Raji leaves town

[normallylikeyell ow]

This can't be good...
http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/08/th...

[wal0645]

Could be a ploy to put pressure on the Pack. I for one will be glad when the league ratifies their bargaining agreement and gets some structure in these rookie contracts. Look at the dough we dished out for Harrell and what has been the return? He is only one of many examples of rookie guys payed up bucks to be busts (not saying that Raji will, but who knows when he hasn't faced NFL competition). That being said, Thompson needs to sign the guy as he is key to what he want to accomplish on defense.

[GBPfan]

This kind of thing is just one reason why it is foolish for fans and GMs to put too much faith in rookies. That being said, negotiations are just a part of the NFL. The important thing is Raji's long term contributions to the Packers. Even if Raji had a full training camp, it is unlikely that he ends up saving TT's job. Sit back and relax. Everything happens for a reason. For all we know, if he had signed earlier, he may have already suffered a career ending injury. Maybe the holdout saved the Packers from losing him. There is no reason to lose sleep over this matter.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Well in Harrell's defense (and certainly not Ted's), he was injured when we drafted him! Look back. It's true. And there were questions about his work ethic and his conditioning. And how many of us on draft day heard his name announced and said, "who?" Pitiful. Raji (we were told) et al. were the reason we have all this cap room and he's the guy that was going to eat up two blockers and make this 3-4 thing go. Maybe we should have kept quiet on that?'Cause he wants to be paid like the guy described above. Meanwhile Ron Brace is already in the mix at NE.

[Vikingfan]

GBPfan wrote:

This kind of thing is just one reason why it is foolish for fans and GMs to put too much faith in rookies. That being said, negotiations are just a part of the NFL. The important thing is Raji's long term contributions to the Packers. Even if Raji had a full training camp, it is unlikely that he ends up saving TT's job. Sit back and relax. Everything happens for a reason. For all we know, if he had signed earlier, he may have already suffered a career ending injury. Maybe the holdout saved the Packers from losing him. There is no reason to lose sleep over this matter.

Have to agree with this, I also am enjoying the Raji holdout. He looks like a beast, would not mind seeing him sit this year out.

[jeremy]

players sitting out is never a good thing, but this guy doesn't want to be under paid compared to his fellow top ten picks, this is the only thing I don't like about the NFL, and it has to stop.

[eric]

with a strike looming after this current contract up ( I think after 10) im sure there will be a cap on rookie salaries,so rookies this year and next year who will only play a year or 2 before work stoppage and who knows how long it will last is trying to break the bank.Maybe its me but there seems to be a few more holdouts or complaints of salery around,thats why i came to that conclusion.
This strike if there is one will be a big one! Small market teams like the Packers were saved by the cap,but,cant keep up with the signing bonuses being handed out and that has tobe dealt with as well and im sure that will be a sticking point as well as Owners wanting a bigger piece,so i just might last a long time.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Well eric has a point, in tha several of the non-signees are understandable because of their draft and field position. Crabtree is a factor in what Raji can expect and ditto for Jeremy Maclin. Eugene Monroe is looking at Percy Harvin's money for clues and Andre Smith's agent(?) is keeping an eye on that figure. And Malcolm Jenkins signed for 5 years,$ 19 million. So all this factors in, not the least of which is looking back at Harrell's 6 yr.,$ 15 million with 8 guaranteed. Ploy? What good does it do? I think they are nowhere close to a deal or he would stay close to the team so he could report immediately. But it did make the papers, so??

[eric]

once one of them sign,it should be a domino effect but no one wants to be the first and draw the line in the sand for the rest to fall into place.Raji is doing himself no favors by leaving either.
How hard can this be.take last years numbers and add 8% or so to it and get it done! IF THE PLAYER SAYS NO,see what he comes back with,if its outrageous,let his asss sit for the season and go out on the waiver wires or trade a WR for a D.lineman.By Sept when the game checks aren't coming in,any one who holds out will comeback and its then up to the team what to do,if you want him sign him.if you say you had no training camp then screw it and let him go into next years draft.

[GBPfan]

eric wrote:

once one of them sign,it should be a domino effect but no one wants to be the first and draw the line in the sand for the rest to fall into place.Raji is doing himself no favors by leaving either.
How hard can this be.take last years numbers and add 8% or so to it and get it done! IF THE PLAYER SAYS NO,see what he comes back with,if its outrageous,let his asss sit for the season and go out on the waiver wires or trade a WR for a D.lineman.By Sept when the game checks aren't coming in,any one who holds out will comeback and its then up to the team what to do,if you want him sign him.if you say you had no training camp then screw it and let him go into next years draft.

Relax. This is a process that takes time. If the process goes as you describe, it takes up to nine months and culminates in next year's draft. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Plenty of preseason remains. Raji will be fine. Don't be so negative.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Well Raji and his agent see the Justin Harrell situation also and know that we need him or someone else. We are by no means set at NT. I mentioned Ron Brace in an earlier post not only because he was Raji's line mate at BC but because of his strong start at NE. Vince Wilfork is apparently available (and makes about what Harrell does, btw).

[GBPfan]

One problem with releasing Harrell is that he will continue to count against the cap due to the signing bonus. We all know how loose TT is with the purse strings -- NOT!

[normallylikeyell ow]

Explained this elsewhere. It's not much after this season.

[normallylikeyell ow]

Also, he isn't gonna play either way. So we need another DT.

[wal0645]

The thing is Harrell is taking a roster spot for someone who could make a contribution. Harrell has proven to be unreliable and I say waive him even though we still owe him some dough.

[GBPfan]

Hmmmmmmm. Sounds like people feel the need to give the current management and coaching staff advice. Losing confidence in the Packer management?

[jeremy]

GBPfan wrote:

Hmmmmmmm. Sounds like people feel the need to give the current management and coaching staff advice. Losing confidence in the Packer management?

We can't afford to just let him go, fans will ridicule management because Harrell is a bust, and I know he isn't the only player in the league this has happened to. I wouldn't just let my car go dirt cheap when I owe a lot of money on it because it's giving me problems, I would try to fix the problem and hope it can be reliable for me down the road. So far Harell is breaking the bank though.

[GBPfan]

jeremy wrote:

<quoted text>We can't afford to just let him go, fans will ridicule management because Harrell is a bust, and I know he isn't the only player in the league this has happened to. I wouldn't just let my car go dirt cheap when I owe a lot of money on it because it's giving me problems, I would try to fix the problem and hope it can be reliable for me down the road. So far Harell is breaking the bank though.

Fans should not ridicule management because Harrell is a bust. They should ridicule management for all of the losing and faikure over TT's reign of mismanagement. Individual decisions, such as drafting Harrell, are unimportant. Results are important. TT's results: 31-33 and one playoff appearance. TT needs to go.

[normallylikeyell ow]

You may keep your expensive car, but if it is always in the shop you have to rent another one to take it's place. Brilliant analogy. I think a trade-in is going to impossible on this clunker, but as Wal says, let's put him on Ebay. Looks like Raji's "ploy" worked.

[GBPfan]

Too bad the Packers can't take advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" program. I'm sure Harrell doesn't meet the mileage requirements.