Nice article. It is very persuasive. Gute and Ball need to find $20M to $30M more. I approve of their apparent decision to keep the team as intact as possible, that is the proper philosophy for a team with back-to-back 13-3 seasons.

The way they handled the Preston Smith situation was decent. Preston had to know a pay cut was necessary. He gets the chance to more than earn that money back. When it becomes clear how much he gets back for 6 sacks, I will know better how to grade the job Gute and Ball did. Converting $6.5M in not guaranteed cash to a guaranteed signing bonus is in the player's favor, as is moving $3M of his 2022 salary to a 2022 roster bonus due on the third league day.

Gute and Ball's best work might have been on Funchess. That's hard to grade since I still don't know what they did. I suspect Funchess paid back some of his $1M signing bonus in return for a guarantee of base salary in roughly the same amount, but maybe there is a straight pay cut somewhere in there.

All I can say is wow. Unusual for the Packers to do what they are doing. Sure looks like going all in. Can't wait to see the next restructure or extension. Then go after a CB, DL and maybe a WR. Go Pack

All I can say is wow. Unusual for the Packers to do what they are doing. Sure looks like going all in. Can't wait to see the next restructure or extension. Then go after a CB, DL and maybe a WR. Go Pack

Even if you are in a relationship, do not forget that you can also have a relationship on the side https://married-dating.org/ After all, relationships always bring happiness.

Some very bizarre advertisements lately. hahahahaha

Hopefully the Packers are going all in while Rodgers is still playing at a high level as he did in 2020. Since they are pushing significant numbers into 2022 and 2023 we're probably looking at a massive rebuild after 2022. If Love proves he can play the rebuild obviously would be built around him. If not then we're rebuilding the QB position as well.

But we can worry about that when the time comes. For now 2021 is starting well. Let's see what else Gute and Ball come up with as we go through this offseason. But, so far so good. Thanks, Since '61

"So far, they have done a masterful job at minimizing the damage caused by being nearly $30 million dollars over the eventual cap."

I suppose it depends on your perspective...salary cap management over the longer term is a zero sum game, and the "sum" is a moving target. They're not minimizing the damage, they're just moving it into the future: eventually, the cap will get you. The Packers are gambling that the 2020 ARod will be the 2021 (and likely 2022) ARod, and that the 2017-2019 ARod is in the rearview. They've decided to buy the window...even after it appeared they'd mostly closed the window last off-season and drafted a QB of the future, and the OL pieces to begin turning that group over...add that on top of a 2019 draft class that's looking stronger as time passes. This gives me some hope that when the piper needs to be paid, we won't be looking at the Packers of the 70s and 80s.

They're ahead of the Vikings and Bears at this point: those teams started buying the window without restocking their depth--Chicago lost that ability in the Mack deal and guessed wrong on Trubisky. If they deal for a Wilson or Watson, they'll be an empty franchise in two years and doomed to suck for a long time. Minnesota is peeling off starters and restocking all at once. If they hit the jackpot on youth, it might be a quick rebuild (but they'll have to find a QB). If not, they could be bad for awhile.

Happily stunned that the Packers are keeping both Preston and Jones. Clearly Gute and company have decided to go all in on Rodgers remaining years and I am delighted. There will be the Cap Man to pay at some point (Dobber did a great job of illuminating that about two comments further up), but I very much would like to see the Packers and Rodgers grab at least one more Super Bowl in the next few years. If we have to suffer some during the early Love era to accomplish that, I am okay with the decision.

There's definitely more work to be done, especially regarding Tonyan.

now get the best available DB in the 1st round....

So it looks like Gute and Russ Ball are almost complete in sorting out the contracts for the existing playing roster (only Rodgers, Z and Adams to go).

Now on to this years draft.

Regarding this years upcoming draft, sure it would be awesome to hit on CB\DL\ILB - but I think that Gute needs to turn his attentions to restocking special teams with the day 3 options and UDFA.

ST got increasingly picked on by opposing teams at the end of the season.

We all lamented the issues on ST:
- No legitimate threats in the return game when teams punted to the Packers was a field position killer

- Then on the flipside, increasing opportunities to attack when the Packers punted and defended poorly - due to both JK Scott's extreme inaccuracy, the absence of a legitimate gunner and poor lane\zone discipline for chasers.

All these things contributed to regular field position being flipped on the Packers and extra burden being put on the Offense and Defense.

I know I bang-on about the Patriots a lot, but they do ST consistently well. I hope that Gute gives the new ST coordinator a fair chance with players that he can mold.

I am glad that we were able to keep the players we signed and restructured. Yet The team is still over the cap by what seems to be a lot. These next few days are going to be real interesting.

I'm really pleasantly surprised we managed to keep Jones. Everyone else has to be gone. Maybe not Sullivan and probably not Tonyan and possibly now Lewis. All small (monetary) potatoes though.

I'd really like to see them sign a running mate for Clark. Preferably someone who is stout at the point of attack, but can't rush the passer, thus making their cap figure lower... maybe an older CB too...

It seems one surety for this team is a run stopper along with Clark on D line and good solid running mate with Alexander! Hope these can be found in FA or draft! ST anything hopefully would be an improvement except Mr Mason!

I like what they've done so far. Great to have Turner, Preston and Amos restructured. Za'Darius soon to follow, helping the Aaron Jones re-sign. These are all great players, ones that I'm really happy the Packers are moving forward with into 2021. Quite surprised we are able to keep Jones.

Looking ahead into this draft with ZERO expectations. The Packers have immediate needs at starting CB, RT, & ILB. That's pretty damned good, when you consider the cupboard is not bare at all 3 of those positions.

WR and DT/DE would be solid adds this draft, but not as dire needs this season, knowing we will have Funchess and Snacks back - both bargain signings. Saying that, they probably pop those two positions straight away...

Looks like Gutey & Ball have done a great job with this cap, and what appears to be a lot more flexibility on hand if needed via Davante Adams/Aaron Rodgers restructures. I can't wait to see how they assemble the pieces for 2021, and hopefully, a more legit run at the SB.

Linsley gone, Chargers paid him really big money, has become highest league center in pay!

Yeah, sadly we can't keep them all. The NFL's top rated C was going to get paid big. I think they will wind up keeping Tonyan. Lazard will probably cost them some dough too. Glad to know they've got remaining flexibility.