Pack Free Agents Get "Tampered" With Starting Today
What's the real cost of bringing Rodgers and Adams back?
By KenLass
You are hearing a lot about how much money the Packers are committing to Aaron Rodgers to bring him back. But those are just numbers. They don’t really bring home the true cost of retaining the four time MVP signal caller. Beginning this week, Green Bay fans will start to feel the actual impact.
Today is the kickoff of what many call the “tampering period”. It is the first day free agent players can start negotiating with all teams. Nobody can be signed until the new league year begins at 3pm Green Bay time on Wednesday. But since so many handshake deals had been going on under the table ahead of the legal date, the league decided to just make them legit with a two day window.
The next several days are likely to be difficult ones for those of us who wave the green and gold flag. The expense of salvaging Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams means several other free agents are hitting the open market today. That includes linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, cornerback Rasul Douglas and tight end Robert Tonyan.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Packers will lose all four. It just means the open market will set their value, and it is likely to set those values higher than Green Bay can live with. Don’t be surprised if some of the initial offers come from close to home. The other three teams in the NFC North have a history of trying to both enhance themselves and hurt the division dominator by signing away Packer players. There is already a report out there that the Bears, who may lose receiver Allen Robinson, want to pursue MVS.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has written that a source familiar with the Packers’ free agency plan reveals the team is prioritizing Campbell. They are expecting the first team All Pro linebacker to attract an offer somewhere in the eight to eleven million dollars per year range. The Packers might be able to scrape up the money to sign Campbell if his market value is on the low end of that estimate, but if he gets into the high end, Green Bay will likely have to let him walk. Regarding MVS, Silverstein writes that “it’s almost a given he won’t return”, and that “the same appears true for Rasul Douglas”. Two other starters, defensive back Chandon Sullivan and offensive lineman Lucas Patrick, also hit the market today.
Players still under contract may also have to be cut in order for the Pack to get under the cap limit by the Wednesday deadline. The most commonly mentioned name is linebacker Za’darius Smith, whose release would free up around $15 million. A litany of other names on the roster have to be either redone or let go.
This, then, is the real impact of bringing back Rodgers and Adams. It begs the question: Since the Packers were clearly not good enough to make it to the Super Bowl as constituted last year, how would they be expected to make it this year, considering they are losing established players, not adding them? Where will the improvement come from?
It’s not all gloom and doom. There can be reasons for optimism. For example, the O-line should be better with the return of David Bakhtiari, and the eventual return of Elgton Jenkins. Special teams should improve under the tutelage of newly hired Rich Bisaccia, widely considered one of the best at his job. Kylin Hill, who showed promise as a returner, will be back from injury. It’s a terrific draft at the top for edge rushers and receivers. Perhaps Amari Rodgers comes on in his second year. Even without Z. Smith, Rashan Gary and Preston Smith are impressive bookends on the edge. Even without Rasul, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes are a formidable tandem at the corners. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion return their one-two punch at running back. Remember also, the front office uncovered a couple of diamonds in the rough in Campbell and Douglas. There have to be others out there, and this scouting unit is pretty good at finding them.
Oh yeah, and the Packers will start arguably the best quarterback and best receiver in the game.
Try to keep these things in mind as you begin to hear all the depressing reports about Green Bay free agents heading elsewhere over the next few weeks. The Packers are going to be good again in 2022. With a few breaks and a few pleasant surprises, the Super Bowl is not out of the question.
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (72)
NickPerry
March 14, 2022 at 06:46 am
I still find it interesting Campbell is suddenly worth $8 to $11 million a year. He's had the one great year after SIX seasons in the NFL. While I completely understand why Campbell would leave, I find it absolutely nuts GM's will hand out Monopoly money for such LIMITED success.
Solution?? Go get Cory Littleton IF Campbell leaves. I don't think it's a coincidence players like Campbell and Littleton ball out under Joe Barry's tutelage. The man IS a great ILB Coach. I'd also give a lot of credit to Olivadotti too who I thought was an excellent hire when he came aboard. Littleton has been released and I'd imagine at 28 would LOVE to hook up with Barry again after vanishing in Las Vegas.
Campbell is worth $6 to $7 million a year, TOPS, IMO it's closer to the $6 million figure. We all know FA isn't about what a player is worth (See MVS..$10 Million...#WTF!!) but about who can outbid the others. Anyone who plays that kind of money to someone who's done it for 1/6th of his career deserves to be fired 2 years from now which is what usually happens....MVS, $10 Million...LMAO!!!
The Packers have a pretty damn good front office/scouting department IMO. I STILL have Gutes back, at least until I see the Rodgers contract which should be any moment now. Richman Williams, the Packers Pro Scout, did a fine job last year helping find players like Campbell and Douglas.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 09:53 am
I’ve defended Gute consistently, but either he’s surrendered to Murphy or blown his credibility this off season.
Campbell is worth what someone will pay him. That’s the NFL way. it doesn’t always make sense empirically, but contracts are priced on subjective perceived potential.
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 11:28 am
Sometimes we have to work with imperfect people, and sometimes others have to work with us in our imperfections.
Last offseason, when Rodgers held out so selfishly, then came back trashing the front office, I would have gotten rid of him -- yet I can see Gute taking that abuse from Rodgers with the assessment (misguided, in my opinion) that it was good for the team.
However, if Gute has a shred of self-respect and any measure of competency, he should have cut ties with Rodgers with firmness and finality. (Maybe he still can.)
Not only does Rodgers drag down the team with his ego, he drags it down with his humungous contract. Not only does Rodgers cause disruption off the field, but he massively disappoints in big moments on the field.
Plus, while Rodgers is aging and more or less in decline, he can still bring a good return in a trade.
It makes so much sense in so many ways to rid ourselves of Rodgers -- and what a relief it would seem to be for anyone who cares about the Packers and our hard won reputation for class and character.
I've been a big backer of Gute, but he's threatening to ruin all of his good work by his own wimpiness in prolonging the capricious tyranny of Aaron Rodgers.
Try to salvage a trade of Rodgers in the next day or two, and let's move on to a fresh start.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 14, 2022 at 01:00 pm
Gute answers to Murphy. No need to dig any deeper than that.
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 02:52 pm
If so, then Gute has to show some guts in standing up to both Murphy and Rodgers.
He'd get another GM job if he was fired for showing some common sense and common dignity in moving on from Rodgers.
However, if there's any other real power in the operation of the Packers, it may be much better to send Murphy away as well as Rodgers.
If Gute has any shred of self-respect, how could he endure being a puppet of Murphy and the pawn of Rodgers?
Meanwhile, it seems Rodgers has thrown the entire Packers franchise into disarray and embarrassment. Is there anyone sane enough and strong enough to end the madness!
flackcatcher
March 14, 2022 at 02:17 pm
This is the time of year when everything is in the hands of the GM/Front office. As he has proven over the past four years, Brian Gutekunst is among the best, if not the best in the NFL. If not for former Packer President Bob Harlan convincing the Executive Committee to hired Gutekunst over current President Mark Murphy's objection, I wonder what shape the Packer's would be in. We are seeing the hard choices playing out with the release of Z. Smith and Turner. Both were very high quality free agent signings. The MVS call is a very tough one for Gute. There is no one, I repeat NO ONE who does what he can do on offense. His speed, blocking, and last season, he drew double coverage to free up Adams, and the other WR playing the slot, and made the TE/F-Back in the seams deadly for MLF offensive scheme. And QB 1 trusts him completely. The problem is can the Packers pay the man what he will be offered on the open market. Glad I'm not Gute.
egbertsouse
March 14, 2022 at 07:01 am
The Packers will start the best QB and WR in the game? Did they just trade for Brady and Cooper Kupp?
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 09:57 am
Is Brady still? He might yet regret this.
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 11:51 am
It's hard to retire from the glamor of football, but easier to do so with one's health.
With Brady, I wonder how much more he could possibly gain compared to so much he could possibly lose.
I pray him well as far as good health and happiness.
There's a lot to be said for leaving the table while you're still ahead, on your own terms, and even under your own power.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 01:46 pm
It’s very hard to give up something that has been so central to one’s life let alone when it’s brought fame, fortune and attention. That’s why so few QBs have no final codicil playing for teams we forget about on their way out.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 07:12 am
I don't see how they sign any. If Ball is that good. Maybe he should be the GM. And how do you keep Z. Smith with that back operation he had? If they manage to sign anybody. Where does that put Adams? He wants money. TT showed us how to compete without Cap hell. How to Trade in a draft. And put the franchise first. He didn't know the words "All in. " This team is out of control. Put a $ sign on their chests. Because I believe the players have heart failure. All in won't work. Brady is back. And the Buck stops there. Brady is about unfinished business. This Packers team is about the pay.
Since'61
March 14, 2022 at 07:20 am
My understanding is that neither Rodgers nor Adams have signed their deals yet. What happens if they don’t sign by Wednesday?
I realize that Rodgers still has his current deal but does Adams become an FA if he doesn’t sign by Wednesday.
TGR do you know the status of the signings and the implications if they don’t sign by Wednesday?
Thanks, Since ‘61
Barnacle
March 14, 2022 at 07:37 am
Adams says he well NOT play under the franchise tag. Looks like we have a new diva to deal with.
Maybe we shouldn’t be telling our players that they are the best in the world when we need to negotiate with them??
Did we ever lose a game when diva Devante did not play?
Maybe Devante is not the key to success. Maybe our negotiators should suggest that playing catch with diva Rodgers had something to do with diva Devante’ stats.
Please trade diva Devante. We do NOT need him. Our other receiver’s will step up.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 07:49 am
Correct.- Star receiver Davante Adams informed the Green Bay Packers that he will not play on the franchise tag in 2022, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
HawkPacker
March 14, 2022 at 08:01 am
I believe he will play. He wants all this money so why would he sit on his a$$ for a year, get a year older and then try to catch on with a new team probably for less money. Or we trade him.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 08:13 am
Trade him. I have the packers draft currently this way. #1 George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue 6'4" 275 lbs. rd.# 2 - Jalen Tolbert WR | South Alabama 6'3" 190 lbs Rd.#3- David Bell WR slow 40 Purdue 6'2". 205 lbs
HawkPacker
March 14, 2022 at 08:18 am
Good draft. I like Bell. He catches everything.
dobber
March 14, 2022 at 08:47 am
He's just going to force the Packers (or someone) to pay him before July 15. It doesn't change anything cap-wise in the short-term, especially since it was well-known that the Packers and Adams weren't really negotiating at this point.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 09:07 am
Adams has slowed. It was obvious in the cold. He wants to play with Carr. Bought a home in Vegas. Trade him.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 09:55 am
The obvious objective would be to either force us capitulate to his salary demands or rescind the tag now.
There is no circumstance in which we should pay him 25 to 30 million a year in our situation. Without him we also should not pay Rodgers. If we capitulate to both, the myth of a competitive roster is exposed as fantasy.
Personally, I’d bite the bullet, hold on to Adams tag and try to trade him (he’d need to agree too), and then tell Rodgers it’s over and to find a new team or retire. Then I’d start a full rebuild (we’d have to due to the cap cost) resulting.
I’d go that route because the team needs to reassert control for the future. It’s also unlikely either could be traded before mid week. Alternatively, rescind Adams tag immediately after we withdraw the offer to extend Rodgers. Take the compensatory pick and let Rodgers go on the market or retire.
If Rodgers has being holding the team and roster to ransom, he’s not all in (in fact he’s willing to undermine chances) and the team looks like idiots for letting him play them. Time to face the music. If we had a board in anything but name, time to fire Mark Murphy and any others who forced this team into this position other than under duress.
Since'61
March 14, 2022 at 11:23 am
Excellent post Coldworld! I agree, the members of the FO responsible for this fiasco should be held accountable.
We’ll see how this eventually all plays out, but as I have been posting, I still don’t believe that the guys who got us into this mess can successfully get us out. Stay safe.
Thanks, Since ‘61
crayzpackfan
March 14, 2022 at 01:42 pm
An unpopular take for the AR/DA support staff Mr. Coldworld. But a take I sincerely agree with. Thumbs up.
pantz_bURp
March 14, 2022 at 02:17 pm
I agree Cold...take the latest contract offer off the table for Rodgers and he either plays for current contract in place (which sucks since it's approximately $42+ this year and we would need to get below the cap limit without using his newly offered contract), retire (maybe comes back after a season or two with another team) or he can potentially be traded. Not the way I would have negotiated the process but it is what it is.
I would like to some how be immunized against this beautiful mystery.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 09:37 am
He openly wants more money than the Packers will or can pay him as a matter of record. He can’t get a trade unless we agree or rescind the tag and accept the compensatory pick. He can refuse to play or reluctantly play on the tag. Those are his options. In summer the tag locks in and can’t be renegotiated by either side.
More realistically, ordinarily we’d have drama between the two but here, the whole premise of resigning Rodgers is called into question. Rodgers back without Adams undermines the whole stated rationale. The Adams position is hardly a surprise. Rodgers not having signed is. This looks like it could all blow up in Murphy’s face.
Don’t resign Rodgers without Adams, put him out there to trade or retire. Trade Adams or rescind the tag. Accept that now we have probably lost the window to minimize cuts. Move on to Love/Benkert or whomever and start a heavier should have been necessary rebuild.
Then fire Murphy and whomever willingly drove us into this position, after the draft if it’s Gute. To get even this far is a searing indictment of those running the team. The idea that Rodgers and the team are in harmony is frayed to the point of incredulity. It’s clear that the team has completely lost control already.
Duneslick
March 14, 2022 at 11:33 am
If i understand correctly a team can sign adams but would have to give up 2 first round picks.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 11:49 am
A team can issue an offer sheet that we have the option to match, but the trade would require the tag to be signed by Adams. Thus he can veto or delay in effect, holding the Packers to ransom. He would likely also need to have agreed a long term deal with the buying team before the transaction would be triggered. Only then would the picks be triggered.
LambeauPlain
March 14, 2022 at 12:27 pm
CW...do you or anyone else know if the Pack has used the exclusive Tag...or the non exclusive rights Franchise Tag? I have not read which. Just that "another high profile WR was taken off the market"...so assume it is exclusive?
If exclusive rights, he has little leverage other than to sign it and hope he and Packers can negotiate a new long term deal...or he can refuse to sign it and sit out. For a 29 year old WR, I am not sure how he thinks he can make up the around $20 mil in lost 2022 FT earnings with a new deal somewhere else in 2023 when he will be 30.
Of course Adams will say he will not play under a one year deal...injury is possible and for a 30 year old, that would reduce his coveted need for a one year bell ringer long term deal.
If he sits out, what are the Packers salary and cap ramifications? I do not know.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 01:18 pm
I understand it is the non-exclusive tag, which is cheaper of course.
mattgsx
March 14, 2022 at 07:53 am
If Rodgers doesn't sign his extension then he enters 2022 with his full cap hit unless GB somehow manages to restructure it by pushing more money out while they try to work out a longer term deal.
Adams' fate for 2022 is now controlled by GB. If he doesn't sign his tender, he doesn't play unless they sign him to a contract, but I think the tag number counts against the cap whether or not he signs.
Could be Rodgers is now slow walking his deal to try to put leverage on the Adams deal.
Rick5952
March 14, 2022 at 08:32 am
I'm just pissed how a few players can hold the whole team hostage!
dobber
March 14, 2022 at 08:49 am
They don't have much power otherwise.
It wouldn't surprise me after the play made on Cobb last summer if that's what 12 is doing at this point. He's holding things up to make sure others get what he thinks they should.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 10:45 am
A functional FO would have set out terms for Rodgers that they could live with, set a deadline for acceptance and made it clear the alternative was to move in trade or retire. Then they should have made plans for those contingencies and moved in them immediately the deadline expired. That deadline should have been a month ago.
They should have talked to Adams, offered a deal or threatened the tag and made it clear that he could find a trade partner subject to an understood value. Then they could have decided whether to impose the tag from a position of strength.
Instead they ceded all control over timing and all positioning with it. Rodgers knew all along that they had given him all the cards. In playing them, he’s also shown that his interests are not those if the team or winning, yet still the FO remained prostrate. It’s extremely clear that the Packers had no plan B and, worse, that Rodgers was well aware of that.
This is absolutely the opposite of how one negotiates successfully. It is rank incompetence and comes with the ludicrous likelihood that they can’t maximize the roster strength if Rodgers does stay. It’s really time to clean house off the field.
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 10:48 am
Good stuff, Coldworld, as far as the folly of not setting reasonable boundaries with Rodgers.
As it happened, Rodgers held the Packers hostage for the second offseason in a row. In fact, he may still be holding us hostage.
***
As for me, I wouldn't have given an arrogant Aaron any opportunity to stay with the team. I would have thought Gute and LaFleur would have been so relieved to rid themselves of his smug intrusiveness into their jobs.
***
At least the saga of Davante may give Gute and LaFleur one last chance to regain control of the team -- and retain a semblace of personal dignity -- by trading Rodgers ASAP.
We don't have to get the haul the Seahawks did for Wilson. Get as much as possible, but also do it quickly as far as getting Rodgers out of our lives.
The biggest addition for the Packers will be the subtraction of Rodgers; the immense weight of his ego is dragging down the entire Packers organization.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 10:54 am
If Rodgers really was Denver’s first choice, how much more damning could things be for the FO? I suppose now we will see if the Board actually exists for more than cocktails and mutual glad handing. Murphy presided over wasting the best years of Rodgers and yet we mostly gave him a pass while he protected his preferred GM who gutted the roster (Ball). Will we ever learn?
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 02:55 pm
When I look at the haul Denver gave the Seahawks -- and which seemingly could have gone to the Packers -- it's a horrible sense of loss to the point of being sickening.
The key for Gute, though, is to get on the phone with as many teams as possible (Steelers, Colts, Raiders, etc.) and come up with some kind of a trade that is respectable. If at least two teams are bidding, then we could still get a fair return, and packaging Davante may help the negotiations.
This is the only way I see for Gute to save his job and salvage his dignity.
Besides the dignity of finally saying no to Rodgers, there's a dignity in admitting when we're wrong.
P.S. If Gute is being controlled by anyone else in the executive branch of the Packers, he has to break free with a public statement that he's not going to be a puppet any longer. That's also a matter of dignity.
Plus, if Gute is fired, he'll be able to get as good of a job with another team. Others respect a man with a basis measure of dignity. It's not about pride, but self-respect.
LambeauPlain
March 14, 2022 at 12:33 pm
If Rodgers refuses to sign his extension, he will probably be in Seattle or Washington next season...or perhaps Carolina if they miss out on D. Watson.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 14, 2022 at 01:03 pm
Rodgers is still under contract so if he doesnt sign a new new deal they can restructure his existing contract whether he likes it or not. As for Adams, they have till July I think to work out an extension or trade him. He doesnt have to sign by wednesday.
mrtundra
March 14, 2022 at 07:51 am
It was reported today that Davante will not play under the franchise tag. Seems our stud WR is doing some tampering of his own!
coolhand
March 14, 2022 at 08:46 am
If I'm Gute I let him walk. The best in the league vanished in the 2nd half against the 49ers and against Tampa. No Adams would force the diva QB to throw to other receivers or just run every play.
Swisch
March 14, 2022 at 11:03 am
Actually, I don't blame Davante for not wanting the franchise tag. It seems highly unfair in general to players.
On the other hand, if Davante has been infected with some of the arrogance of Rodgers, it would be best to move both of them on to another team, perhaps together as a package deal.
***
Finally, I think many of us as fans assumed the front office had worked out a good understanding with Davante before tagging him.
Along with the fiasco of groveling to Rodgers, this seems to further tarnish our management team.
If the reason they've sold their dignity to Rodgers has been to keep their jobs, it may turn out they're in the process of losing both.
That's what seems to happen oftentimes when we do the wrong thing in the first place.
Maybe there's still time, though, for the likes of Gute and LaFleur to make things right by asserting control of the team and beginning a rebuild with players of character.
Whether that includes Davante has a lot to do with the kind of person Davante wants to be.
pantz_bURp
March 14, 2022 at 02:26 pm
Just my opinion and knowing I am referring to the past; Don Hutson is the Man at WR for the Pack in my book. Talk about being ahead of his time. Davante is Uber talented, no doubt about it. I am not hugely concerned with losing him. It might be addition by subtraction if he ends up elsewhere and Rodgers (if indeed plays for the Pack) is forced to look at all his options. At least I hope so...
egbertsouse
March 14, 2022 at 07:59 am
Don’t worry. Rodgers will get on TankTop’s show and whine and give the Droopy Dog sad face and Jake and Elwood will
cave and open the vault. They're puttin' the band back together, man!
BirdDogUni
March 14, 2022 at 08:50 am
So if DA isn't going to play on the tag, what are our options?
dobber
March 14, 2022 at 08:53 am
Sign him to a long-term deal before Jul. 15.
Trade him (but he needs to sign the tag to do that, so they'll have to let him negotiate a deal with a different team first)
Rescind the tag (making him an FA).
Let him sit out.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 09:09 am
Dump him. TT let Jennings go.
MainePackFan
March 14, 2022 at 09:37 am
Let him get his best offer from the Raiders (new home in Vegas, Derek Carr, and the Raiders have cap space) and either match it, let him go and get 2 1st round picks, or sign and trade with the deal already negotiated between DA and the Raiders.
dobber
March 14, 2022 at 08:50 am
Preston Smith signs his extension today.
Expect other dominoes (Alexander, Z, Turner, Lowry) to fall quickly. They're short on time.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 09:16 am
That’s just the basic changes we have to do either way.
LambeauPlain
March 14, 2022 at 11:56 am
Z and Turner are both cap cuts as of today.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 08:56 am
The chances of bringing back a comparably strong roster, already questionable, took a further knock this morning.
Last year we were all waiting for Rodgers to agree to adjust his deal to free up cap to strengthen the roster last year. That never happened. This year he’s left it till illegal tampering at least to give the Packers the certainty needed to get their ducks in order and minimize losses. The result is only going to weaken the eventual roster, not strengthen it.
Why are we doing it and how did the Packers get in this deep without knowing that the deal was done? Why is Rodgers coming back if he’s not going to contribute to maximizing the team’s ability to put players around him?
If this doesn’t resolve very quickly, we should just cut bait and dangle Rodgers and Adams in trade. We probably lose more in order to cut cap far more than they planned, but the reality is that serious questions are starting to emerge about how we got here. The clock is ticking and, if the parties don’t work together, it’s going to be self-defeating very very soon.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 09:18 am
Rodgers has a contract. He said he's coming back. You have to pay him. If Adams won't play under the Tag. He just screwed himself. He is no longer a fan favorite. If they sign him now. He'll wreck the teams future, even if Rodgers does retire. The Browns had OBJ. It didn't make them better. Adams is used up.
BirdDogUni
March 14, 2022 at 09:25 am
I'm beginning to think the NFL is going for maximum drama scenarios to stay relevant 24/7.
I don't mean it is a league-wide conspiracy, but this is for entertainment purposes, so maybe they've decided to make it as entertaining as possible with all the high-drama they can provide?
It seems to be working. Whatever the Packers do, doesn't affect my life at all, but I am still sucked in, wanting to know what is happening.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 10:10 am
I’ve suspected gross incompetence from Murphy for a long time, that has been heavily rekindled by the process this off season. Such ineptitude generally makes things interesting. Sad but predictable mess. If they just slap a band aid over it now then it will likely only lead to a similar on field outcome.
crayzpackfan
March 14, 2022 at 01:54 pm
He has become the non owner version of Al Davis
BirdDogUni
March 14, 2022 at 02:15 pm
Right now, I am really wishing the plan would've been to package AR/DA to Denver. Seems that would've been much easier than what we're going to have to deal with now?
; P
Sure it will all get sorted out, but waiting is frustrating.
Off topic, can you imagine if OBJ hadn't tore his ACL... Teams would be dying to sign him this off-season. Such a shame for the player.
Packer_Fan
March 14, 2022 at 09:37 am
Rodgers hasn't signed yet. Report out that Adams won't play under the franchise tag. How much you want to bet that Adams new deal will be announced before the 16th
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 09:37 am
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Ian Rapoport
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The #Packers have released Pro Bowl pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith, source said, adding another top defender to free agency. His cap number of $27.6M in 2022 was never going to work. Now, free — and healthy.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 09:58 am
Gute's Hot. Releasing RT Turner
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 10:48 am
Possibly they are now in fire sale mode: get under with Rodgers unchanged and the tag on Adams. If so, whistle for roster parity or any logic in extending Rodgers.
Turner was a guy who could have been traded, extended or kept. This could well be a move forced by a higher cap reduction requirement resulting from Rodgers/Adams current positions.
dobber
March 14, 2022 at 11:01 am
I see this as a move toward Nijman starting at RT, functioning as the swing tackle, and a draft pick or van Lanen stepping in as the #2 RT. The dominoes continue to fall...
It makes sense to me...which doesn't mean much.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 11:17 am
It makes sense … if we move to Love/Benkert or whomever.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 14, 2022 at 01:07 pm
The dark horse here is Royce Newman kicking out to tackle. His skillset is better suited for it anyways. Hes more athletic than he is strong. Elite first step. Perfect for tackle.
pantz_bURp
March 14, 2022 at 10:30 am
"What's the real cost of bringing Rodgers and Adams back?"
My business acumen...my long term Packer hopes...my definition of TEAM...my value of Packer stock (the Great Depression coming soon)...handing over control to the pilot without him listening to air traffic control...a well-balanced offense (in the playoffs)...for starters.
jhtobias
March 14, 2022 at 10:34 am
People chastised me on this site for saying davante would never sign his tender . Good for him why should he.
Piss off packer fans . See what happens appens when you give one man power like king Rodgers.
You still have cobb at a 9 million cap hit . I hope a team offers davante 28 million a year that the packers won't match and they lose him.
F rodgers he can retire to . Reggie white and Leroy butler would have kicked his sorry ass in the good old days
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 14, 2022 at 01:12 pm
Not sure if you read the Tyler Dunne article a few years ago about the downfall in the Rodgers/Mccarthy relationship, but it touched on this very issue. When the Packers won it all in 2010, Rodgers wasnt the veteran leader. They had Woodson, Clifton, Collins, Jenkins, Hawk, Driver, etc. Vets all over the place that Rodgers had to be accountable to. Over the years, as those guys moved on, Rodgers became the vet but never learned how to lead. In fact, it was implied that the very idea of him having to be a better leader irritates him to no end. This sums up Rodgers the person quite nicely. And people still wonder while he fell in the draft. He was always a jerk even in his college days.
pantz_bURp
March 14, 2022 at 10:54 am
I had a dream (last night). Now, in no way am I implying that either Rodgers or Adams are ignorant...honestly, I am not. But hang with me a moment...
I dreamt that Rodgers and Davante we're on a moped (not unlike from the movie Dumb and Dumber). They were on a moped heading from the Midwest somewhere to Denver. They finally get to Denver and make their way to the stadium. Once in the stadium, they walk around and check out the field. Both shaking their heads and in unison proclaim, "That John 'Elway' Denver is full of shit." Then you can barely hear one of them say, "The grass is greener where you water it".
To make matters worse, I had another dream a while later. In this case, somewhat similar to The Big Lebowski. It is a little fuzzy but Bakh is John Goodman's character and Rodgers is the Dude. They both looked at someone and said simultaneously, "Shut the f__k up Donnie, you are outta your league!" Now, I don't know who is playing Donnie. I don't want to know...
Then, I had on a continuous loop in my mellon, the song... Sound of Silence by Disturbed.
Yes! so you're sayin' there's a chance!: still a minute chance we can trade Davante and let Rodgers retire if he so chooses. I was selfishly hoping to get some great draft capital for Rodgers and wish him well in his next chapters of his life. But, I personally am willing to shake his hand and wish him well...but, not have to potentially be a participant in this game for the next few years.
The sun will rise again and there will be plenty of Packer moments to cherish, again...GPG!
LeotisHarris
March 14, 2022 at 04:40 pm
Two questions; 1) what color was the moped? 2) do you have enough of whatever you're smoking for all of CHTV?
pantz_bURp
March 14, 2022 at 07:08 pm
Yo Leotis,
1) money green
2) I wish...in hard times like these I pretend. I pull out the old pack of Swisher Sweets (wooden tip of course) and crank "Because I Got High" by Afroman. That seems to make my IQ spike to that of a genius..
LeotisHarris
March 14, 2022 at 08:33 pm
::fistbump::
splitpea1
March 14, 2022 at 11:32 am
That's real good news if the team is indeed prioritizing bringing Campbell back; cross fingers on both hands that the front office will be able to do it.
Now Alexander and Stokes are a very nice tandem, but let's not forget that Douglas was the man gathering the interceptions at key moments of games--so if we lose him, he will be missed. The odds of finding that kind of impact player residing on a practice squad again aren't too great--Gute really pulled a rabbit out of the hat with Mr. Douglas.
LambeauPlain
March 14, 2022 at 12:43 pm
It was reported Douglas and the Packers are now talking and both sides want a deal. That tells me Campbell is a lower priority and will be moving on.
IMO, Douglas is a bit more valuable and affordable to the team...whereas Campbell will be MUCH more difficult to replace but $10-$11 Mil / year is a bridge too far.
However, Campbell may not find any takers at that price and may yet return to the team on a more cap friendly deal.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 01:53 pm
Douglas was likely the cheaper of the two and, as much as I like him, the least critical. Now, however, he may be hearing from other teams. As yet we cannot sign him or anyone.