Yesterday night was the deadline for teams to sign the players who were designated with the Franchise or Transition tags to multi-year deals. As of today, any players who had not agreed a contract are only eligible to sign their one year offers as part of the tag. While the money is good for a year, obviously many players are looking for long term security in a game where injury can end a career in an instant.
Of the players that have not already signed their single year deals, only Cowboys Safety Ken Hamlin came to an agreement on a long term contract, leaving a number of premier players in a position to cash in next season. In the main, players do not take kindly to being placed in (well paid) limbo, especially if the team subsequently lowballs them with a contract offer. The two players who have already signed long term deals after being franchised this year are Colts TE Dallas Clark, and Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant.
So next season, Raiders CB Nmandi Asamugha, Ravens DE Terrell Suggs, and Titans DT Albert Haynesworth will join players such as L.J Smith, Jordan Gross and Karlos Dansby in free agency.
All three of the players who failed to sign yesterday should be in for big pay days along the line. Suggs is probably the most productive player of any players left without a deal. He has also shown tremendous charcter, battling back from injuries, and has been relatively understanding about the team's decision to franchise him. Asamugha saw his production drop last season, but mainly as a result of teams' unwillingness to throw in his direction. Asamugha is still widely considered one of the very few elite CB's in the league today.
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Rodgers receives Favre blessing
Buried away in the second installment of Brett Favre's FOX news interview, were his response to Aaron Rodgers, who told Green Bay fans last month to '...shut up and get on board', regarding his tenure with the Packers.
- Brett Favre speaks about his successor, Aaron Rodgers
Favre and Rodgers were never best friends, but neither was there ever any animosity between the two. Rodgers was aware from day one that there were no conflicting opinions amongst fans about who should be Green Bay starter if both men were healthy, and so has never griped or complained about the way he has been almost cast aside as an afterthought to Favre's annual retirement saga. This stoicism has endeared him to locals who know that even if Favre were to come back for one more year, sooner or later, the team needs to be handed to Rodgers.
Favre knows this now. If he were in any doubt, the fact that there are as many activists on both sides of the fence should make it clearer. Indeed, in response to one petition to bring him back, a reader informs us that there is a similiar campaign to keep him on the Golf course.
We got along fine. He's 14 years younger than me. I know he made some comments here lately. But when I was his age I made some crazy comments, too, so I can't hold that against him... It's got to be hard on him. My only advice to him, and I never gave him advice, really, would be that the only way to shut that up, we all know, is to go out and play and play well. And that's not to say that they would forget what I've done. But go out and prove it on the field. That's all I would say. I'm not sitting here bashing Aaron Rodgers. I think he'll do a fine job, and I think his comments are not a surprise. Not only from him, but I might have said the same thing.
- Brett Favre speaks about his successor, Aaron Rodgers
Favre and Rodgers were never best friends, but neither was there ever any animosity between the two. Rodgers was aware from day one that there were no conflicting opinions amongst fans about who should be Green Bay starter if both men were healthy, and so has never griped or complained about the way he has been almost cast aside as an afterthought to Favre's annual retirement saga. This stoicism has endeared him to locals who know that even if Favre were to come back for one more year, sooner or later, the team needs to be handed to Rodgers.
Favre knows this now. If he were in any doubt, the fact that there are as many activists on both sides of the fence should make it clearer. Indeed, in response to one petition to bring him back, a reader informs us that there is a similiar campaign to keep him on the Golf course.
Favre speaks part 2 - This time it's personal...
If the first part of Brett Favre's Fox News interview could be considered a tentative step into the ring, then Round 2 has seen the Green Bay Packers legend throw some haymakers at the team.
Asked by Greta Van Susteren if he was considering a return to the team in Training Camp, Favre said:
- Brett Favre speaking on Fox News
Uh oh! It's one thing to slate individual members of the front office, as he did on Monday, but to say that he's considering actively causing a problem for the football team? That's probably not the way to go about things when your biggest leverage comes from the way you have conducted yourself over a long career. On the other hand, perhaps the childlike, infectious enthusiasm for the game that we love about Favre, could also be the same mentality that makes him throw his toys out of the pram when he doesn't get his own way...
Favre did express sympathy with Aaron Rodgers, and in fact showed his support for Rodgers as Green Bay's starter next year.
- Favre on Aaron Rodgers
The problem for Rodgers is that, with Favre set on playing again next year, he will be compared to Favre constantly. That was always going to be the case, but it's a whole different kettle of fish when the guy you replaced is still playing in the league.
The one thing we can definately take from all of this is that the whole situation is headed towards a Steve McNair-esque confrontation. If Favre turns up, will the team even let him practice? One man who should know is McNair's agent, who in a happy coincidence, happens to be Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook.
We'll have more from Green Bay throughout the day. Thanks to everyone who have sent emails of support, we appreciate all the comments we receive - both positive and negative.
Asked by Greta Van Susteren if he was considering a return to the team in Training Camp, Favre said:
"It's tempting just to, as everyone said, you know, call their bluff or whatever... I think it's going to be a circus in itself already, whether I go there, whatever."
- Brett Favre speaking on Fox News
Uh oh! It's one thing to slate individual members of the front office, as he did on Monday, but to say that he's considering actively causing a problem for the football team? That's probably not the way to go about things when your biggest leverage comes from the way you have conducted yourself over a long career. On the other hand, perhaps the childlike, infectious enthusiasm for the game that we love about Favre, could also be the same mentality that makes him throw his toys out of the pram when he doesn't get his own way...
Favre did express sympathy with Aaron Rodgers, and in fact showed his support for Rodgers as Green Bay's starter next year.
"I know this has been tough on him. I think he'll do a fine job. And this has nothing to do with him, this whole deal."
- Favre on Aaron Rodgers
The problem for Rodgers is that, with Favre set on playing again next year, he will be compared to Favre constantly. That was always going to be the case, but it's a whole different kettle of fish when the guy you replaced is still playing in the league.
The one thing we can definately take from all of this is that the whole situation is headed towards a Steve McNair-esque confrontation. If Favre turns up, will the team even let him practice? One man who should know is McNair's agent, who in a happy coincidence, happens to be Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook.
We'll have more from Green Bay throughout the day. Thanks to everyone who have sent emails of support, we appreciate all the comments we receive - both positive and negative.
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