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Packers running back Ryan Grant made a big splash in 2007, emerging as the go-to guy after starting the season a fall-back option.
And Grant now wants to be paid accordingly.
As an exclusive-rights free agent, Grant is entitled to only $370,000 in 2008. Grant’s agent, Alan Herman, plans to have a conversation with the Packers on Thursday about extending the deal.
“The process has started,” Herman said. “Are we getting anywhere? Probably a better question at the end of the week.”
Grant is avoiding offseason workouts, and he has yet to sign the $370,000 tender. His only option is to not play at all.
He could show up in Week Ten, earn seven game checks (i.e., roughly $152,000), gain a second year of NFL service, and be only one more season away from restricted free agency.
By then, however, Grant’s name on the hot list of young NFL running backs likely will have been replaced by whoever ends up moving the chains in 2008.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Now if this takes a while, I will get upset. This is what Ted Thompson preaches, build from within. He doesn’t spend money on FA very much, well hardly at all. But does spend on re-signing his own. So hopefully the Packers are just working out some protection in case Grant is less Ahman Green (long term starting running back) and is more Brent Fullwood (one good year and was done).
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Grant saved my fantasy team last year….pay him the money because you know you can not trust Rogers to be thowing the ball that much
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Rating: 2.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
When I want a raise at my job I don’t stop going to work until they give me one.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
You probably also have very little chance of tearing a muscle or breaking a leg at your job.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
well the packers are strapped for cash with the $30 mil in cap room. give them a break.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
You can’t equate our jobs to the professional sports world..its a completely different world.
Grant is a good young player who certainly raised some eyebrows last year. Ideally, I’d like another year to evaluate him, but I think Thompsom will probably work out an agreement with him just ensure his new QB has a solid running game.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
I’m not completely sold on Grant, he looked great during the regular season but was less than spectacular during the real season (playoffs).
I can understand the Packer’s FO reluctance to paying him any kind of major $$ but I also understand where Grant’s side is coming from.
As PFT has pointed out a few times, history has shown that there have been quite a few instances of RBs busting after signing big contracts (Alexander, LJ, Edge) but then there are the Westbrooks who sign what appears to be a fair market deal for a running back then goes on to outperform the contract.
I guess the question is, is Grant an Alexander or a Westbrook?
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Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“Less than spectacular during the playoffs?!?”
Are you serious? Maybe you were in a coma during the wildcard round, where the dude ran for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Yeah, the Giants D shut him down the following week, but who didn’t they shut down during their run?
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
In all fairness, Grant has been in Green Bay all offseason, he just hasn’t been taking part in the OTAs. He even warmed up with guys and then just left for the rest. If there is a right way to go about it, I think Grant is doing it.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
oops, I meant Grant got ridiculous in the divisional round.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
He did have a 200-yard game in the playoffs (granted, with 2 fumbles), and a rough day against a championship defense. I wasn’t disappointed with Grant’s playoff performances.
The Packers have not opted to reward guys who hold out in the past, though. Players like Kampman and Barnett, who were and are more important than Grant, kept playing, kept performing well and got their paydays.
The team has all the leverage in this negotiation, and unless Grant is asking for absurd buxx I think this will be settled sooner rather than later.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Anyone remember Samkon Gado? Did a bang up job for a few games. Where is he now?
As a Packer fan I say, IF HE DON”T LIKE IT, DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT HIM ON THE BUTT GOING OUT THE DOOR!!!!
The Packer’s don’t need any more prima-donnas like some of those who have tried to blackmail the Packer front office.
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Rating: 3.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I don’t think this is technically a hold-out. He is skipping OTA’s (organized team activities) not training camp. You can’t really compare this situation to Kampman or Barnett’s either, because I believe that they were still under contract when they were working through their extensions. Grant is an exclusive rights free agent, which means (correct me if I’m wrong) that he isn’t officially a member of the team until he either signs his tender or signs a new contract.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Grant does have zero leverage at this point, but he does deserve to make more than $370K. A starting RB taking 75% of the carries gets beat up pretty well, more so than any other position, and all it takes is one play to end his career. He’s just looking out for himself, which he has to. He was the #2 rusher in the league the second half of the year, to LT, and right now he’s getting paid like a back-up punter. He’s obviously not holding out for anything near a LJ/Alexander contract, he just wants to get paid fairly. If I were GM, I would give him a roster bonus for this year to push his salary to about a million, then give him a multi-year extension halfway through the year if he picks up where he left off last year.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Ryan Grant’s postseason numbers:
2 games, 40 carries, 230 yards (5.8 yds/cry), 3 TDs, 2 fumbles.
That is pretty afwul northeagle.
I wish idiots would go post somewhere else and leave this site to football fans that acutally know what they are talking about.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
straverse says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“Less than spectacular during the playoffs?!?”
“Are you serious? Maybe you were in a coma during the wildcard round, where the dude ran for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Yeah, the Giants D shut him down the following week, but who didn’t they shut down during their run?”
You conveniently left out the 2 fumbles that led to 14 out of 20 Seattle points - this is my point, he looked great at times but less than spectacular at times as well. I wouldn’t blame the Packers wanting him to prove that he isn’t a one year wonder. Clearly, the Packers like Grant as they did not draft a RB but I don’t blame them for being cautious.
Maybe a better analogy is Grant a Clinton Portis or a Tatum Bell?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Grant deserves some money and will be paid accordingly. Worst case scenario, Brandon Jackson gets a shot. I like Jackson too. We’ve got two quality backs who can run the ball. And Deshawn Wynn. LOL.
Rodgers is gonna be very good, btw. What I’m worried about is the Guard position.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
this is not a holdout, not at all. he’s not under contract, hasn’t signed anything, and yet he’s still been there for all of the offseason workouts, etc. he won’t participate in anything that could result in a potential injury, which makes sense, since he has no contract and no security.
the guy may have been almost as instrumental as favre to the pack’s playoff push last year, and teddy knows that, will pay him accordingly. listening to what his agent is saying, it sounds like they have realistic expectations, and are ready to come to the table and get something done, which will require compromise.
seems like they should give him something similar to what julius jones got in seattle… grant’s a better back then jones; he’s younger, more explosive, had better numbers last year,etc…but also not proven to be as reliable over that period of time, so it evens out.
This is classic example of how TT’s system is supposed to work… teddy went out and got grant last year for cheap, and people scoffed at the pickup. But the thought wasn’t that he would STAY cheap, you’re always shooting for the guys you pick up to succeed, and with that will obviously come bigger contracts. stating the obvious here, but what i’m trying to point out is the fact that TT’s way of doing business means getting a more talented player (grant over jones) for less money. If they were shopping for a back in the FA market they’d have overpaid for a guy likes Jones. Luckily TT refuses to play that game…
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
straverse says:
“Yeah, the Giants D shut him down the following week, but who didn’t they shut down during their run?”
Man, I love hearing that!
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May 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Let’s see how he does without Favor. ARod is not going to scare anyone.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
acdc you got the right idea. i think the roster bonus is the way this will go, TT WILL NOT give grant a huge contract based on 10 games. he just doesnt roll like that. grant will be compensated with slightly more than his 10 game stretch deserves, and then when(ok i will throw in the..)/if he proves to be as good as he looked last year- he will be compensated very nicely. i dont see him getting a bank breaking deal because we will still need to sign some other FAs next year
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May 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
ACDC84 says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Ryan Grant’s postseason numbers:
“2 games, 40 carries, 230 yards (5.8 yds/cry), 3 TDs, 2 fumbles.
That is pretty afwul northeagle.
I wish idiots would go post somewhere else and leave this site to football fans that acutally know what they are talking about.”
Ouch, that acutally hurt…I know I’m afwul for writing this.
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