Playing tag? Packers haven’t decided

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Playing tag? Packers haven’t decided


By Pete Dougherty
PackersNews.com

Kicker Ryan Longwell is the Green Bay Packers’ only free agent worth considering for their franchise or transition tag, but there are no strong signs General Manager Ted Thompson plans to use it.

The NFL deadline for teams to place the tag on a player is today.

Longwell, 33, has been a consistently accurate kicker for nine years in one of the NFL’s most difficult kicking climates, but it’s unclear whether Thompson is willing to use a costly tag on a player who has hinted he feels unappreciated and would rather be kicking in a warmer climate.

“We haven’t really decided that yet,â€

 

Here is something I posted in mid November on the subject. Stats are from that time but I think I was using career #'s at that time.
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This upcoming offseason the following kickers will become free agents:

Vinateri
Vanderjagt
Longwell
Nedney
Jose Cortez

Vinateri will be the high priced guy. 10 years experience in all conditions. He averages 1.5 yards more than Longwell on kickoff, a career long of 57 yard FG but has not kicked a fieldgoal over 50 yards since 2002.

Vanderjagt is a dome guy but the Colts have some cap trouble trying to keep a good team together so he may be available. He is almost as old as Favre. He is shorter on kickoffs than Longwell.

Longwell did well in the Georgia Dome with a 53 yarder. Career long of 54 yards equals Vanderjagt but Longwell's kickoffs are longer.

Nedney has the longest kickoff average of the four about 3 yards longer than Longwell. His career long is a 53 Yard FG.

Cortez has bounced around the league and not kicked regularly. His career long is 52 yards and his kickoffs are a yard longer.

Nedney and Cortez are less reliable and likely not as costly. Vanderjagt's age and lack of outdoor experience makes him risky. Vinateri may be too costly to sign.

Longwell's historical accuracy, stats and age (he is younger than all but Cortez, 9 months) compared to the others and depending on salary demands he seems to be the most likely candidate to be signed by the Packers as their kicker next season.

Vintari is kicking off 0.4 yards further but Patriots coverage is .4 yards less so their net is the same as the Packers.

Vanderjagt is .9 yards less on KO and Indianapolis coverage is .5 better for a net .4 yards less.

Nedney KO's are 3.5 yards less with a net of 3.9 yards less.

Cortez KO is 3.7 yards less than Longwell and Eagle coverage is .7 yards better for a 3.0 yards net less.

After looking at the kickers who are free agents(in my previous post) I now am sure Longwell should be signed or tagged for the 2006 season. If he is signed with 2005 cap money all the better.
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I don't see a free agent that would be better than Longwell. It really is a question of tagging him for a year and see what the market is like then or sign a longer term deal. The packers in my opinion cannot afford a draft pick on a kicker this year.

Vinateri was tagged last year and to retag a player I believe costs the team 20% more.

Dallas may be the likely competition for a kicker.

 

Ryan who? Ryan Excusewell? Ryan Chokewell?

I used to defend him, but his excuses and complaining week after week was too much. Just kick the damn ball.

 

The Packers didn't tag either Longwell or Kampman. Unless the Pack is able to work out new contracts before FA signings count them gone.

 

Wasn't Nedney in Packer camp for awhile a few years ago?

 

"Packers decided not to use the franchise or transition tag on any of their upcoming free agents" from Dylan B Tomlinson's "NFL Combine Note book" article in The Gtreen Bay Press-Gazette issue- Friday, Febraury 24, 2006

 

Ted Thompson does not like free agency. He prefers to build through the draft. His offer to Kampmann has already been rejected.

The Packers are "going in a different direction" and "building for the future".

 

Cali....I'm not sure where this "Thompson doesn't like free agency" stuff came from. If he is going to become a great GM in the NFL he had better like free agency because it is a big part of being a GM. I doubt that Harlan would have hired him as GM if he thought he was going to ignore free agency.

 

he isn't going to ignore the FA.

 

I think some people thinks it's "ignoring" if the guy doesn't blow money like a drunken sailor. I think he just doesn't want to waste the Packers money, so he will really think about who to make a real run at.

 

yea riggght... TT should just say HEY WERE GOING TO REBUILD OUR TEAM THROUGH THE FA...

 

Actually i dont think it is really that neccesary look at the FA kickers Vinateri, Vanderjakt, Nedney. So it looks pretty good for us alot of people out there and many teams have problems with cap room

 

I think Longwell wants to go to a warm weather team, so he can push his career stats up. I don't know if he really wants to stay here anymore.

 

I'd hate to lose him. Considering our weather Ryan has done exceptionally well. Who was it, a well known kicker, that came here and missed 3 FG's? Bidwell goes to the Pro Bowl this year getting out or our climate. Don't underestimate how well Ryan has done and the importance of a good field goal kicker.

 

Kampman is a nice player that I'd like to keep, but he's not a franchise type player. High effort guys like him are a dime a dozen, but that does not diminish his effectiveness on this team. Longwell might be on the downside of his career. I also think Sherman messed with his head the last couple of years. You can't have a holder who can't get the ball down. So I don't blame Longwell entirely for his bad year.

 

Yeh i would like to have him but i dont think we can throw the tag on him after the crappy year he had