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COMMENTARY: Packers' holdout wounds self-inflicted
00:00 am 7/07/05
Andy Baggot Wisconsin State Journal
Grady Jackson has given indications through his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, that the Packers are going to have to pay him more money if they want the nose tackle's services this season.
(State Journal archives)
See what happens when you drip a little blood in NFL waters? Sooner or later, dorsal fins with nasty intentions are thrashing around the kayak, intent on locating your femoral artery.
The Packers inadvertently nicked themselves last year dealing with malcontent cornerback Mike McKenzie. He wanted out of Green Bay in the worst way, so, on the advice of his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, McKenzie pouted and postured for months about wanting to renegotiate his contract.
The Packers refused, of course, but then gave McKenzie what he wanted all along when they traded him to New Orleans last October. Proof that McKenzie and Rosenhaus worked their misdirection play to perfection is that McKenzie is playing for the Saints under the same contract he had in Green Bay.
That drop of blood seems to be giving off quite the odor.
Rosenhaus has since landed three more clients on the Packers: running back Najeh Davenport, nose tackle Grady Jackson and wide receiver Javon Walker.
Walker made headlines in the spring when he announced he wanted a new deal, refused to show up at two minicamps and received an unexpected tongue lashing from quarterback Brett Favre.
Jackson started making headlines Wednesday when it was reported he had signed with Rosenhaus and was, in the words of his agent, "very dissatisfied" with his contract.
Walker, an All-Pro last season, and Jackson, an invaluable run-stuffer when healthy, have made it known that they might not be in attendance July 29 when veterans are scheduled to report to training camp in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, it's assumed the tactic with Davenport is to lay low until next season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, before striking.
Two questions come to mind:
Who among the Packers is going to be next to pick up the scent?
How is new Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson going to clean up the mess?
Not to stir up more trouble, but there is an obvious answer to the first question. In fact, he's got a better performance resume than Davenport, Jackson, McKenzie and Walker combined and appears to have more holdout leverage.
Running back Ahman Green is entering the final year of a 5-year, $21.6 million agreement he signed in July of 2001. A record-setting Pro Bowl selection the past four seasons, Green is scheduled to make $4.375 million this season, well off the compensation pace set last year when Washington signed Clinton Portis to an 8-year, $50.5 million deal.
The agent who negotiated that landmark deal for Portis? Drew Rosenhaus.
Because I know you're wondering: As of Wednesday, according to the NFL Players Association, David Dunn was still the agent of record for Green.
The second question is more intriguing. Packers coach Mike Sherman was handling the GM duties last season when McKenzie and Rosenhaus pulled their stunt. Sherman wasn't outsmarted as much as he was outmaneuvered, but the fact remains Green Bay now appears vulnerable.
Thompson is now on clean-up duty. He has exactly three weeks before veterans report to St. Norbert College. We'll know then if a Band-Aid did the trick or if a tourniquet was needed.
Contact Andy Baggot at abaggot@madison or 252-6175
*************************************************************
This is exactly what concerned me last when MS caved into MacKensie and traded him. Now TT has inherited a real problem. Thankfully we have a full time GM to handle this and MS can put his efforts into coaching. If MS had to face this I believe we'd be in real trouble.
COMMENTARY: Packers' holdout wounds self-inflicted
00:00 am 7/07/05
Andy Baggot Wisconsin State Journal
Grady Jackson has given indications through his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, that the Packers are going to have to pay him more money if they want the nose tackle's services this season.
(State Journal archives)
See what happens when you drip a little blood in NFL waters? Sooner or later, dorsal fins with nasty intentions are thrashing around the kayak, intent on locating your femoral artery.
The Packers inadvertently nicked themselves last year dealing with malcontent cornerback Mike McKenzie. He wanted out of Green Bay in the worst way, so, on the advice of his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, McKenzie pouted and postured for months about wanting to renegotiate his contract.
The Packers refused, of course, but then gave McKenzie what he wanted all along when they traded him to New Orleans last October. Proof that McKenzie and Rosenhaus worked their misdirection play to perfection is that McKenzie is playing for the Saints under the same contract he had in Green Bay.
That drop of blood seems to be giving off quite the odor.
Rosenhaus has since landed three more clients on the Packers: running back Najeh Davenport, nose tackle Grady Jackson and wide receiver Javon Walker.
Walker made headlines in the spring when he announced he wanted a new deal, refused to show up at two minicamps and received an unexpected tongue lashing from quarterback Brett Favre.
Jackson started making headlines Wednesday when it was reported he had signed with Rosenhaus and was, in the words of his agent, "very dissatisfied" with his contract.
Walker, an All-Pro last season, and Jackson, an invaluable run-stuffer when healthy, have made it known that they might not be in attendance July 29 when veterans are scheduled to report to training camp in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, it's assumed the tactic with Davenport is to lay low until next season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, before striking.
Two questions come to mind:
Who among the Packers is going to be next to pick up the scent?
How is new Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson going to clean up the mess?
Not to stir up more trouble, but there is an obvious answer to the first question. In fact, he's got a better performance resume than Davenport, Jackson, McKenzie and Walker combined and appears to have more holdout leverage.
Running back Ahman Green is entering the final year of a 5-year, $21.6 million agreement he signed in July of 2001. A record-setting Pro Bowl selection the past four seasons, Green is scheduled to make $4.375 million this season, well off the compensation pace set last year when Washington signed Clinton Portis to an 8-year, $50.5 million deal.
The agent who negotiated that landmark deal for Portis? Drew Rosenhaus.
Because I know you're wondering: As of Wednesday, according to the NFL Players Association, David Dunn was still the agent of record for Green.
The second question is more intriguing. Packers coach Mike Sherman was handling the GM duties last season when McKenzie and Rosenhaus pulled their stunt. Sherman wasn't outsmarted as much as he was outmaneuvered, but the fact remains Green Bay now appears vulnerable.
Thompson is now on clean-up duty. He has exactly three weeks before veterans report to St. Norbert College. We'll know then if a Band-Aid did the trick or if a tourniquet was needed.
Contact Andy Baggot at abaggot@madison or 252-6175
*************************************************************
This is exactly what concerned me last when MS caved into MacKensie and traded him. Now TT has inherited a real problem. Thankfully we have a full time GM to handle this and MS can put his efforts into coaching. If MS had to face this I believe we'd be in real trouble.