Arthur Murray School of Football: One, two, three, kick.
@Boris posted:Russell Wilson’s camp has broached trade destinations with the Seahawks, per @MikeDugar, @SandoNFL and @JaysonJenks
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2021
The Dolphins, Jets, Saints and Raiders have been mentioned. Some people in the NFL think a trade could happen “in the near future.”
🍿 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/70ONjhVMmJ
Wilson also had added the Bears to this conversation.
Yeah, his teams are the Saints, Bears, Cowboys and Raiders. But he doesn't want to be traded.
I guess the Super Bowl wasn’t the most important thing to JJ!
Glad we can be done with this conversation. The Packers were never going to pay that, especially in guaranteed money.
Watt gets his money, good for him. The spin on this will be the Cards are SB contenders and that’s why he signed. They are not and won’t be with him on the team. Playoff contenders? Sure. But teams started to figure out Kyler Murray late last season. And bottom line , it’s a QB driven league.
So Jones to Miami and Watt to Arizona. At least theyre going out of the division.
We alright. Still got Austin and Harrison!
Packers never had a chance. He would have had to take half that to come to Green Bay. And I don't blame Watt at all. It takes such a physical toll to play a season in the NFL that no player should take a significant discount on their market value. 5-10% to play for your preferred team/coach? Sure. But not any more than that.
Green Bay will shopping bargains this year. Even if they make some tough cuts and restructure a few deals, still not going to be participating on day of free agency.
I'd like to have a real honest conversation with someone in Watt's shoes when it comes to a decision like this. I'm not judging, just trying to understand the thought process.
Is money always the #1 priority, no matter what they say? Does winning championships always come second to that? I get that these guys have short careers and often deal with medical issues the rest of their lives. But if you've earned tens of millions up to a point in your career, let's say $100M, is it more important to earn another $25-30 (vs. 15-20) even if it means having a lesser shot at a ring?
Damn. I just reread that and it can come down to $10M - whether you have a better chance at a SB win. It'd be hard to turn down that 10 when there is no guarantee the guy paying you less is going to win that championship.
Signing Watt would have been a cool story, but given the amount of money we'd have had to spend, I think it would have made our team worse. Yes, he's a potential upgrade over what we have, but he's got a long injury history and is old by NFL standards. To sign him for even a modest contract would have spelled the end for Jones, Linsley and others. Better at one position, worse at several others.
If the cap is flat or goes up at all (still possible) then GB could easily make room to keep Jones and possible others (likely not Linsley). I wanted Watt and I do think we could have gotten better on the DL, BUT it's not like there aren't other avenues to go to build a quality DL.
Apparently God didn’t talk to JJ like he did to Reggie White.
For 99.9% it’s the money. I would resent being played by these guys selling “I want to win first” if I ever believed it was truly about winning.
Good for J.J. for cashing in and good for the Packers for not making what would have been a foolish mistake at that money.
The Cardinals have no legacy, and they have a very fickle fan base. They are the Dolphins or Falcons of the west. If they aren’t winning the stadium is half full.
Signing Watt means that are selling tickets or better yet, selling hope to sell tickets. He’s not going to put that team over the top. But it’s a nice story for the locals.
The Packers truly are built to win now and adding Watt may have been the piece to elevate them to the next level. But at that price? No way. That’s insane money for a guy even as good as Watt, but you aren’t paying for or getting the JJ from several years ago.
Could you imagine the uproar had Gute spent that money? Holy crap. It would have been bananas. Jordan Love part II.
@Blair Kiel posted:Apparently God didn’t talk to JJ like he did to Reggie White.
For 99.9% it’s the money. I would resent being played by these guys selling “I want to win first” if I ever believed it was truly about winning.
Maybe the big fella in the sky told him that the Cards were a lock next year.
@DH13 posted:I'd like to have a real honest conversation with someone in Watt's shoes when it comes to a decision like this. I'm not judging, just trying to understand the thought process.
Is money always the #1 priority, no matter what they say? Does winning championships always come second to that? I get that these guys have short careers and often deal with medical issues the rest of their lives. But if you've earned tens of millions up to a point in your career, let's say $100M, is it more important to earn another $25-30 (vs. 15-20) even if it means having a lesser shot at a ring?
Ask Elon Musk if he truly needs an additional 25 Billion on top of his 75.
I would. Difference might be how I chose to use/spend it.
@Grave Digger posted:BUT it's not like there aren't other avenues to go to build a quality DL.
It just actually has to happen.
I'm not particularly broken up about Watt simply because as everyone is saying, cap.
Can't draft a DL in 5th round and pick up a scrub and call it a day.