Jackson hires agent of change
Packers' nose tackle signs with Rosenhaus, wants a new deal
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
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Posted: July 5, 2005
Green Bay nose tackle Grady Jackson has become the latest member of the Packers to join the roster of agent Drew Rosenhaus, and his first order of business Tuesday was to have Rosenhaus call the team seeking a new contract.
According to Rosenhaus, Jackson is "very dissatisfied" with his current deal and probably won't report to training camp if the Packers don't rework it. Jackson, 32, has one year left on a two-year, $2.31 million extension he signed at the end of the 2003 season.
The deal was restructured before the end of last season so Jackson could more easily earn money tied to a weight clause, and he was advanced $65,000 of his $665,000 base salary on May 2. If Jackson earns a good portion of the $250,000 in performance incentives he has, he will make around $1 million this season.
On Tuesday, Jackson joined wide receiver Javon Walker and running back Najeh Davenport as the most recent Packers to join forces with Rosenhaus, who is well known in these parts for directing Walker to skip all off-season activities. Rosenhaus gave no indication that Walker would be present when veterans report for training camp if his contract isn't reworked and Jackson might very well stay away, too.
"That's a consideration, definitely," Rosenhaus said of a Jackson holdout. "Obviously, he wouldn't have changed agents if things had been going well. It seems he hasn't made the progress he wants to and that's why he hired me. He reached out to me."
It's unlikely the Packers will change their opinion about extending Jackson's deal since they have refused for months to do it with his previous agent. Jackson has had arthroscopic knee surgery each of the past two off-seasons and the combination of his age and injury history won't put them in a giving mood.
Their biggest concern, should he hold out, would be the inability to monitor his conditioning and weight. The plan was to limit his practice time during camp and the regular season to help keep his legs fresh, but he would be supervised daily by the team's weight and conditioning staff if in attendance.
Rosenhaus spoke with Packers vice president of finance Andrew Brandt on Tuesday to gauge the team's interest in extending Jackson's deal, but was met with resistance and came away with no indication the issue would be addressed before training camp starts for veterans July 29.
General manager Ted Thompson did not return a phone message.
Though Davenport doesn't appear to be a holdout candidate, Rosenhaus said both Walker and Jackson weren't likely to report without new deals. They probably will be joined by tight end Bubba Franks, who has yet to sign the automatic one-year, $2.095 million offer he received as a result of being named a transition player.
He is holding out hope for a long-term deal. Jackson also would like that security given he is nearing the latter part of his career.
"We're not on the same page on this," Rosenhaus said. "Right now, definitely we have some problems. We'll be considering our options whether that's not coming to training camp or a potential trade. But Grady's definitely dissatisfied. The current deal won't work for us."
Jackson was previously represented by James "Bus" Cook, who negotiated the contract Jackson is currently under and who is also the agent for quarterback Brett Favre. According to a spokesman at the NFL Players Association, Jackson terminated his business relationship with Cook on June 23 and officially became Rosenhaus' client on Tuesday.
Jackson played only 38.5% of the Packers' defensive snaps last season, in part because of a dislocated kneecap he suffered in the season opener, which forced him to miss five games. He also sat out the season finale against Chicago to rest for the playoffs.
When he has been healthy, the 350-pound Jackson has been a vital cog in the Packers' defense, serving both as a run-stuffer and third-down pass-rusher. Last year, Jackson had 36 tackles and a sack in 10 regular-season games.
But statistics haven't always measured his value to the team. Since signing with the Packers as a free agent on Nov. 4, 2003, the Packers are 15-6, including playoff games. They are 2-4 in games in which he did not play.
The Packers have several young, promising tackle prospects in James Lee, Donnell Washington and Corey Williams, but they would love to have Jackson anchoring the middle again in new defensive coordinator Jim Bates' system. If they continue to have problems with veteran Cletidus Hunt, Jackson's absence would be a blow.
"He will be a key, key contributor," Rosenhaus said. "I've followed Jim Bates' defense (in Miami) and I know it's important to him to be strong up the middle at defensive tackle. Grady is that guy. He's one of the most important guys on their defense."
Two other tackles have signed multi-year contracts like the one Jackson seeks. Pat Williams, 32, was a free agent who signed a three-year, $13 million deal with Minnesota that includes $6 million in bonuses. Ted Washington, 37, was a free agent last year when he signed a four-year deal with Oakland for $14 million, including $4 million in bonuses.