RealGM

One of the Green Bay Packers' most explosive offensive weapons has returned to the team.

No, it's not that one. FOXSports.com has learned that the team has agreed to a contract extension with absent running back Ryan Grant. Terms of the deal are not yet known.

Grant exploded onto the scene last year with 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games.

Grant has yet to show up to training camp, and he was seeking a substantial raise to be the featured back in the Packers offense.

Grant's deal is done, he'll report Sunday
By Tom Silverstein
Saturday, Aug 2 2008, 07:32 PM

Green Bay -- Running back Ryan Grant scored a major victory in his negotiations with the Green Bay Packers, agreeing to terms on a four-year contract loaded with incentives and escalators that could earn him $30 million, his agent Alan Herman told the Journal Sentinel.

"He's very happy," Herman said. "It's been a dream year for him."

The Packers started out offering only a $1.75 million signing bonus, but Herman was able to negotiate a deal that will pay Grant a $3 million roster bonus when he signs the contract and another $1.25 million through base salary ($750,000) and another roster bonus ($500,000).

Thus, Grant will earn $4.25 million this year. Over two years, his take will be $8 million.

Herman said that there are many layers of incentives and escalators that will compensate Grant handsomely if he produces the way he did last year when he rushed for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games.

If Grant rushes for 1,500 yards this year, he will earn another $4 million 2009, Herman said. If he only rushes for 1,000 yards he would earn an additional $1 million.

Herman said the base salaries in the contract were set but the incentives and escalators will determine Grant's income each year. He said based on the way Grant plays the next four years, he could earn $30 million or $24 million or $18 million.

He said the four-year deal will allow Grant, 25, to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 season.

paulpressey25 wrote:It is good to have him in camp, albeit a week late. These longer holdouts seem to end up really costing the player and team as the player (usually RB's) seem to then get injured or never get into a groove.

I'm excited this thing is so incentive laden.....that's what is great about the NFL by and large. If he produces he gets tons of dough.....otherwise about $8 million or even much less is guaranteed if I'm reading the story right.

DrugBust wrote:

paulpressey25 wrote:It is good to have him in camp, albeit a week late. These longer holdouts seem to end up really costing the player and team as the player (usually RB's) seem to then get injured or never get into a groove.

I'm excited this thing is so incentive laden.....that's what is great about the NFL by and large. If he produces he gets tons of dough.....otherwise about $8 million or even much less is guaranteed if I'm reading the story right.

Sounds like a good deal. I'm glad it's not a six year contract. Even with the lack of a lot of tread on those tires, I don't like runningbacks as they get to 30. If Jackson turns out to be a solid player he'll only be 26 when Grants contract runs out.

Why wouldn't you rather it be a six year deal?

Contracts in the NFL aren't guaranteed. If after say four years Grant looked to be sliding, GB could just cut him.

mnstinks wrote:

Why wouldn't you rather it be a six year deal?

Contracts in the NFL aren't guaranteed. If after say four years Grant looked to be sliding, GB could just cut him.

(If he was sliding)
...More money, he would be up there in age, and would count against the cap longer...