2012 Offseason Thread - Williams Still Not 100% - Page 127

[RiotPunch]

We should, yes. After we add our current space with the $6.2 million of rollover space from last year, cut Clifton and restructure Driver, and assuming the league-wide cap increases from $120 million to $124-125 million, we should be sitting pretty. We only need that $14 million for a day or so to trade him, then we can go back and talk with Wells or whatever.

[Bucksfans1and2]

We should, yes. After we add our current space with the $6.2 million of rollover space from last year, cut Clifton and restructure Driver, and assuming the league-wide cap increases from $120 million to $124-125 million, we should be sitting pretty. We only need that $14 million for a day or so to trade him, then we can go back and talk with Wells or whatever.

I've only heard a scale up from one source and I've heard staying the same from several sources.

We had 14.2 before we resigned Finley. Franchise for a QB is 14.1. 7.5 for Finley has us at 6.7 in space.

Driver and Clifton will be cut or restructure to free up the rest if we wanted to do it.

Edit: Finley getting 5.75 the first year. Putting us at 8.5 for 2012.

Driver will have a cap number of 5 Mil

Clifton will have a cap number of 5.45 Mil

[RiotPunch]

We should, yes. After we add our current space with the $6.2 million of rollover space from last year, cut Clifton and restructure Driver, and assuming the league-wide cap increases from $120 million to $124-125 million, we should be sitting pretty. We only need that $14 million for a day or so to trade him, then we can go back and talk with Wells or whatever.

I've only heard a scale up from one source and I've heard staying the same from several sources.

We had 14.2 before we resigned Finley.

Where do you get your figures? And I remember hearing Andrew Brandt predict a $4 million scale up not too long ago, but I haven't heard any other reports... just an assumption on my part.

[Ayt]

I think paying Wells like a top 5 center would be way too much. Wouldn't he be making well over $6M+ per year?

To me it comes down to the signing bonus. How large and what impact across multiple years.

As with Cullen Jenkins last year, this team has a Super Bowl core and is really close to another one. I don't think you can plan on a 5 or 7 year window. The time is now. When you have guys on either side of the line who perform, I think you have to keep them even if it might be 10 or 20% overpayment.

Paying a dude like Wells 7M a year to make him a top 5 center would be absurd.

If we draft well, we should be able to replace a guy like that within the first 3 rounds. I'd love to use our 1st rounder on an interior lineman since they are so undervalued at the top of the draft, with the rest of the draft being D.

[Wilford Brimley]

If Ted tags Flynn and flips him for Miami's #8, I will.......

[RiotPunch]

If Ted tags Flynn and flips him for Miami's #8, I will.......

Where ya been, broheem?

[paulpressey25]

Paying a dude like Wells 7M a year to make him a top 5 center would be absurd.

I'm not advocating paying him $7mm a year. But I guess it would be interesting to know what the Packers offered versus what Wells is asking for. You just don't want to see a repeat of the Cullen Jenkins situation where you find Wells signing with some other team for 3/$15 with an $5 million dollar signing bonus and then learn that if the Packers offered 3/$18/6 signing bonus that it would have gotten the deal done.

And as with all NFL contracts, it isn't the per year average but the signing bonus and guaranteed payout. We could give him a 4/$25 with a $6 million signing bonus and first year salary of $1 million and second year salary of $2 million, thus only guaranteeing him $9 million total over two years.

[Wilford Brimley]

Where ya been, broheem?

Oh, you know, just dreaming about my dream offseason

FA: Anthony Spencer
Miami's #8: Morris Claiborne

[Turk Nowitzki]

Even Miami isn't dumb enough to give up #8 for Flynn.

[DigitalFool]

Even Miami isn't dumb enough to give up #8 for Flynn.

#8 wouldn't happen straight up - but maybe Flynn/#28 for #8 is possible. Still unlikely, but at least plausible.

[MickeyDavis]

Frim SI:

The Packers, somewhat surprisingly and out of the blue, locked up tight end Jermichael Finley with a two-year, $15 million contract extension. And now it’s time for Green Bay to decide if it wants to roll the dice on Matt Flynn.

Finley’s signing means Green Bay still has possession of its all-important franchise tag for 2012, which could help the NFC North champs hold on to their highly-coveted backup quarterback, who would drum up plenty of interest as a free agent. Using that tag on Flynn, however, would run the Packers $14.4 million for next season.

That would not be a problem if Green Bay tagged Flynn and then traded him for a high draft pick, thereby allowing Flynn’s new team to rework his contract. But there is some inherent risk in going down that road.


The doomsday scenario for the Packers is that they tag Flynn, then cannot find a trade partner for him — in which case, they’d be stuck with a $14 million backup quarterback and a host of salary cap problems. There are enough teams desperate to find a starting QB that Green Bay might feel that risk is minimal. It’s a risk nonetheless.

Teams don’t part with first- or second-round picks easily, and that would probably be close to the going rate for Flynn. Let’s not forget that, despite his Week 17 outburst against Detroit’s miserable secondary, Flynn has started just two games in his four-year NFL career.

Any team trading for him, because of the financial risk involved, would not only have to cough up a high pick, it would have to be 100 percent confident Flynn could step in and succeed as a starter in 2012.

There’s also the reality for Green Bay that using the franchise tag on Flynn may cost them starting center Scott Wells. Thus far, Green Bay has been unable to come to terms with Wells, who has started every game the past two seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2011. Right now, the Packers at least have the franchise tag in their back pocket as a fail-safe for the Wells negotiations (even if using it would cost them $8 million-plus, barring a reworked long-term deal postmortem).

These were all scenarios on the table prior to Wednesday’s re-signing of Finley, of course, but before that occurred, the smart money was on Green Bay using the tag on its talented (if sometimes drop-prone) tight end.

Now, it’s a completely new ballgame.

Green Bay, it’s worth pointing out, could opt to just stash the franchise tag completely and not use it on anyone. The danger in that decision would be that it could cost the Packers both Flynn and Wells — definitely the former, who’s not going to re-sign to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup. On the flip side, however, it would prevent the Packers from making any massive commitment to either player, guaranteeing them a healthy salary cap situation.

No matter how you slice it, it is decision time for the Packers. Do they lock up Wells for at least one more year? Do they take a shot on tagging Flynn in the belief that they can turn around and deal him? Or do they keep the franchise tag on ice, let Flynn depart via free agency and try to re-sign Wells?

Getting Finley back in tow helped the Packers’ outlook, but they’re still a long way from an easy, stress-free offseason.

[trwi7]

Obviously the Packers would want a 2nd or 1st for Flynn but say they tag him and no team offers that, they make it sound like we would be stuck with him and his $14.4 million. I'm sure some team would give up a 3rd and a 5th for example. It's not like the only options are get a 1st, 2nd or keep him and his salary.

[Newz]

Obviously the Packers would want a 2nd or 1st for Flynn but say they tag him and no team offers that, they make it sound like we would be stuck with him and his $14.4 million. I'm sure some team would give up a 3rd and a 5th for example. It's not like the only options are get a 1st, 2nd or keep him and his salary.

No real reason to tag him and take the risk unless you believe you can get a 1st or 2nd. Otherwise just wait a year and get the comp pick.

[emunney]

Obviously the Packers would want a 2nd or 1st for Flynn but say they tag him and no team offers that, they make it sound like we would be stuck with him and his $14.4 million. I'm sure some team would give up a 3rd and a 5th for example. It's not like the only options are get a 1st, 2nd or keep him and his salary.

No real reason to tag him and take the risk unless you believe you can get a 1st or 2nd. Otherwise just wait a year and get the comp pick.

A third from a team is better in that it's this year and it's earlier in the round.

Also, this:

Aaron Rodgers @AaronRodgers12 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
No. RT @realSamek12 I could take @AaronRodgers12 at jeopardy

[Newz]

A third from a team is better in that it's this year and it's earlier in the round

I wouldn't take the risk just to move up 15-20 spots in the 3rd round and get the pick a year earlier.

Getting stuck with Flynn at that salary would be awful.

[emunney]

A third from a team is better in that it's this year and it's earlier in the round

I wouldn't take the risk just to move up 15-20 spots in the 3rd round and get the pick a year earlier.

Getting stuck with Flynn at that salary would be awful.

I don't think TT would take the risk either. I don't even think he'd take it for a 1st. I would take tagging Flynn as a sign that there's no real risk involved. Whatever the return.

[Newz]

A third from a team is better in that it's this year and it's earlier in the round

I wouldn't take the risk just to move up 15-20 spots in the 3rd round and get the pick a year earlier.

Getting stuck with Flynn at that salary would be awful.

I don't think TT would take the risk either. I don't even think he'd take it for a 1st. I would take tagging Flynn as a sign that there's no real risk involved. Whatever the return.

That I agree with.

[Reddeye]

I would be surprised if a team gave up more than a 3rd for Flynn. He is not an elite level QB. This reminds me of all the hype Kolb got.

Flynn, I believe, can be a successful NFL starter, but — and here’s where the Walsh archetype comes into play — he must be carefully manipulated by the schematics of the passing game, and helped by the play-calling.

http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/02/23/cosell-talks-matt-flynn-and-the-art-of-quarterbacking/

[ReasonablySober]

Cosell basically echoed my thoughts on Flynn, and why Miami is probably the only logical place where he can be successful. That is, unless some other team decides to essentially copy Green Bay's offense.

[emunney]

I would be surprised if a team gave up more than a 3rd for Flynn. He is not an elite level QB. This reminds me of all the hype Kolb got.

I hope we get something that reminds me of what the Eagles got for Kolb.