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Adam Schefter
K Mason Crosby has agreed to terms with the Packers on a 5-year deal.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the deal is worth $14.75 million and includes $3 million of guaranteed money.

The contract puts Crosby in the upper echelon of kickers in the National Football League just below top-paid kicker Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders.

Rodgers calls James Jones 'priority No. 1'
Many of us presumed the Green Bay Packers were prepared to let receiver James Jones move on via free agency. I, for one, have been among those who wondered if the Packers would commit market-level money to a pass-catcher when Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley will all be on the roster in 2011.

Well, none of us asked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Appearing Tuesday on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee, Rodgers lobbied for Jones' return in the strongest terms imaginable.

"James is extremely talented and he's a guy that I think we need to bring back without a doubt," Rodgers said. "He should be priority No. 1 and I mean that with all my heart. He really should be priority No. 1. We don't win the Super Bowl without him and we need him."

Asked about Jones' well-documented drops last season, Rodgers said: "Physical mistakes can happen. Yeah, it's frustrating, but James made a ton of big plays for us [last] season and I think his best football is in front of him."

Whoa.

General manager Ted Thompson doesn't typically consult with players on such matters and Rodgers admitted his job isn't to make such decisions. But when the Super Bowl MVP speaks up forcefully on a personnel issue, it's worth listening to. If nothing else, we know Rodgers will be quite disappointed if Jones moves on.

There are a number of high quality receivers available, and the market has yet to develop. It's possible the Packers could wind up with Jones at a bargain price. We'll see.

TheMove wrote:Crosby has one of the better legs for kickers. As far as making FGs though hes at the bottom and one of the worst in the NFL. I dont trust Crosby anytime he kicks. I consider him a avg kicker at best.

Ryan5UW wrote:Yeah, the contact for Crosby might be a bit high, but a lot of that has to do with timing. As other good kickers get new contacts, he'll move back down the list from a relative standpoint.

It’s no surprise that kicker Mason Crosby re-signed with the Packers.

Crosby told the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Rob Demovsky yesterday that he had every intention of re-signing with the team, that he loves it in Green Bay, and was only waiting for the Packers to make him an offer.

Crosby has a powerful leg but there has been some concern about his slightly below-average 78.1% career field goal average. Most teams like to see their kickers make 80% or more of their field goals.

But in Crosby’s defense, 21 of his 137 career field goal attempts have come from 50 yards or longer, and those lower percentage kicks have brought down Crosby’s average.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy hasn’t hesitated to send Crosby out to attempt long field goals because of his strong leg. And why not? Crosby’s long kicks in each of the past four seasons have been from 53, 53, 52 and 56 yards. Overall, Crosby has made 10 of 21 field goals from 50 yards or longer.

Inside 50 yards, Crosby has made 97 of 116 field goals (83.6%). The Packers clearly factored that into the equation when they decided to offer Crosby a five-year contract that averages nearly $3 million per season.

In addition, kicking at Lambeau Field in cold weather and swirling winds is no picnic and has also worked against Crosby’s overall career average.

The Packers have never wavered in their support of Crosby, and it showed when it came time to show him the money.