stormdriver

http://www.packersnews.com/archives/...26545728.shtml

Agent repeats: Harris isn’t holding out

By Rob Demovsky
PackersNews.com

If Al Harris doesn’t report for the start of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp next month, it would come as a major surprise to his agent.
Jack Bechta, who represents the Packers’ starting cornerback, said he spoke with Harris on Wednesday, the same day a published report quoted Harris as saying he might not report on time. Harris missed all 14 days of the Packers’ organized team activities that concluded on Wednesday because he thinks he deserves a contract extension.
“I talked to Al today and asked him, ‘What’s going on?’” Bechta said on Wednesday from his office in San Diego. “He just kind of laughed and said, ‘Call Andrew (Brandt) and call Ted (Thompson) and tell them, rest assured, I will not miss anything mandatory. I’ll be there. I’d love to have a new deal, but I’ll be there.’”
That’s essentially the same thing Bechta said in an interview with the Press-Gazette on June 1. At that time, Bechta said Harris’ situation would not turn into another Mike McKenzie or Javon Walker case, in which both players insisted they would never play for the Packers again and forced the team to trade them.
Bechta said on Wednesday as far as he is concerned, nothing has changed in the last month. He said he called Brandt, the Packers’ vice president of player finance, and Thompson, the team’s general manager, to relay Harris’ comments.
“He’ll be there, and it won’t be an issue,” Bechta said. “If he’s not there, I would be more surprised than anyone.”
Thompson on Wednesday refused to discuss the specifics of any talks he has had with Harris or Bechta.
“We don’t talk about what we discuss,” Thompson said.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy wouldn’t say whether he had talked to Harris about his situation.
“I’m not going to discuss contracts,” McCarthy said. “We don’t do that in the media. I don’t believe in communicating through the media. All the conversations I’ve been a part of as far as Al Harris, I’ve been told over and over again he’s nothing but a true professional.”
Harris wants the Packers to rework the five-year, $18 million contract extension he signed in September 2004. He skipped last month’s voluntary minicamp as a way of making his intentions known.
Harris didn’t return messages left on his cell phone. In a published report earlier in the day, Harris said he might not report for training camp.
“It’s not 100 percent, that’s for sure,” Harris told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’d like to come and do my job, but everyone’s got to be fair, too. It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family, and now we’re on the clock. I’m not getting any younger, so I have to take a business approach to it.”
Harris’ problem is he’s 31 and under contract through 2009. He received a $5.25 million signing bonus as part of his 2004 extension. He also received roster bonuses of $1 million in 2005 and 2006. Harris’ base salary for this season is $1.5 million and the base salaries for the rest of the contract are $2.2 million in 2007, $2.85 million in 2008 and $3 million in 2009. Over the rest of the contract, the only bonus money Harris could receive is a $500,000 roster bonus due in 2007.
Even though the Packers have plenty of salary-cap room, they’re not likely to hand out more money to a player who will turn 32 before the season ends and is under contract for this year and three more years.
However, this could be Harris’ way of reminding the Packers he doesn’t want to be taken for granted and if he has another productive season in 2006, he should be in line for an extension.
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Harris is a dependable talent, and a leader on defense if we've ever had one. They can say all day that he's too old to extend, but they just gave an extention to Driver, who is actually older. With plenty of salary cap room left and no other forseeable excuses, there is no reason not to rework Harris' contract.

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Idaho Vandals Fan
Green Bay Packers Fan

Professor

now that he won't hold out, watch him get hurt like Javon, J/K

chris_36824

Now that would be some good stuff... LOL...

MickeyG

this is great news for the Packers, he is one of their best players on a very average defense.

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Professor

Harris reverses field again and now says holdout

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/spor...=88559&ntpid=1

Packers: Harris threatens camp holdout
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY - So much for Green Bay Packers veteran cornerback Al Harris not following the Mike McKenzie-Javon Walker unhappy-with-my-contract playbook.

After skipping all of the team's voluntary offseason workouts - the late-May minicamp and all 14 of the club's organized team activity practices - Harris said Wednesday he won't report to training camp July 28 and, if the Packers don't rework his contract, he doesn't want to play for the team again.

"Under the current deal now, I can't see myself playing there. I feel real strong about this thing," Harris said when reached on his cell phone while his teammates went through Wednesday's final OTA practice. "I'm going to do what I need to do.

"Either we make it happen in Green Bay, or we make it happen elsewhere. I know there's teams out there that would pay me what I'm asking for. I'd love to be with the Packers, though. It's not like I'm trying to kill 'em."

In September 2004, Harris signed a $18.635 million extension, which added five years onto his existing deal and contained $7 million in bonuses. Thus, Harris is under contract through 2009 and is scheduled to earn base salaries of $1.5 million this season, $2.2 million in '07, $2.85 million in '08 and $3 million in '09.

Asked if, with four years remaining on his contract, he's negotiating from a position of strength, Harris replied, "Not really. But I think I've got a strong case from (the standpoint of) how I've played and what I'm asking for. I'm pretty sensitive to the general manager (Ted Thompson). He doesn't want everybody coming up there after they just signed a deal. I understand. But I'm not even asking for any money this year."

Instead, what Harris wants is a pair of roster bonuses - the first payable next March and the second payable in March 2008 - worth $4 to $5 million and incentive bonuses worth $1.25 to $1.5 million if he makes the Pro Bowl.

Harris, who hasn't missed a start since coming to Green Bay in March 2003 in a trade with Philadelphia, has intercepted eight passes (three of which he returned for touchdowns) for the Packers and was chosen as an NFC alternate for the Pro Bowl last year. Pro Football Weekly recently rated him the No. 12 cornerback in the NFL.

New coach Mike McCarthy, whose only interaction with Harris was at the mandatory three-day post-draft minicamp in early May, said: "All the conversations I've been a part of as far as Al Harris, I've been told over and over again he's nothing but a true professional. He's always come in in shape, extremely hard worker, and I don't think that's going to change."

Earlier this month, Harris' agent, Jack Bechta, said his client planned on taking part in all of the team's mandatory practices, meaning Harris wouldn't miss training camp. Bechta told The Associated Press Wednesday Harris will report for the start of training camp.

"Oh, yeah. That is not an issue," Bechta said. "We'll be in training camp."

Bechta said he spoke with Harris earlier Wednesday and had assurances from his client he wouldn't be staying home in five weeks.

Even though Harris' stance has obviously changed, Thompson refused to comment on the reversal.

"I never talk about things like that. We don't ever talk about any discussions we have with our players along those lines," said Thompson, adding he hasn't spoken to Harris recently and doesn't expect to talk to him before camp opens. "It doesn't make sense for me to go tit for tat and say, 'Oh yeah? He said that, well, I say this.' So I'm not going to."

Still, Harris sounded Wednesday like a man whose mind is made up.

"I'm not a selfish dude. It's the principle with me. If Ted goes out and gets a free agent, he's going to spend a lot more than what I'm asking for," Harris said. "The economics don't make a lot of sense to me. Because no doubt, I personally think I've outplayed my contract -and if not outplayed the whole deal, I think it's time for a little boost."

stormdriver

This is really stupid. Oh well. We should just sign Ty Law and then see what Harris has to say. We have the cap space, and we don't need this TO/Walker BS to continue. Make an example out of him and then move on. Plus, Woodson/Law/Manuel would be AWESOME.

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Green Bay Packers Fan

juggalo6772

Storm right now your defense sucks if you signed ty law you could compete for the division title, you wouldnt go any were in the playoffs but you could win the division.

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stormdriver

Our defense doesn't suck. Our DTs are average, our DEs are slightly above that. Our LBs, at least this year, should be among the best. Our defense doesn't suck, just our secondary sucks. You're right, Ty Law would fix that singlehandedly, and very likely put us in the playoffs, but you still know they won't do it...

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Idaho Vandals Fan
Green Bay Packers Fan

Professor

they might if al harris is a bunghole and holds out. could be a blessing.

MickeyG

agreed, Green Bay has an very above average defense with a lot of potential, IMO.

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