keggerz Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/i...ure-of-a-j-hawk ...Because we don't know how this will all play out, let's look at one more pending issue: The Green Bay Packers' situation at inside linebacker. As we discussed as recently as Saturday, the Packers have a glut of players at the position. They finished the 2010 season with A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop as their starters. Two other veterans, Nick Barnett and Brandon Chillar, were on injured reserve. Bishop signed a four-year contract extension last fall and isn't going anywhere. So what will the Packers do? Both Barnett and Hawk are candidates to be released, albeit for different reasons. Barnett will turn 30 in May and has suffered season-ending injuries in two of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Hawk's contract calls for him to have a $10 million base salary in 2011. The deal includes an escalator that will push that figure to the franchise number for inside linebackers if it is higher, according to information I've seen, and the cash will be guaranteed if Hawk is on the Packers' roster at the start of the league year. Under normal circumstances, the Packers would need to resolve the issue before Friday. But the expiring CBA could relax that deadline because the league year won't start Friday without an agreement. The Packers at some point must act on Hawk's contract to avoid guaranteeing him an eight-figure salary for 2011, be it a release or an agreement to extend the deal and spread out the cash payout. Speaking Friday at the NFL scouting combine, Packers coach Mike McCarthy made clear he wants Hawk back. "A.J. Hawk is a Green Bay Packer as far as I'm concerned," McCarthy said. "I'm not going to get into business situations. You just hope they'll work out. ... A.J. as a football player and a person, he's exactly what you're looking for. There is a business side of this. You want all your players back. That's how coaches always view these types of situations. A.J. grew tremendously, not only as a player, but as a leader in our locker room this year. Thought he had a heck of a year. Hopefully everything works out."... Edited March 1, 2011 by keggerz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I've done a complete 180 on my opinions of Hawk and Barnett from the start of the season. AJ Hawk became a leader and had his best season on the field this year... Nick Barnett on the other hand is getting older and went on IR for the second time in his career. Not his fault, but what I will always fault him for is his twitter crap during the super bowl. He acted like a spoiled bitch and did his best to be a distraction during the biggest week of his teammates careers. I'm hoping they re-work Hawks deal and kiss Nick Barnetts ass goodbye. His ill attempted apology holds no water with me. You're a 30 year old grown man. You had multiple chances to retract your statements, but you kept them up until it became a national story. Jermichael Finley can use the young and dumb defense. You cant. End Rant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Desmond Bishop > Nick Barnett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Desmond Bishop > Nick Barnett Bishop>Barnett and Hawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Just was cut, though a new deal is possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 13ers Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Want him back, just not at $10mil/year. He was the team's leading tackler these past few years I believe, but I think teams were going at him. Up until this season, he was nothing special and this year it took 4-5 games before he decided to show up finally. He was supposed to be 'Clay Matthews' when they drafted him, but that never materialized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 He did a GREAT job this year in 3-4. Much better than I would have thought. Bring back Hawk at a lesser salary, and dump Barnett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 In Ted we trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Citing two sources, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reports that free agent AJ Hawk will re-sign with the Packers on Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Taz, this is easily the best post you've ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Taz, this is easily the best post you've ever made. REDEMPTION IS MINE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Donald Lee cut too. Doubt they'll be bringing him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Donald Lee cut too. Doubt they'll be bringing him back. They saved $2.2million on a 4th string TE who is 31. I doubt it too. He could be out of the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Rotoworld) Citing two sources, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reports that free agent AJ Hawk will re-sign with the Packers on Thursday. Analysis: Cut Wednesday to avoid a guaranteed $10 million salary, Hawk will reportedly fly back to Green Bay on Thursday and sign a five-year contract. Hawk apparently never even considered other teams; after his release he could've immediately begun taking free agent visits around the league. If the report is correct, the Packers may wind up parting ways with Nick Barnett. I hope he's a life long Packer. He may not have lived up to the hype of being drafted at 5, but he's always been a sure tackler, a field general, and a leader. I'm ecstatic about this. So long Nick Barnett. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 They saved $2.2million on a 4th string TE who is 31. I doubt it too. He could be out of the league. Lee outplayed Qaurless. He made plays when he had to, although his butter fingers led to Jermichael Finley getting hurt. Either way, Lee served his purpose, but it's time to move on. I don't think he's out of the league though... I know he's better than anything Carolina has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I know he's better than anything Carolina has. Good call. And I believe the Panthers are looking to upgrade there TE position...or at least I think I remember reading that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Packers re-signed ILB AJ Hawk to a five-year contract. Hawk, 27, is expected to receive in the vicinity of $30-35 million in max value, with over $10 million guaranteed. We can't say we're in the love with the deal, but by all accounts Hawk is a coaching staff favorite despite his on-field deficiencies. He's not a stout run defender as 3-4 inside linebackers are supposed to be. For his part, Hawk ranked 22nd in the NFL in tackles last season, and the only linebacker with more pass breakups than Hawk was Kansas City's Derrick Johnson. Hawk had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpholmes Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Love the move. You need to have big, capable bodies inside to run the 3-4 well, and now they have Hawk and Bishop locked up for several years. He's no Ray Lewis, but with Clay putting the pressure on he doesn't need to be. Ted Thompson, showing even after a championship he doesn't let up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Lee outplayed Qaurless. He made plays when he had to, although his butter fingers led to Jermichael Finley getting hurt. Either way, Lee served his purpose, but it's time to move on. I don't think he's out of the league though... I know he's better than anything Carolina has. Good call. And I believe the Panthers are looking to upgrade there TE position...or at least I think I remember reading that somewhere. Sounds like Shockey is going to Carolina, if I heard correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Sounds like Shockey is going to Carolina, if I heard correctly. Which doesn't really change my opinion of the TE's they have. Shockey is brittle, has a bad attitude, isn't a great blocker, and his athleticism is fading fast. They're still a dumpster fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 And that's the way it's done, boys & girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Which doesn't really change my opinion of the TE's they have. Shockey is brittle, has a bad attitude, isn't a great blocker, and his athleticism is fading fast. They're still a dumpster fire. Yeah, I agree. I'm just not sure that, when healthy, Shockey isn't better than Lee (at least in the pass-catching department). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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