Ted in no hurry to spend Cap money by PG's M Vandermause

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This article appeared in the Wednesday, March 28, 2007 issue of the Green Bay Press-Gazette

NFL meetings notebook: Thompson isn't in rush to spend team's cash stash

By Mike Vandermause - Sports Editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette


PHOENIX — The Green Bay Packers have about $21 million to spend under the NFL salary cap, but it's safe to say that money isn't burning a hole in General Manager Ted Thompson's pocket.


Thompson said on Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings that the Packers are in no danger of falling below the NFL minimum for payroll this year.


The 2007 salary cap is $109 million, and teams are required to spend at least 85 percent of that on their payroll. Based on the Packers' position, they need to spend approximately $5 million to meet the league minimum.


The Packers have to pay their upcoming draft class, and that alone likely will put them over the minimum. Plus, Thompson isn't necessarily done shopping in the free-agent market or averse to making a trade, and there are players like Nick Barnett and Corey Williams who could receive contract extensions.


When asked whether the Packers will make any significant personnel moves before the April 28-29 draft, Thompson said: "You just never know. I'm not trying to dodge the question. The cake's done when the cake's done. There's the potential that something could happen, but (it's) just as likely that everything probably stays pretty close to status quo."


Does he think he'll spend the bulk of that $21 million?


"We spend a lot of time talking about personnel," Thompson said. "We spend a lot of time discussing those kind of questions. We don't speak about them publicly. We have an understanding of where we are and some things we would like to do. So that will work itself out."


Thompson doesn't necessarily believe the perception that the free-agent market has been picked clean and no solid players remain.


"Things happen," he said. "All of a sudden, you get closer to the draft, some guys will get released from teams, that maybe their particular role on that team didn't fit. But it might be a nice fit for us. You just never know. I doubt if there'll be any huge deals between now and the draft, athough it was pretty late when we signed Charles (Woodson) last year."


The Packers' lone free-agent signing this year was cornerback Frank Walker, who is expected to compete for the No. 3 cornerback job.
 

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