RFA's (Tramon, Jolly, Bigby) face 11 PM deadline
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:40 pm
Now it gets interesting with RFAs
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
June 14, 2010 3:33 p.m. |(0) Comments
Green Bay - As of right now (and this could change at any moment), the Packers' three restricted free agents - CB Tramon Williams, DE Johnny Jolly and S Atari Bigby - remain unsigned.
If they do not sign their tender by 11:01 p.m. CT tonight, the Packers then have the right to replace their tenders and pay them 110% of their 2009 base salary.
Here's what those would look like:
As you can see, Williams and Jolly could be facing a huge pay cut if the Packers decide to exercise their right to replace the tender.
Several teams have sent letters to their unsigned restricted free agents informing the players that they will cut their salary if the player doesn't sign. It is not known whether the Packers have done that. None of the agents involved have returned several messages from the Journal Sentinel. The Packers don't comment on contract negotiations.
All the teams involved in this situation know they face the prospect of one very big consequence if they do replace the tender: they'll have one very upset player. In fact, the player could decide not to risk injury at such a low salary and sit out the entire season.
Two San Diego Chargers players, Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil, have already stated that's what they will do if the Chargers cut their salary. Logan Mankins of the New England Patriots said today he wants to be traded.
For Bigby, there's really not much to lose by continuing not to sign his contract. Even though rookie Morgan Burnett has looked good so far, he's still unproven and the Packers have no depth at the position.
Williams knows he has leverage on the Packers as he tries to get a long-term deal while Al Harris is on the mend, and Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood are unproven behind Charles Woodson.
No one is sure why Jolly, who is scheduled to go on trial for felony drug possession on July 30, hasn't signed his upgraded tender. He could very well be hoping the Packers, who probably won't be offering him a long-term contract at any point, release him so he can get his new deal with a signing bonus someplace else as soon as possible.
All three players are not obligated to attend next week's mandatory mini-camp until they are under contract.
