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Steven Jackson has held out for 22 days now missing two of his team’s preseason games. He’s seeking a new contract as he heads into his fifth season.
On its face, perhaps he’s earned it. He’s had three 1,000 yard seasons and scored 36 touchdowns in his career. But has he truly earned the right to hold out in hopes of scoring his big payday?
About a week after his agent told reporters Ryan Grant was livid with the Green Bay Packers’ first contract offer, the running back has joined teammates in training camp after signing a 4-year, $30 million deal.
He had been an exclusive rights free agent but held out seeking a long-term contract.
Grant took control of a putrid Packers running game last season falling just short of 1,000 yards rushing in half a season as a starter. He figures to start again this year despite a strong camp thus far by Brandon Jackson, a second year player who disappointed as a rookie.
Grant’s biggest concern now is that several teammates have demanded that he take them out for dinner.
While Grant looked good last year we think he’s a risk as a fantasy player this season, especially if Aaron Rodgers wins the quarterback competition allegedly taking place between he and Brett Favre. Defenses have had an offseason to study him and they’ll also likely be keying on Grant to force the passing game to beat them. Expect a decent season but games where he looks nothing like the backfield savior he was last year.
Favre Fiasco. Favre Fatigue. Favre F-k Up (of Off). Whatever you want to call it, Roger Goodell wants the Favre situation done. By Monday.
But why is it any of his business to make such a declaration? And why hasn’t he approved a players request for re-instatement for almost a full week?
We were all impressed when Goodell stepped in as commissioner, and started to try to crack down on possibly the only blemish that Paul Tagliabue left him with–the “degradation of the NFL society” we could call it, as several bad boy incidents started to paint the NFL in a bad light.
And I’ve been impressed by his willingness to come out against the ridiculous NFL Rookie pay scale that exists.
But I think by not acting on a players request to be reinstated within a reasonable time frame, and now declaring that he wants the situation resolved by Monday, he’s heading down a slippery path. If the delay wasn’t in the Packers favor (any delay to the situation hurts whoever ends up with Favre), I would suggest that they file tamporing charges against him. Of course, since he is the judge, jury and executioner, that wouldn’t get very far.
As to the Favre fiasco, rumors are that the $20-million, 10 year “marketing agreement” offer to Favre may be pushed to an even higher amount through negotiations this weekend.
Frankly, I still can’t believe that the NFL will allow this type of a deal to happen, without some sort of salary cap implications. I realize he’s a “retired” player, but as commenter Sir Whoopass pointed out last week, what’s to prevent Jerry Jones from starting to pay players from other teams to not play if the Packers are allowed to pay their own player not to?
Like the Poison Pill negotiating tactic (which to my knowledge wasn’t ever officially banned, but hasn’t been used since the Vikings nabbed Steve Hutchinson, and the Seahawks “retaliated” by signing Nate Burleson), this needs to be nipped in the bud early.
Too bad the NFL doesn’t have a commissioner who is willing to step in on situations like these…
OK, I think everyone here knows that we here at ZoneBlitz are predominantly fans of the Minnesota Vikings, being the local team. And, I think I can speak for my brother when I say that over the last 10 years, Matt Birk has become one of our favorite players on the team. Local guy, Harvard grad, very down to earth from what we’ve seen/heard, and co-owner of a couple of fairly nice local restaurants.
There has been a lot made in some media outlets of his absence from OTAs this past offseason, apparently due to his being upset over his contract situation (which expires after this coming season).
Birk finally spoke publicly about the situation today, and I tell you what–Chad Johnson, Chris Baker and the rest could really stand to take some notes.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started this offseason with $44 million in cap space, and quickly added Jeff Faine, Ben Troupe, Warrick Dunn, Antonio Bryant, Marques Douglas, Teddy Lehman, Eugene Wilson, and a handful of other free agents.
Now comes word that RB Earnest Graham, who filled in admirably last year when Cadillac Williams went down with a torn platellor tendon, wants his share. And maybe a little extra for his trouble?
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