Jenkins probably gone - he offered Packers hometown discount

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

From NFP

Cullen Jenkins offered the Green Bay Packers a hometown discount in exchange for some long-term security but at this point the defensive lineman sounds like a man resigned to the fact that he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2011.

Jenkins, a valuable member of the team’s front, turned 30 in January and he’s now out of a contract and held up as a free agent by the NFL’s lockout. Although he’s battled some injuries the past few seasons, he’ll likely be coveted on the open market.

Jenkins talked about the Super Bowl champion Packers in the past tense when visiting on ESPN Milwaukee according to Jason Wilde.

“Heading into last year, I’ve always been up there and always been a Packer, and I wanted to stay a Packer,” Jenkins said. “So we approached the team and wanted to get some type of security, some type of longer-term deal before the season so I would know I would be there. It wasn’t about money, it was about security, about trying to see if we could work something out.”

Would he take a lesser offer to remain with the Packers?

“Yeah,” Jenkins replied. “That was the thought then. I knew in going to them, I know Green Bay, I know the market, I know how they handle business, and the thought was if we could get something reasonable worked out, I knew I would take less than what I could’ve gotten in free agency. But they never approached me with anything and never got any type of negotiations going. It’s just how the business is. They had a lot of younger guys and felt they could move forward in that direction.”

Jenkins missed five games with a hamstring pull last season and also had a broken hand. He still turned in career-best production. He missed 12 games in 2008 with a torn pectoral muscle. So there’s some risk in investing in a player with his kind of mileage, but he’s proven he can excel in 4-3 and 3-4 schemes.

While he hasn’t completely ruled out returning to the Packers, he knows Mike Neal is waiting in the wings.
“The possibility is there, I guess,” Jenkins said. “It’s one of those things that I’m not really looking into (though). I’m just waiting for this lockout to be over with so I can figure out what options I’m going to have.”

Chances are if Jenkins leaves Green Bay, he’ll be leaving for a lucrative offer.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

[Wilford Brimley]

So....we just don't want him?

[Newz]

TT must have issues with his age, the spike of production in a contract year and injury concerns. He may also just want to preserve some cash... Or maybe he just has faith in Neal and Wilson to become dominate?

Who knows. All I know, is I trust TT.

[ReasonablySober]

When the subject of re-signing Jenkins or Jones comes up, I remember this link.

Now who knows how that has changed over the last couple months, but it should give you an idea of how much money we've got tied up in the roster.

I think it's simply a case of we can't afford him.

[MickeyDavis]

Of course it all depends what the actual numbers were. Jenkins might call it a "discount" but that doesn't mean it was realistic. I hate to lose the guy but I'll defer to TT on this one. And other teams do tend to overpay for Super Bowl free agents. It sounds good: "we just signed a starter from the Super Bowl Champion Packers".

[Newz]

I still like our defensive line, even without him.

You have Raji, who is a stud at NT. Then you have Pickett and Green who are both solid guys at DE and can sub at NT if you need to lessen Raji's snaps. Then behind those guys you have Wilson who has the talent to be a very solid player and Neal who has the talent to be an absolute stud.

Pretty much just need one more guy to fill in that rotation. Wynn is okay as a 6th DL guy, IMO. Hopefully Guy pans out and is something worth keeping. Maybe Harrell finally gets healthy (though I doubt it).

[LUKE23]

I think we keep him if our cap number is lower. We've kept pretty much everyone else of significance the last couple of years and that starts to add up.

The biggest thing for me is his pass rush. I expect our run D to not miss a beat, but we will really need Neal to reach his full potential this year.

[eagle13]

I trust TT but still disapointed that losing barnet, tauscher, jones, jackson & popp isn't enuf savings to do it.

[ReasonablySober]

I trust TT but still disapointed that losing barnet, tauscher, jones, jackson & popp isn't enuf savings to do it.

Cutting Barnett, Tauscher and Poppinga would save the Packers a good chunk of change, around $13 million.

[MickeyDavis]

Neal is the wildcard. He showed flashes in his brief time on the field but who knows if he can maintaine that (or his health) through a full season.

Barnett makes too much, missed 12 games last year and 7 in 2008, turns 30 in 3 weeks and would not be happy being a backup. And given the success we had with Hawk/Bishop inside he WOULD be a backup. If he were younger, cheaper and had not been injured 2 of the last 3 years of course I'd keep him for depth.

Jones I'm conflicted on, that's another one I'll defer to TT. Tauscher is done. Popp is no loss.

[jakecronus8]

Losing a team leader and a guy who is elite at his position is really gonna sting. That is unless TT is planing on playing a game of scrabble. Then I bust out teh fap.

[eagle13]

I trust TT but still disapointed that losing barnet, tauscher, jones, jackson & popp isn't enuf savings to do it.

Cutting Barnett, Tauscher and Poppinga would save the Packers a good chunk of change, around $13 million.

Exactly. Spend a portion on Cullen for 3 yrs max? probably not. Hope Neal can stay healthy.

[Newz]

Losing a team leader and a guy who is elite at his position is really gonna sting. That is unless TT is planing on playing a game of scrabble. Then I bust out teh fap.

I think the thing that TT worries about is Jenkins was elite at his position for one season (last season)... and that season was when he was 30 years old and in his contract year.

He's definitely been good before that, but he wasn't the impact player that he was last season.

So that is something you have to consider as well.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

We need to cut Barnett, Poppinga, and Tauscher even if we don't sign Jenkins. No way those 3 are worth $13 million. I'd rather our late round rookies have a roster spot than those 3.

[th87]

Wouldn't it be possible that TT is waiting until the labor issues are taken care of before approaching him?

[MickeyDavis]

Maybe. But TT has never been one to wait. If he really wanted Jenks back it would have been a much better idea to wrap him up rather than let him hit the market.

[bigkurty]

It sucks but how many times have we not resigned an aging vet and then they fall apart a couple years into their next contract?

[OBF-MKE]

TT must have issues with his age, the spike of production in a contract year and injury concerns. He may also just want to preserve some cash... Or maybe he just has faith in Neal and Wilson to become dominate?

Who knows. All I know, is I trust TT.

[El Duderino]

Maybe. But TT has never been one to wait. If he really wanted Jenks back it would have been a much better idea to wrap him up rather than let him hit the market.

Yep

We had a situation last year with an uncapped season, if Ted wanted to keep Cullen, that was an ideal time to do so as he did with Tramon for example. It would suck though if Jenkins ended up on the Bears as some rumors say they have interest. A duo of Jenkins/Peppers at DE for the Bears would be both a very good pass rushing and stout run defending pair. Plus, each time we played Chicago, i'm sure Jenkins would be extra motivated to make Ted think he made a mistake in letting Jenkins go.

[Dumby-Dust]

Got to trust Ted but he's always gonna do stuff that makes most of us wonder. I'll miss Jenkins, dude pretty much single handidly won the 49er's game for us last year. I'd personally stretch on him since nothing is guaranteed other then the signing bonus.