A.J. Hawk's New Three-Year Salary Numbers
The numbers on A.J. Hawk's new restructure were outlined Monday. The Packers linebacker will save Green Bay nearly $2 million in 2013.
By Zach Kruse
Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk has shaved over $7 million off his total salaries over the next three years, according to several reports.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Monday that Hawk took a $1.85 million total pay cut in 2013, which includes lowering his total salary from $4.9 million to $3.6 million in 2013.
Bob McGinn of the Journal-Sentinel had more information on the restructure.
In return for the pay cuts, $2.21 million of Hawk's salary next season will be fully guaranteed in the form of a roster bonus paid this week, which all but ensures Hawk's spot on the 53-man roster in 2013.
His $500,000 in total roster and workout bonuses each season will also remain.
Hawk can now earn the following salary numbers over the next three seasons:
- 2013: $840,000 base salary, $5.2 million cap number
- 2014: $2.45 million base salary, $5.1 million cap number
- 2015: $2.45 million base salary, $5.1 million cap number
According to Silverstein, the Packers now sit at roughly $19.8 million in available cap space for 2013.
Hawk originally signed a five-year, $33.75 million deal in March of 2011 that averaged almost $7 million a season. The pay cuts will drop Hawk's total available money over the final three years of his deal to $10.6 million, down from the $17.85 million he was due from the original contract.
Hawk finished 2012 with a career-high 120 total tackles and three sacks, but he has zero interceptions or forced fumbles since the 2010 season.
Zach Kruse is a 24-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].
Comments (16)
March 18, 2013 at 04:01 pm
They should have cut him. He is still way over paid. Worthless. His agent fooled TT into this crazy $ contract. Average to below average player.
March 18, 2013 at 04:01 pm
Good news, sort of. His deal in 2011 was way too high, the restructured numbers are still too high, but at least the guy took the pay cut. He didn't have to, unless he wanted to be released. Finley can take him out to dinner now.
March 18, 2013 at 04:05 pm
His numbers should be cut in half again. This is definitely TT's worst contract ever..what was he thinking?
March 18, 2013 at 04:05 pm
I hope that this means that Hawk's starting spot is open to competition. He has done nothing since he signed that contract and he didn't do much to deserve in the first place.
March 18, 2013 at 04:05 pm
Closer to where it should be. Good work by both sides.
March 18, 2013 at 04:47 pm
Only five comments? come on Hawk haters!
March 18, 2013 at 05:14 pm
Has nothing to do with hating Hawk. the guy is an average player at best. He has not had a single so-called "game changing" play since he signed his massive contract. The reduction is good but he is still overpaid compared to his production. He is the prime example of overpaying a mediocre player. It was not in the Packers best interest to cut him now, though, since they just saved about as much money by restructuring his contract than cutting him outright.
March 18, 2013 at 05:25 pm
Cap numbers are 2013-5.2m, 2014-5.1m and 2015-5.1m...this equals 15.4m for three years, not 10.6m of available money for three years. Am I missing something here?
March 18, 2013 at 06:20 pm
The cap $ includes protated signing bonus.
March 18, 2013 at 07:07 pm
5M a year seems high, but, with Bishop and Smith coming off injuries, and jones in flux, I guees TT felt he had to compromise with Hawk
March 18, 2013 at 07:10 pm
I just do not understand the whole Hawk relationship and the Packers.
They could have cut Hawk and no other team would have been interested, maybe at the vet min. He no has value or experience to offer special teams and his inside LB play is average at best, IMO not even a 4 down LB.
With quality players at all levels leaving the Packers and productive players outplaying their existing contracts, this is not money well spent.
March 18, 2013 at 08:21 pm
Has there ever been a player who has been paid so much ($50M to date) for so little?
Glad he took a pay cut, wish he would have been cut.
March 18, 2013 at 09:00 pm
I think that first figure could be wrong, as I understand it Hawks cap hit for 2013 will be like 3.6 mil. Thats his base salary 840,000 + the 2.21 mil roster bonus + the 500,000 in workout/active roster bonuses.
I could be wrong though.
March 19, 2013 at 08:56 am
Here's the deal. Hawk played on a SB team and instead of a pay raise is taking a pay cut. Not to stay in GB but to stay in football period.
The guy is slow, a poor tackler and spends his time waiting for others to make the tackle.
This would have been a perfect op to cut him and or trade but a reduced salary means he is still on the team. Ouch. Another marginal player.
March 19, 2013 at 09:34 am
Agreed. I think this is the place where the Pack should have taken a chance for an upgrade...no guarantees, but you have to try something different (see Bishop's chance).
And the guy is 29 yrs old? ...thought TT didn't like to sign guys getting to this age (see Jenkins)...
March 19, 2013 at 01:22 pm
It's a pay cut, not a new deal. It's not even an extension. It just guarantees part of this year's money, which he would have earned by playing this year. The bottom line is the Packers have two ILBs coming off of major injuries, one that has a foot out the door, and a weak looking draft crop of ILBs. Everyone may be right about Hawk being average, but right now being average NFL starter, on the playing field, and locked in for 2013 is more than the Packers can say for any of their other ILBs.