Brandon McManus

[Poppa San]

I just wonder if we're making the right move by cutting Narveson and keeping Hale on the practice squad.

I thought Hale has the international player exemption? If so he is a free roster spot.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I thought Hale has the international player exemption? If so he is a free roster spot.

Yup. Hale is a "freebie", except for his weekly check. I think Narveson is better off going somewhere warm and working on his skills and mental game. Maybe someone will give him a tryout in 2025, but I just don't see him playing in the NFL in 2024.

 

[gopkrs]

Sounds like The Pack released their special teams snapper. Sounds like a good idea. Do they have someone else or is that someone else the guy they released?

 

[Poppa San]

Sounds like The Pack released their special teams snapper. Sounds like a good idea. Do they have someone else or is that someone else the guy they released?

Consensus on twitter is it was a roster maneuver and not a long term change. Expect the LS back after a player comes off IR then gets cut and sent to the PS.

 

[BrokenArrow]

Not with a lot to spare, though. His "practice shot" looked like it went right down the pipe, but the gamewinner was a lot closer to the upright than I liked. But - it went straight, and that was good enough for the win!

Don't forget a FG is a three man effort. The snap was terrible on the second kick. Orzech snapped it directly to Whelan's right knee, which is about 18" off-target. Whelan had to scramble to get the ball down at all and no doubt didn't have time to place it exactly where he would have otherwise. If the spot was even an inch further to the left of where it was supposed to be, it's enough to put the kick off-center. The fact that the snap was disastrous makes the second kick MORE impressive to me.

 

[lambeaulambo]

It isn't official just yet, but I think McManus exorcised the Demons of the #17 jersey!

Whaat? Devante Adams...David Whitehurst? Craig Hentrich? lol

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Whaat? Devante Adams...David Whitehurst? Craig Hentrich? lol

No....Anders Carlson, the previous Packer Kicker to wear it.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Even the all time great Justin Tucker has bad days and seasons. Considered one of the greatest kickers to play the game, Tucker missed 2 FG's and an XP today.

For the season he is 17 of 23.

Makes me even more grateful to have Brandon McManus.

 

[pacmaniac]

Even the all time great Justin Tucker has bad days and seasons. Considered one of the greatest kickers to play the game, Tucker missed 2 FG's and an XP today.

For the season he is 17 of 23.

He's worse than that. 19-27 after today.

 

[Magooch]

McManus is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.

1. Should GB re-sign him?
2. How much would you want to see us pay to keep him around?

 

[lambeaulambo]

McManus is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.

1. Should GB re-sign him?
2. How much would you want to see us pay to keep him around?

you pay this man. He has been excellent so far.

 

[Sanguine camper]

I see no good reason not to sign McManus. He was a good kicker before he got to GB and has stabilized the position since he arrived. Unless he compleyely melts down over the next 4 weeks, signing him eliminates what would be a huge special teams headache.

 

[El Guapo]

If the goal is to win a SB, then you pay him like we haven't had a good PK or the cap space to do so in many years.....

 

[Magooch]

I'm certainly in favor of re-signing him myself but I'd be curious how the numbers shake out.
McManus is currently 3rd in the league in FG% (93.3, just behind C. D!cker at 93.9) and one of just 10 kickers who are 100% on extra points; overall he's missed just one kick for us all season (well, since taking over). And he is just 33, which while not exactly a spring chicken should have plenty of gas left in the tank for another contract at worst.

Now currently there are ~12 kickers making 5m+ per year. McManus is currently on a relatively paltry 1.2m. He should expect to be one of the most coveted kickers in free agency this coming offseason so I'd think he will probably be expecting offers that put him in that upper echelon of kicker as well.

As far as I know we'll have plenty of space to do so but I guess I would count on probably 5m+ per year to keep him around. I'm still very much in favor of that but I'd be interested if that number (or something like it) changes things for anyone.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

In a league that is predominantly 1-score games, teams (including the Packers) need to start valuing excellent kickers more. I say pay the man a fair amount for where he's at in the kicker hierarchy. He seems top notch ON the field.

 

[OldSchool101]

4yr X 20mil. 60% guar

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

McManus is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.

1. Should GB re-sign him?
2. How much would you want to see us pay to keep him around?

Unless he falls apart or tries to join the Trump Grope and Grab Mile High Club between now and a new contract, you 100% try to keep this guy grounded in Green Bay!

He's a top 10 kicker IMO, but due to age and not quite as strong of a leg as some of these young bucks, he will demand to 10 money. I haven't really looked around at what other Kickers will sign new contracts, but as long as there isn't someone offering Brandon crazy money, I think he gets a $5-6M/year deal.

 

[Thirteen Below]

McManus is currently 3rd in the league in FG% (93.3, just behind C. D!cker at 93.9) and one of just 10 kickers who are 100% on extra points; overall he's missed just one kick for us all season (well, since taking over).

As of today, he's #2 in the league, at 94.1%. Almost automatic. This is by far the best season of his career.

And he is just 33, which while not exactly a spring chicken should have plenty of gas left in the tank for another contract at worst.

Nick Folk is 40 or 41, and he ain't losing a step. In fact, the last 5 years have been the best 5 years of Folk's career - 4 of those 5 seasons have been the best 4 years he's ever had, and even the 5th was higher than his career average. That doesn't necessarily mean Mcmanus will follow the same arc, but it's reason for optimism.

Now currently there are ~12 kickers making 5m+ per year. McManus is currently on a relatively paltry 1.2m. He should expect to be one of the most coveted kickers in free agency this coming offseason so I'd think he will probably be expecting offers that put him in that upper echelon of kicker as well.

We're getting a hell of a bargain on the guy this year, but yeah... we'll pay for it later. He picked the right team at the right time; a Super Bowl-ready franchise with a good salary cap situation that was desperate for a kicker.

As far as I know we'll have plenty of space to do so but I guess I would count on probably 5m+ per year to keep him around. I'm still very much in favor of that but I'd be interested if that number (or something like it) changes things for anyone.

I'm on board 100% too. Tynimiller can speak a lot more knowledgeably on contracts, salary cap, and salaries than I can (and several other posters as well), but... from what I know of Gutekunst and Ball, my guess would be that Green Bay would go for a 3 year deal with a team-friendly escape hatch in Year 3. And I'd be fine with something like $5M per.

This guy is making an enormous difference in our season.... it's not just the couple of games that he's been the direct, proximate factor that turned an "L" into a "W"; it's the way that McManus' very presence on the sideline affects Green Bay's play-calling on every single snap of every single offensive series.

It's not an exaggeration to say that Lafleur's entire play-calling strategy for every snap for any given entire series is influenced by the fact that just getting inside the 35 is highly probable to mean points on the board - whereas with Carlson, even if the drive stalled at the 10 there was no reason to feel confident that they'd score points.

And it's not just the coaches - knowing he's got a Mcmanus in his back pocket changes the way the quarterback makes his play-by-play decisions; whether to force a 3rd-down pass or settle for a field goal.

A kicker as reliable as this is literally a game-changer. He just changes the teams entire game strategy. As long as he consistently delivers in the mid-90s, we need to keep this guy in green and gold.

 

[Magooch]

I'm totally with you there.
I mean, shoot...It's probably not even unreasonable to suggest that if we'd had McManus starting from week one (assuming he's keeping the same form all season long), we may well still find ourselves in the hunt for the NFCN title and even the #1 seed. Narveson had three misses in losses to the Eagles and Vikings.

 

[OldSchool101]

I said pre game that the one thing I wanted to see was a pair of 55+ type Kicks. Brandon’s long was 51 and majority of top K have that 56,58,61 long area. Accuracy is numero uno, but a big bonus is having a Kicker who allows you to start thinking about a Try once you pass Midfield. Especially for the Win (4th n 8 from the Det42 etc)

For myself. That 55 in the cold is teetering on a 60 yarder in a Dome. Imo that Kick makes it from 60 yards inside.

The other aspect is he’s experienced. He’s 100% perfect in postseason on both FG and XPM. Not suggesting he can’t miss, but he’s already proven himself in several Playoff games.
Postseason
10/10 FG
3/3 XPM
2/2 50+

He’s a Quadrifecta
1. Automatic inside 40
2. Highly Accurate inside 50.
3. Leg to hit from 60
4. Confidence to Win in Big Moments

Opponents are used to us suffering at Kicker. McManus is like a secret weapon flying under radar. Nobody in the sporting world is even talking about this and I’m glad.

 

[tynimiller]

I'm totally with you there.
I mean, shoot...It's probably not even unreasonable to suggest that if we'd had McManus starting from week one (assuming he's keeping the same form all season long), we may well still find ourselves in the hunt for the NFCN title and even the #1 seed. Narveson had three misses in losses to the Eagles and Vikings.

I think that's a logical idea - in truth or at minimum we'd be tied with Minnesota but easily could still be pushing for division had he been around.

Right now there are 11 kickers that average 5 or more a year (million). McManus likely would demand to join the 6 or more group (presently at 3). In truth this would be GB's style constructing a four year deal with him to make him one of or most per year average BUT that final year would be a likely out BUT if playing lights out not absurd to eat if needed.

Say 4 years at $26 Million ($6.5/yr) with $15M guaranteed.

Could roughly make it hit
$4.5M - 2025
$5.5M - 2026
$7M - 2027 - cut here we save like $2M
$9M - 2028 -

In truth though you could do easily something like:

$3M - 2025
$5M - 2026
$8M - 2027 (guarantee covered with $1M saved if cut)
$10M - 2028 *clean free cut OR if hitting lights out he's 37 and you deal again or use a void year to spread.

 

[tynimiller]

Oh and a note, given the in year signing, GB cannot announce an extension to him due to rule of not being able to negotiate a contract with a veteran within the same year a new contract was signed. Now GB and McManus might have already started these talks IF he wants to be here and they want him here it could be in their best interest to already have a feel for what it is going to take.

A buddy was mad when he heard this because with our current cap space he was like use a decent chunk of that now this season to make him CHEAP forward, and sadly you cannot do that. Only candidates that we could do such a thing would realistically be if the team signed Tom now rather than later to an extension to use some of that space....or another guy that has a contract coming up....I'd say Watson or Doubs but I don't think the organization knows yet in truth which they envision here long term.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

For myself. That 55 in the cold is teetering on a 60 yarder in a Dome. Imo that Kick makes it from 60 yards inside.

I was hoping they would show a better angle of the kick and how far over the cross bar it ended up being. He smacked that one and like most of his kicks, right down the center.

I honestly have more confidence in McManus right now, than I did in Crosby in his final years as a Packer. I will say it again, GREAT move on Gute's part to grab McManus. Besides Jacobs and McKinney, it was the FA signing of the year for the Packers and one that pretty much goes unnoticed.

 

[milani]

Unless he falls apart or tries to join the Trump Grope and Grab Mile High Club between now and a new contract, you 100% try to keep this guy grounded in Green Bay!

He's a top 10 kicker IMO, but due to age and not quite as strong of a leg as some of these young bucks, he will demand to 10 money. I haven't really looked around at what other Kickers will sign new contracts, but as long as there isn't someone offering Brandon crazy money, I think he gets a $5-6M/year deal.

I cannot remember a Packer making a 55 yarder look easy. Crosby hit a 56 yarder in 2010 in Philly and a 58 yarder in the Metrodome later on. But they certainly did not look easy.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Unless he falls apart or tries to join the Trump Grope and Grab Mile High Club between now and a new contract, you 100% try to keep this guy grounded in Green Bay!

He's a top 10 kicker IMO, but due to age and not quite as strong of a leg as some of these young bucks, he will demand to 10 money. I haven't really looked around at what other Kickers will sign new contracts, but as long as there isn't someone offering Brandon crazy money, I think he gets a $5-6M/year deal.

I have been told by a moderator to remove Trump's name from my previous post. Since even though the act happened in 1995, pre any political activity by Trump, the moderator feels it is inappropriate. So I did as asked, it is now crossed out.

Sorry if my stating a proven fact, offended anyone.