Green will probably test the market
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
Posted: Feb. 20, 2007
The Green Bay Packers have a little more than a week to get running back Ahman Green signed if they want to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Ahman Green will be an unrestricted free agent if he doesn't reach a contract agreement with the Green Bay Packers before March 2.
'06 Review: Grades
Bob McGinn on Ahman Green's performance in 2006:
"Green averaged 3.98 yards per carry
in '06 and 3.31 in '05, a sharp departure from his 4.67 in 2000-'04. He stumbled too often at the end of runs, caught the ball poorly and had merely four gains of 20 yards or more... Nevertheless, he continued to attack defenses, seldom going down without a fight."
Buy a link hereAt this point, Green seems interested in testing the market to see how much he's really worth even though his preference appears to be to remain with the Packers. To keep predators away from their leading rusher, the Packers are going to have to find common ground with him fairly soon.
One option that isn't in the cards is the use of a franchise or transition tag to keep Green off the market. It would cost the Packers a one-year offer of $6.9 million to use the franchise designation and $5.9 million to use the transition.
Teams have until Thursday to use either, but with Green having turned 30 Friday and the Packers unwilling to box themselves into a prescribed salary, the deadline will pass without Green Bay playing tag.
"We haven't even thought about that," said Green's agent, Joby Branion. "That's not been discussed."
Branion wouldn't say what Green is seeking, but after making $2 million in salary and $750,000 in incentives last year, the Packers' second-leading all-time rusher is seeking a major increase. Green was coming off a torn thigh tendon when he signed his one-year deal last season and would like to be compensated for posting a sixth career 1,000-yard rushing season.
The Packers probably aren't willing to up the ante such that Green is in the Deuce McAlister, Lamont Jordan, Domanick Davis $5 million- to $6 million-per-year range, but they're probably willing to match what others such as Corey Dillon, Reuben Droughns, Warrick Dunn and Willie Parker average (around $4 million).
FULL STORY
JS Online: A game of tag appears unlikely
Ahman Green will probably test the market
Ahman Green will probably test the market
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