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TUE., APR 11, 2006 - 11:30 AM
Packers: Thompson calls Arrington's visit 'good'
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
[email protected]
GREEN BAY - He's not doing it to appease Brett Favre, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback might want to take note that general manager Ted Thompson has now brought in the two biggest free agent names remaining on the market in the past seven days.
One week after the team played host to four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington visited Lambeau Field Monday, and Thompson said he thought Arrington had a good visit.
"It went well from my point of view," Thompson said Monday evening. "He seemed to have a good time."
The No.• 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft, Arrington, 27, became a free agent when he bought his way out of what was left on an eight-year, $68 million extension he signed with the Washington Redskins in December 2003 by forfeiting $4.4• million last month.
Earlier in free agency, he visited the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars, and while all those teams remain in the running, Arrington hasn't signed yet because none was willing to meet his asking price.
That price, according to agents Carl and Kevin Poston, includes $10 million in guaranteed money.
The Postons also represent Woodson, who also remains unsigned after visiting the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Thompson certainly won't overpay for Arrington, who went to three straight Pro Bowls from 2001 through '03 but missed 12 games in 2004 with a bone bruise in his knee that required two surgeries.
Despite being cleared medically last season, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Arrington fell out of favor with the Redskins and only played sparingly, recording 47 tackles in 13 games.
Asked if he thought about getting Arrington and Woodson, prominent players who are coming off injuries and looking for fresh starts, at a discounted price, Thompson replied, "I don't know about that. We just felt like they're pretty good football players. We wanted to visit with them, they agreed. And now we'll see where it goes from there."
Thompson said there has been "some dialogue" between the Packers and Poston regarding Woodson, but that he had no timetable for when Woodson would make a decision.
In his latest comments, before his charity golf tournament in Tunica, Miss., on Saturday, Favre again bemoaned Thompson's relative inaction in free agency, saying the Packers "have to make a statement" and sign a big-name player. Both Arrington and Woodson would fit that bill, although they don't play the position Favre seems most concerned about - offensive line.
Nonetheless, Thompson maintained his interest in Woodson and Arrington had nothing to do with Favre's comments.
"We think they're both players that can help us - or help anybody else," Thompson said. "So we're looking into it."
Packers: Thompson calls Arrington's visit 'good'
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
[email protected]
GREEN BAY - He's not doing it to appease Brett Favre, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback might want to take note that general manager Ted Thompson has now brought in the two biggest free agent names remaining on the market in the past seven days.
One week after the team played host to four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington visited Lambeau Field Monday, and Thompson said he thought Arrington had a good visit.
"It went well from my point of view," Thompson said Monday evening. "He seemed to have a good time."
The No.• 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft, Arrington, 27, became a free agent when he bought his way out of what was left on an eight-year, $68 million extension he signed with the Washington Redskins in December 2003 by forfeiting $4.4• million last month.
Earlier in free agency, he visited the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars, and while all those teams remain in the running, Arrington hasn't signed yet because none was willing to meet his asking price.
That price, according to agents Carl and Kevin Poston, includes $10 million in guaranteed money.
The Postons also represent Woodson, who also remains unsigned after visiting the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Thompson certainly won't overpay for Arrington, who went to three straight Pro Bowls from 2001 through '03 but missed 12 games in 2004 with a bone bruise in his knee that required two surgeries.
Despite being cleared medically last season, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Arrington fell out of favor with the Redskins and only played sparingly, recording 47 tackles in 13 games.
Asked if he thought about getting Arrington and Woodson, prominent players who are coming off injuries and looking for fresh starts, at a discounted price, Thompson replied, "I don't know about that. We just felt like they're pretty good football players. We wanted to visit with them, they agreed. And now we'll see where it goes from there."
Thompson said there has been "some dialogue" between the Packers and Poston regarding Woodson, but that he had no timetable for when Woodson would make a decision.
In his latest comments, before his charity golf tournament in Tunica, Miss., on Saturday, Favre again bemoaned Thompson's relative inaction in free agency, saying the Packers "have to make a statement" and sign a big-name player. Both Arrington and Woodson would fit that bill, although they don't play the position Favre seems most concerned about - offensive line.
Nonetheless, Thompson maintained his interest in Woodson and Arrington had nothing to do with Favre's comments.
"We think they're both players that can help us - or help anybody else," Thompson said. "So we're looking into it."