2014 NFL Franchise & Transition Tag Numbers

More NFL numbers!  Yesterday we found out the salary cap is going up $10 million - to $133 million! And the NFL Published the Franchise and Transition Tag numbers!  Here they are:

Franchise tags

Quarterback: $16.192 million
Running back: $9.54 million
Wide receiver: $12.312 million
Tight end: $7.035 million
Offensive lineman: $11.654 million
Defensive end: $13.116 million
Defensive tackle: $9.654 million
Linebacker: $11.455 million
Cornerback: $11.834 million
Safety: $8.433 million
Kicker/punter: $3.556 million

Transition tags

Quarterback: $14.666 million
Running back: $8.033 million
Wide receiver: $10.176 million
Tight end: $6.106 million
Offensive lineman: $10.039 million
Defensive end: $10.633 million
Defensive tackle: $8.060 million
Linebacker: $9.754 million
Cornerback: $10.081 million
Safety: $7.253 million
Kicker/punter: $3.205 million

What does this mean, explained by ESPN?

The Tags

Monday is the first day that NFL teams can make one of these three designations to players.

Non-exclusive franchise tender

Team must agree to pay player for one year at the percentage against the current salary cap of the five highest salaries over the previous five seasons. Players can negotiate with any club, but if the player signs with another club, the tag tendering team will receive two first-round draft choices as compensation.

Exclusive franchise tender

Team must agree to pay player for one year at the average of the five largest current-year salaries at his position through the end of the restricted free-agent signing period. It cannot be lower than the non-exclusive franchise tender. The player is not permitted to negotiate with any other team.

Transition player designation

Team must agree to pay player the cap percentage average of the 10 largest prior-year salaries at his position. The player is permitted to negotiate with any other team and such team is not bound by any compensation in signing a transition player.

More to know

The tendering club has a seven-day waiting period on whether to match for transition or franchise tags. If the franchise tag is used on a player a second time by a team, the base tender goes up to 120 percent of the previous salary calculation.

Packer 2014 Free Agents & The Rest of The NFL!

Here is a complete list of all NFL Teams Free Agents!

The Packer List:

Green Bay Packers

Johnny Jolly, DE 
Seneca Wallace, QB 
Greg Van Roten, G 
Kahlil Bell, RB 
Matt Flynn, QB 
James Starks, RB 
John Kuhn, FB 
James Jones, WR 
Jermichael Finley, TE 
Andrew Quarless, TE 
Marshall Newhouse, OL 
Evan Dietrich-Smith, OL 
Mike Neal, DE 
C.J. Wilson, DE 
Ryan Pickett, DT 
B.J. Raji, DT 
Rob Francois, LB 
Sam Shields, CB

We have tried to stay on top of not only the Packer List of free agents, but the NFL!  The good news for the Packers (and other NFL teams), the salary cap is now $133 million.

My Packer List to re-sign!

Green Bay Packers

Johnny Jolly, DE (Must pass physical!)
Matt Flynn, QB (We need him!)
James Starks, RB (DuJuan Harris should be back, and we have Franklin, cannot spend to much)
John Kuhn, FB (We need him!)
James Jones, WR (Boykin looked good, cannot spend too much!)
Jermichael Finley, TE (Must pass physical!)
Andrew Quarless, TE  
Evan Dietrich-Smith, OL 
Mike Neal, DE 
Rob Francois, LB 
Sam Shields, CB  (We need him!)

More to come!

After Another Season Let Us Look At A Comparison Between Aaron Rogers And Brett Favre!

First, the numbers!

Aaron Rogers

Brett Favre

Let the comparison begin!

Years

Aaron Rogers - 9 years

Brett Favre - 20 years

Games Played

Aaron Rogers - 94 games

Brett Favre - 302 games

Quarterback rating

Aaron Rogers - 86.0

Brett Favre - 104.9

TD Passes

Aaron Rogers - 188 TD's

Brett Favre - 508 TD's

Interceptions

Aaron Rogers - 52 interceptions

Brett Favre - 336 interceptions

Completion Percent

Aaron Rogers - 65.8%

Brett Favre - 62.0%

Passing Yards

Aaron Rogers - 24,197 yards

Brett Favre - 71,838 yards

Yards per Catch

Aaron Rogers - 12.4 yards

Brett Favre - 11.4 yards

Super Bowl Wins

Aaron Rogers - 1 win

Brett Favre - 1 win

What do you think?  My vote is still up in the air!  Rogers needs 11 more years!

But, right now, the way Favre went out, has me with an edge to Rogers!

Important NFL Dates!

Here they are:

Feb. 17	First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition players
Feb. 19-25	2014 NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis)
March 8-11	Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2013 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
March 11	Prior to 4 p.m. ET, clubs must exercise options for 2014 on all players who have option clauses in their 2013 contracts
	Prior to 4 p.m. ET, clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation
	Prior to 4 p.m. ET, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2013 contracts and who have fewer than three Accrued Seasons of free agency credit
	Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2014 Salary Cap prior to 4 p.m. ET
	All 2013 player contracts will expire at 4 p.m. ET
	2014 Free agency period, League Year begins (4 p.m. ET)
	The first day of the 2014 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 11. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4 p.m. ET, and 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 11
	Trading period begins (4 p.m. ET)
March 23-26	NFL annual meeting (Orlando, Fla.)
April 7	Clubs that hired a new Head Coach after the end of the 2013 regular season may begin offseason workout programs
April 21	Clubs with returning Head Coaches may begin offseason workout programs
May 2	Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets
May 7	Deadline for Prior Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents
May 8-10	2014 NFL Draft (New York)
May 19-21	NFL spring league meeting (Atlanta)

Packer Needs: Found An Article That Agrees With My Assessment For 2014!

Found An Article That Agrees With My Assessment For 2014 Packers!  Checkout the Article at:

Fox Sports - Packers 5 Weaknesses HEading Into Offseason

Here are the highlights:

1 - A lack of defensive playmakers

2 - The entire safety position

3 - Not enough talent surrounding Clay Matthews at linebacker

4 - A defensive line with many question marks

5 - A playmaking tight end to step in immediately

If you have been reading my blog, these points have been covered!!  Even throughout the year, I was harping on many of these points!!

Four of the five points is about the defense - AGREE!!!  Playmakers!  That was obvious this year!!  Lack of turnovers!  Big plays for defensive TD's!  Big hits!  MISSING!!  Safeties?  Giving up big plays!  Long runs & poor tackling!  Big Hits again!!  Clay Matthews need help!! (And not Chunky Soup help! - Sorry Momma Matthews!)  Defensive Line!  NEED ATHLETES!!!

The only offense - Tight End.  Sorry, I would not risk it!  Bye Bye Finley. (Only sign if he agrees to a one year contract!)  Quarless, is an adequate back-up!

So, take a look at the article & see if you agree!

Another Look At The Yahoo Sports Top Draft Prospects

Yesterday I looked at the top 20 prospects according to Yahoo Sports.  Let's continue down the list!

My current prospects the I think will help the Pack are:

Anthony Barr, OLB
Kahlil Mack, OLB
Louis Nix, DT 
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
CJ Mosley, ILB
Eric Ebron, TE

Let's look at the prospects 21-30 according to Yahoo Sports:
21, Dee Ford, rSr, DE, Auburn, 6-2, 243, 4.67, 1

22, Aaron Donald, Sr, DT, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 288, 4.93, 1

23, *Timmy Jernigan, Jr, DT, Florida State, 6-2, 298, 4.98, 1

24, *Cyrus Kouandjio, Jr, OT, Alabama, 6-5, 310, 5.12, 1

25, *Kelvin Benjamin, rSo, WR, Florida State, 6-5, 235, 4.54, 1

26, RaShede Hageman, rSr, DT, Minnesota, 6-6, 318, 4.89, 1-2

27, *Odell Beckham Jr., Jr, WR, LSU, 5-11, 193, 4.49, 1-2

28, *Calvin Pryor, Jr, FS, Louisville, 6-2, 208, 4.57, 1-2

29, Derek Carr, rSr, QB, Fresno State, 6-2, 215, 4.78, 1-2

30, *Jace Amaro, Jr, TE, Texas Tech, 6-5, 260, 4.67, 1-2

Defense first - Dee Ford, Sr, DE, Aaron Donald, Sr, DT, Timmy Jernigan, Jr, DT, and  RaShede Hageman, Sr, DT.  

Dee Ford was good in the Senior Bowl!  And coaches said, 

"Ford is among quite a few college defensive ends who will project as linebackers in the NFL"


Aaron Donald, another good Senior Bowl, the scoop, "In a year when the Senior Bowl is lacking in top-level talent, the best college player who chose to attend was Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who won the Outland Trophy as the best college lineman, the Lombardi Award as the best lineman or linebacker and the Bednarik and Nagurski awards as the best defensive player.!"  

That is good enough for me!


Timmy Jernigan, sounds good according to Yahoo Sports, 

"Thick-necked lineman with traps of a body builder. He has very little bad body weight and actually looks more like a huge inside linebacker than a defensive tackle. His lower body is muscular yet very athletic. "  

I'll take athletic & muscular any day!

And then there is the REAL big guy, RaShede Hageman!

"Hageman, 6 feet 6 and 318 pounds, is a converted tight end and former basketball player who's projected as a first round draft pick."

I'll take an athlete at nose tackle!  The only thing, he may be too big for tackle!

Let's Look At Another List For The Packers Draft For 2014! (From Yahoo Sports)

Let's Look At Another List For The Packers Draft For 2014, this list is from Yahoo Sports.  The top 250 draft choices.  Let's look at the top 10 first:

Rank, Name, Class, Pos, School, Ht, Wt, 40, Proj. Round

*Denotes Underclassman

1, *Jadeveon Clowney, Jr, DE, South Carolina, 6-5, 274, 4.56, 1

2, Jake Matthews, Sr, OT, Texas A&M, 6-5, 305, 5.08, 1

3, *Teddy Bridgewater, Jr, QB, Louisville, 6-2, 205, 4.67, 1

4, *Greg Robinson, rSo, OT, Auburn, 6-5, 320, 4.98, 1

5, *Blake Bortles, rJr, QB, Central Florida, 6-3, 230, 4.78, 1

6, *Sammy Watkins, Jr, WR, Clemson, 6-1, 205, 4.47, 1

7, *Johnny Manziel, So, QB, Texas A&M, 6-0, 210, 4.45, 1

8, Khalil Mack, rSr, OLB, Buffalo, 6-3, 248, 4.64, 1

9, Taylor Lewan, rSr, OT, Michigan, 6-7, 315, 5.09, 1

10, Anthony Barr, Sr, OLB, UCLA, 6-4, 248, 4.48, 1

Since the Packers draft in the first round at 21, many of these players are out.  The only two I see here are the OLB's - Mack & Barr.  I like the 40 time and size for Barr.  So, let's see what the combine looks like for him & do more research on him!

Next 10,

11, Darqueze Dennard, Sr, CB, Michigan State, 5-11, 197, 4.52, 1

12, Zack Martin, rSr, OT, Notre Dame, 6-4, 305, 5.22, 1

13, *Mike Evans, rSo, WR, Texas A&M, 6-5, 225, 4.58, 1

14, *Eric Ebron, Jr, TE, North Carolina, 6-4, 245, 4.67, 1

15, *Marqise Lee, Jr, WR, Southern Cal, 6-0, 195, 4.49, 1

16, C.J. Mosley, Sr, ILB, Alabama, 6-2, 232, 4.65, 1

17, *Kony Ealy, rJr, DE, Missouri, 6-5, 275, 4.77, 1

18, *Louis Nix III, rJr, DT, Notre Dame, 6-2, 345, 5.17, 1

19, *Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jr, FS, Alabama, 6-1, 208, 4.54, 1

20, Justin Gilbert, Sr, CB, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 200, 4.52, 1

Here we go!  I see some real possibilities, but they still most get to the Packers pick!
Again I'm looking defense:
Louis Nix, DT (bye bye Raji!)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S (If drafted by Packers needs to change first name!)
CJ Mosley, ILB (AJ Hawk is not getting any younger!)
Eric Ebron, TE (Finley goes & Quarless stays?)

So, we have 5 names to track!

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S - Alabama

My Packer Free Agent Wish List!

Found another site to help me with the free agents that may be available to help the Packers win the next Super bowl!

First - here is the article - Roto-world - 2014 NFL Free Agents

Now, of course let's start with DEFENSE!!

My first concern is safety!  It seems since Woodson moved on & Collins was injured the back-end of our defense is BAD!  Long plays & bad tackling!  Who is out there?

Of course, Nick Collins wants back!  He was great, but is he healthy & is he in NFL condition?  He will be 31 this summer, and as mentioned he played in the 2008, 2009, 2010 pro bowls!  I just think this is a risk, but if the price is right, maybe worth it!
Jarius Byrd - age 28, is still young!  Bills put the franchise tag on him last year, so he must be talented!  He played in Buffalo, so he is used to great weather!  TJ Ward, again young at 27.  HAd a good year this year in a very good Cleveland defense.  At 5'10 & 200 pounds not tall, but strong!   & Donte Whitner will be 29, so age is good.  Played on a great 49er defense that plays with a chip on their shoulder - Packers need that!!

Defensive Line - Pass rush!  Aggressive Attitude!  There are some good ones out there!  First, Defensive Ends!  I love the motor and attitude of Jared Allen!  Plus the Vikings have been stealing Packers the last few years!  Allen is older at 32, but I love the energy!  We need energy!!  Greg Hardy at 26 next year is young & talented!  Has the Panthers single game sack record of 4!!  We need SACKS!!!  Made the Pro Bowl is 2013!!  Brett Keisel - from the Steelers - older at 35 but, THE BEARD!  Defensive Tackles - Do not really see any out there!

Linebackers - with the Matthews injury concerns the past two years, and experimenting with other players at outside linebacker, I see a need to compliment Matthew again!  In the inside Hawk had a great year, but is older, Brad Jones was hurt & the fill ins were adequate at best!  So, what is out there?
Not much, I would rather stay with what we have & draft a couple linebackers!

So, what do we do?  I really do not see an easy solution out there!

Fear the Beard!

And, Looks Like A Packer!!

Article About Packer Defense Confirms My Feelings About The Present Packer Defense!

Article About Packer Defense Confirms My Feelings About The Present Packer Defense!  First, have a quick look at the article -

Green Bay Packers Defense Still Trying to Replace Super Bowl Stars

The article seems to agree with some of my earlier blog entries, the personnel is not up to the same standard as the Super Bowl Year a few years back!  So, replacing key players….
Cullen Jenkins
Desmond Bishop
Charles Woodson
Nick Collins

Therefore, first, Ted Thompson & the Packer scouts need to be on the hot seat! The last four drafts?

Did you look at each draft?  What do you think?

To me, the last four Packer drafts have produced………….ZERO impact players on defense!!!

So, where do we go from here?  Who should we keep?  Should we sign a free agent?

More to come!

What Can The Packers Learn From The Super Bowl Champs?

What Can The Packers Learn From The Super Bowl Champs?

1 - Defense Can Still Win Championships!
 Right now the Packers & Seahawks are built differently!
Aaron Rogers - 2013-14  $12,000,000
Russel Wilson - 2013-14  $681,000
That means the Seahawks can spend more on defense!!!  (What till Russell Wilson gets his new contract! - Look what happened to Baltimore!!)

NFL Salaries

2 - A Simple 4-3 defense - Seattle!  The Seahawks run a very basic defense!  Not a lot of blitzing, a BASE 4-3 Defense!  And a "lock" down pass defense!

3 - Lock down passing defense!  This is one of the keys!  The pass defenders push the limits grabbing, hitting, pushing, shoving, holding, anything they can get away with until a flag is thrown!

4 - Super Bowl Seattle Points
Points - Comments
2 - safety - thank you Denver
Seattle 2-0
3 - FG after the safety - great field position!
Seattle 5-0
3 - FG after a Denver 3 & out!  And a short punt - 29 yards!
Seattle 8-0
7 - TD after a Manning interception & a pass interference in end zone by Denver!
Seattle 15-0
7 - TD - a 67 return of a Manning interception!!!
Seattle 22-0

WOW!  22-0!  First Half!  And what did the Seattle offense do?  Not much!!!

That kind of defense will allow the offense a little freedom!!