http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=414919
Getting a foot in the door
Packers meet with Arrington
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
Posted: April 10, 2006
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has said he's not done in free agency and true to his word, he stuck his toe in the water with former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington, a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Arrington, who shares the same agents as free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson, met with Packers officials Monday to discuss the possibility of playing in Green Bay. Arrington and Woodson, who visited Green Bay last week, are the two biggest names left in free agency and are both seeking a big payday.
Arrington bought his way out of his Washington contract after the season, paying back $4.4 million to become a free agent, and reportedly asked for a seven-year, $54 million deal from the New York Giants. The Miami Dolphins appear to be the most interested in Arrington, but they have not been able to meet his price and so he came to see what the Packers had to say.
Neither of Arrington's agents, Carl and Kevin Poston, was available for comment, but a National Football League source said Arrington visited with club officials Monday and left without a contract offer.
Thompson could be using the visit to show quarterback Brett Favre that he isn't sitting on his hands in free agency, particularly in light of Favre's remarks Saturday that he thought the Packers needed to make a statement with a "Reggie White" kind of signing.
But Arrington's visit was arranged a week ago before Favre made his most recent comments and it's thought the Packers have had interest in him for a while. Arrington, 27, is in the prime of his career and would give the Packers star power and leadership on a defense lacking in both areas.
However, he's coming off two unproductive seasons, one because of a knee injury that sidelined him for 12 games and is an issue for some teams that are considering signing him. Last year, he fell in coach Joe Gibbs' doghouse for unspecified reasons and started only nine of the 13 games in which he played.
He finished with 47 tackles, no sacks and no interceptions.
Thompson needs linebackers in the worst way and Arrington, the second overall pick in the 2000 draft out of Penn State, would be able to fill either outside position. Considered one of the best athletes in the game, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Arrington had 21½ sacks and three interceptions from 2000-'03.
Aside from middle linebacker Nick Barnett, the Packers don't have anyone guaranteed a starting job or of the athletic caliber of Arrington at the position.
Bringing in Arrington and Woodson is one thing, signing them is another. The Poston brothers always seek blockbuster contracts and often times get them. However, the market has thinned out and the competition for both players isn't that great and so it will be harder for them to get their asking price.
In addition to the Packers, Miami, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and the Giants remain in the running for Arrington, who was scheduled to have a $12.045 million salary cap number before being released by Washington.
The Packers also are considering Baltimore backup safety Chad Williams, who made a free-agent visit on Friday. Williams has played in all 64 games for the Ravens since being drafted in the sixth round in 2002. He has four sacks and eight interceptions in his career.
Packers meet with Arrington
Packers meet with Arrington
j/k
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