Packers Daily Links: Lane Taylor Receives Biggest Bonus Among Undrafted Rookies

The offensive lineman out of Oklahoma State reportedly received a $7,000 signing bonus from the Packers. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Offensive lineman Lane Taylor of Oklahoma State received the biggest signing bonus at $7,000 among all the Green Bay Packers' undrafted rookies this season, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Behind Taylor, the Packers paid signing bonuses of $5,000 to Illinois State quarterback Matt Brown, Mississippi defensive tackle Gilbert Pena, Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner and Eastern Michigan outside linebacker Andy Mulumba," writes Hodkiewicz. Signing bonuses typically indicate who the Packers think of mostly highly. By no means does such a signing bonus guarantee Taylor of a roster spot, but there's obviously something the Packers like about the kid.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop is featured in an article by Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel. "Bishop, 28, admits he'll probably stay cautious through organized team activities and minicamp this spring," writes Dunne. "But he also says he'll be '110%' ready for training camp." Another interesting thing Bishop says is that it's his goal to be the defensive MVP for the 2013 season. That's a pretty lofty goal for a guy coming off a torn hamstring last season, but there's nothing wrong with dreaming big. I have my hesitations that Bishop will be the same player he once was, but I'm not ruling it out either. In any case, the feature on Bishop is fantastic and gets into a lot of his life history, growing up around gangs and drugs.

More on Desmond Bishop appears at the JSOnline blog.

As noted at ESPN.com's NFC North blog, Kevin Seifert picks up on a local television interview that the Packers are expected to be the Vikings' first opponent in their new stadium in 2016. "In 2003, the NFL scheduled the Minnesota Vikings as the Green Bay Packers' first opponent in the renovated Lambeau Field," notes Seifert. "So naturally, the Vikings are expecting the league to return the favor 13 years later." Seifert quotes Vikings vice president Lester Bagley as the source. From a fan standpoint, nothing would be more perfect than the Packers winning the Super Bowl and getting to host the Kickoff game the following season to foil the Vikings' plans.

Former Packer Charles Woodson is starting to gain some interest on the free agent market, and he spoke to the Detroit Free Press about the possibility of playing for the division rival Lions this past weekend. “Here's the thing about the Lions: The Lions have players. They just haven't been able to put it together,” Woodson is quoted as saying. “Would I be open to playing (for them)? No question. But the dollars have to make sense, too.” Woodson is reportedly going to visit the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, so there may be competition for his services.

More on Charles Woodson and his charity fundraiser for the Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. comes from MLive.com.

The Packers are currently $13 million below the salary cap, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report. "During the offseason, the combined total of the top 51 players must be below the $123 million cap," writes Huber. "With just a little more work to be done, the Packers have plenty of space for contract extensions." Players like Sam Shields, B.J. Raji, Morgan Burnett and James Jones figure high to be on the list of the next contract extensions.

More on the salary cap comes from Packer Report.

A couple features appearing at ESPNMilwaukee.com over the weekend include pieces on Nate Palmer, Kevin Dorsey and Bart Starr.

Items on rookie running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin, Jarrett Bush and Santana Dotson come from the Press-Gazette.

Speaking of Lacy and Franklin, Acme Packing Company caught some footage of the two running backs at the NFL's Rookie Premiere this past weekend.

Other items at Acme Packing Company include blog posts on Graham Harrell, M.D. Jennings and the front office.

Lombardi Ave. also has a piece on Graham Harrell as well as others on James Starks, Mason Crosby and Angelo Pease.

A closer look at Aaron Rodgers' 51 sacks last season appears at AllGreenBayPackers.com.

Offensive lineman Andrew Datko is featured in an article at Packer Report.

Safety Jerron McMillian is the topic of a post at the Packer Ranter.

Video: Wide receiver James Jones held his first ever youth football camp in Green Bay over the weekend. Coverage comes from Fox 11...

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Comments (7)

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eVade's picture

May 20, 2013 at 12:47 pm

The 13 million cap number is quite inflated.

The top 51 (including Shields at his tender value) is 118M+. With slightly more than 7M in carry over that leaves them around 11M of space when filled out to 53. Pushed out to your typical 55+ contracts depending on what happens in camp, the weekly PS contract obligations and any injury settlements and you are at maybe 10M, maybe less depending on who goes on the shelf. Say Shields gets a new deal with a couple million in bonus, there goes another 500K, maybe more depending on his salary and bonus values.

A realistic number to report for the cap right now would be 9 million, maybe more if things go well.

Also remember that they don't want to spend right up to the limit because you always need money just in case (think 2010). Based on the way the team has operated in the past, you could say they have about 3 to 4M in money beyond what has been allocated for Sam that could be spent in other ways.

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redlights's picture

May 21, 2013 at 07:42 am

If the cap only counts the top 51, then the PS wouldn't be included; also am uncertain of injury settlements. Anyone know for sure?

I assume that 500K for Shields would be on top of his tender.

You bring up good points about real cap numbers, but I think TT will make it work.

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wiazcat's picture

May 20, 2013 at 01:50 pm

I could say the packers taking a wait in see with Shields. I think they want to see if Williams is going to be the player before or after the shoulder. I can see Williams being cut.
Raji or Burnett are likely candidates for the franchise tag. If Jones gets a reasonable offer he will be back.
I am intrigued with the packers defense this
year. If Perry and bishop comeback healthy and with the addition to Jones you will have
almost half of front seven new. I could also see the packers moving house to safety depending on what happens at corner.
I also would not be suprised for Kuhn and Bush being cut.

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Stroh's picture

May 20, 2013 at 03:30 pm

House isn't a safety. He's way too good at CB to move him to safety. He excels in press man coverage. His skills don't translate to safety. Among the CB Hayward would be best at safety

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Ma Linger's picture

May 20, 2013 at 03:14 pm

I got this thing that the real top players in all sports ten to keep their mouths shut and just play and show everyone else how good they are. When you say your going to be 110 percent, ya that's right up to the point you get injured and start saying, aw shucks, I could have done it.
Bishop, shut up and play football, something you failed to do last year and why the team is trying to dump you.

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Point Packer's picture

May 20, 2013 at 04:34 pm

Another in a long line of stupid comments. And I the 10 seconds it took to read I will never get back, "aw shucks".

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Chad Toporski's picture

May 21, 2013 at 10:41 am

smh...

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