Packers Should Extend Williams, Reduce Others
The Packers have some choices to make today as to how to proceed with their three unsigned restricted free agents.
By PackerAaron
Today is the day the Packers can reduce their offers to their three unsigned restricted free agents. While the team has reportedly sent a letter to Atary Bigby indicating they will do just that, Bigby is not really the issue. As Greg Bedard laid out yesterday, the team can reduce the offers to 110% of the players salary the previous year. For Bigby, that is not all that a dramatic a reduction, going from a tender worth $1,759,000 to a $1,704,538 salary offer.
Yesterday, Mike Florio indicated that he thought Bigby receiving the letter meant that Tramon Williams and Johnny Jolly had to. I'm not sure that's exactly the case. While I could see them sending that letter to Jolly, I have a hard time believing they would get that contentious with Williams, who agreed to a one year deal last May while refusing to sign his exclusive-rights tender. My hunch is that the Packers are working on extending Williams and hopefully will get something done today. Yes, this is way out there in throwing-darts-blindfolded land, but I just think we'll hear good news about Williams soon.
As for Bigby and Jolly, I fully expect them both to have their salary offers reduced today - but remember, that's all it is a salary offer. Both sides can still negotiate and Bigby reportedly could be ready to sit out through camp.
The plot thickens.
UPDATE: And with one Tweet, Bedard blows up my whole post:
But according to a source with contract information, the Packers sent all three players letters at least threatening to cut their tenders.
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Comments (5)
June 15, 2010 at 10:44 am
IMO the Packers don't need Jolly as bad as they need Williams and Bigby. I would like to have Jolly on the roster and in the rotation, but the Pack has enough starting talent, Jolly just adds good depth.
On the other hand both safety and corner positions are NOT set as far as starters, and depth remains a question. Particularly at safety, Bigby may not be a play maker, but he solidified the position last year. People forget about what the Pack went through at that position before Bigby took over. IMO people are putting way too much faith in this rookie we drafted, he has not even put on pads yet.
Not sure what TT is thinking at this point, it will be interesting.
I can see rolling the dice (something I would not do) with the rookie stepping up in place of Bigby, but Williams has to get signed and in camp.
June 15, 2010 at 11:21 am
The packs truly need to lock up T'mon. For those who doesn't know him personally, that's better known as Tramon Williams. However, he has proven that he's worthy of a big contract extention. What he brings to the packs is something that most teams does not have at this point.
June 15, 2010 at 11:51 am
"Yes, this is way out there in throwing-darts-blindfolded land, but I just think we’ll hear good news about Williams soon."
Not way out there at all. Tramon is in the future plans as far as the FO is concerned. Wouldn't be surprised at all. In fact they're gonna extend him sometime (he is the only 'successor' as of now), what better time than now? End this game of Chicken... get something done (cap-less year anyone?).
GBP 4 LIFE
June 15, 2010 at 02:19 pm
We do need Bigby, however he's the one not signing the packers aren't doing anything outside of their rights.
We aren't going to sign him to an extension because he's frequently hurt and frequently below par on the field.
Tramon is a solid corner we'd be fools not to lock him up.
June 16, 2010 at 09:57 am
What most people don't seem to realize or understand is that, Tramon is a great young corner. He has only played 3 full NFL seasons however, only two of those at cornerback. Also, he has been playing at a very high level as well as being very productive. Yes, he did have a few flags called against him this previous year but, what you don't realize is that the coaches are putting HIM in positions to cover the deep ball as well as the faster guys. Why? because he is the fastest corner on the field and the best over all cover corner that the packs have to lock up and man to man coverage. Oh yeah, that's called trust. Remember he hasn't even started a full 16 game season but when he does expect BIG things. And you can quote me on that!