Packers 2014 free agents - who leaves/stays? (Flynn Re-Signs)

I concur with the comment about the key drops in the playoffs. Make a play--get a big payday. That catch in the Niner game, while difficult, could've turned the game around, and that's how you get teams to open the wallet.

@AdamSchefter: 
Packers now expected to bring back RB James Starks on a two-year deal, per source; deal considered imminent.

m.twitter.com/AdamSchefter

Whoa!

 

@AdamSchefter: Packers now expected to bring back RB James Starks on a two-year deal, per source; deal considered imminent.

 

Me likey!  Lacy/Starks tandem does damage.  And an insurance policy against either getting nicked or more seriously injured.  Meanwhile Harris and Franklin compete for the scatback role (Harris more of a quick burst, Franklin the elusive one).

 

Seeing all these vets coming back tells me they're interested in more hardware...

Starks did come through big time in various games this year, including home opener vs. Washington and Bears game. He had such a violent, one-cut running style that was different than lacey's I have to believe he would be effective against defenses that had adjusted to Eddie and suddenly have this guy.

 

Harris is the guy who's gonna lose in this deal. he's gonna have an uphill battle to win a job in camp.

Peppers was spot on. Attach your wagon to a qb like Rodgers if you want that bling bling .

Just received an ESPN text stating Starks is resigning in Green Bay.

 

Just got another from NFL Mobile stating Starks cancelled the Pittsburgh visit and resigned with the Packers. 

The problem with Starks is he can't stay healthy for 16 games, and started the injury streak by missing his senior year of college with a shoulder injury.  I think at this point he has only played in 35 of 60 games during his pro career (although some games missed in his first year were missed because he didn't know the playbook well enough to be trusted on the field).

 

The true extent of any Packer interest should they sign him is the signing bonus--the less it is, the more it's down to a "prove it in preseason or get cut" like last year.

 

 

That combo could destroy a defense behind a legit o-line coupled with the passing game.

Lacy and Franklin are locks.  I can see Harris and Starks battling for the last roster spot with one of them getting released or traded.  Of course, an injury could occur making the decision easy.

 

One thing is for sure... When healthy, Starks is a badass and a good complement to Lacy.  

Very interesting. I'm all for it because Starks thrived as the change of pace/#2 Back behind the bruising Lacy. Really gave the Packers an elite 1/2 punch

 

Wonder what happens in camp between Franklin/Harris. Harris might be the odd man out as of now because Starks basically brings to the table what Harris would. Franklin gets the slight edge for me as of now because of his great receiving skills(best hands of the backs GB has) and we saw his potential in that Bengals game

 

Either way, RB position is incredibly deep in GB. Looking forward to seeing what WR/TE they add in the draft and also what they do at Center. This offense is looking downright scary

If there is no signing bonus cutting him will draw no cap hit at all.

Sigh! Jordy always seems to get away with his drops. Why?

@ CAP:  Franklin is a lock if healthy.  He is a dynamic running back.

Awesome.

8

Sigh! Jordy always seems to get away with his drops. Why?

 

Timing. How many'd he drop in that Niners' game? That's what I thought.

 

I agree. My only thing is, did we ever get any update on the neck injury that put him on IR? 

 

If he is good to go, I'm expecting the same trio as last year. Lacy/Starks with Franklin as the #3 back. Very good trio

Didn't Jones end play the last few games with a couple cracked ribs or something like that? If so, I find hard to blame him for a few dropped passes.

 

GLAD to see Starks will be back!

I wonder if there is any chance that the Packers keep all four RB's, let Kuhn go, and maybe occassionaly move Franklin into the slot or out wide to create a coverage mismatch.

Not unless his rib bone connected to his hands bone. 

Starks back is great. I forget who, but someone above said he can't play through a season. He showed in 2013 that he can survive as a change of pace back. And boy does he look good in that role. 

I wanna party with you, cowboy.

 

I will miss James Jones.  But he got pinched out due to the business side of things.  Packers got some good receivers in the stable at cheaper rates.  TT will find another good one in the draft too. 

 

And for as much as Jones did improve because he made some very important grabs, he dropped a couple now and then.  Sure he had broken ribs, but there were a couple times before that too.

 

Hope he does well.  He is a good guy.

Good for JJ finding a job. 3 years 11.4 million, 5th or 6th comp pick.

Hmm they resigned  Starks do the Packers keep 4 running backs or does one get cut?

Starks has an upright and violent style that keeps him from being able to be the featured back..    When healthy, he is the most productive back we have had in a long time. Green Bay is a perfect fit for him.

Kuhn will play for peanuts and a Nitzke clause. Don't have to play defense,  you can if you want to.  Ray clause.

Jones is a good player but IMO the emergence of Jarrett Boykin has made him expendable and JJ isn't getting any younger.

 

 

Good to see JJ get a nice payday and best of luck to him. Pleasantly surprised to see Starks returning and it'll be interesting to see the contract details. He and Eddie really made an excellent 1-2 punch.

 

I thought that was the Sanity Claus?

So, only the last game matters?

 

Fact is, outside of Greg Jennings, ALL AR's receivers have been ball droppers.

Not only that G but evidentaly injuries have no bearing on player performance. Clearly Jones was a slacker.

Unless Franklin's "neck injury" puts him on the PUP list to start.

Come across too wordy and needy.

 

Poor attempt at comedy.

 

I thought usually the packers kept about 5 running backs.  Traditionally it has been 3 HB and 2 FB, but more recently they seem to have gone to 4 HB and 1 FB (Kuhn).  Why couldn't they keep all of Lacy, Starks, Harris, and Franklin with Kuhn as the FB?

Has Kuhn signed yet?     

WOW!!!!!

 

This is interesting, that Raji has 500K guaranteed in his new deal.

 

 

New from JS: Raji received just $500,000 in guarantees http://bit.ly/1kFoHLW  #packers

 

 

Unlike Bert's who were all ball washers.

With only $500,000 in guaranteed money Raji will have to show in TC and pre-season or he will be gone. 

 

 

Agent Jack Bechta wrote about this.

 

The “throw away player”: If it’s not guaranteed (the contract), it doesn’t mean a thing and teams are taking advantage of that more than ever. There was a time when a player who was drafted by his team, played hard and was a good community and locker room guy, was given every chance to stay, play and be paid handsomely. Even though the team may eventually want to reduce the players’ salary, they did it with diplomacy, class and patience. Those days are gone and now it’s “thanks but we are moving on”.

Draft picks are so cheap right now and teams have a 4 to 5 year retention on them, depending on the round drafted, (not counting the franchise tag), that they are incentivized to just pay about four or five star players and have the rest of the team near or at minimum contracts. Under this new CBA this trend is here to stay.

In twenty-even years as an agent I never heard teams talk more about players ages than they do now. If you are on the wrong side of 30, not named Manning, Brady, or Brees, you may as well be ready for a tap on the shoulder any day to be shown the exit.

 

 

it is funny how the CBA focused on how much vets were upset at the big contracts being given to rookies, so the rookie scale was put into place.  They believed they would see that money once it wasn't given to rookies.  Now, they are being tossed to the curb because rookies are so cheap.

 

Unintended consequences.