2006 Free Agent Tracker - Defense

[MURP]

26, 2006

NO SIGNING BONUS FOR WOODSON

A league source tells us that cornerback Charles Woodson's contract with the Packers includes a signing bonus of . . . zero dollars, zero cents.

The reason for the team's decision not to pay Woodson has less to do with his skill and more to do with the fact that the Packers have plenty of cap room for 2006.  By funding Woodson's first-year pay through a roster bonus and base salary, $10.5 million can be handed to him with no proration in future years.

As a practical matter, this makes it easier for the Packers to cut ties with Woodson in any future season, since there would be no acceleration due to the portion of the signing bonus that applies to future years.

We're also told that, although the deal is being characterized as a seven-year, $52 million arrangement, it is as a practical matter a three-year, $18 million package.  Depending on Woodson's performance, he could be gone by 2007 or 2008.

Not a huge deal, but not bad for an aging, injury-prone cover man as to whom only one other team expressed serious interest.

[Displaced]

Emmons-Pierce-Arrington-Short

Thats a pretty good LB group.

I have a question about this.  What's Emmons' cap number?  Could this open the door for his return to the Birds?

[MURP]

Cardinals | Team signs J. Brewer
Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:48:20 -0700

Sid Hartman, of the Star Tribune, reports the Arizona Cardinals have signed free agent S Jack Brewer (Eagles) to an undisclosed contract.

[reese125]

son-of-a......

[Feva]

 

[SD_Eagle5]

Lions re-sign Nate Wayne

18 days later:

Lions | Team releases Wayne
Mon, 1 May 2006 12:28:53 -0700

The Detroit Lions announced they have released LB Nate Wayne from the team

[Geowhizzer]

GET WAYNE! 

[BigEd76]

The Broncos finally signed Nate Webster officially....1 yr deal

[MURP]

update on Woodson deal

Packers | More details on Woodson's contract
Wed, 3 May 2006 06:03:21 -0700

PackersNews.com reports Green Bay Packers CB Charles Woodson's contract with the Packers pays him a $4 million signing bonus. In 2006 he will earn a $4.35 million roster bonus and a $53,000 workout bonus. In 2007, Woodson will receive a $1 million roster bonus, due the 10th day of the league year, plus a base salary of $1.25 million, plus a $100,000 workout bonus. His $1.25 million base salary is guaranteed against injury, so if he gets hurt and the Packers cut him in the offseason because of the injury, they still must pay him the $1.25 million. If they cut him simply for poor performance, they won't owe him anything. From 2007 until the final year of the contract, he'll receive a $56,000 roster bonus each week he's on the team's 45-man game-day roster. That means he can make $896,000 a season if he's activated for every game. He also can earn a $100,000 workout bonus each season from 2007 to 2011. Woodson also has incentives and escalators for making the Pro Bowl. Any season he's chosen for the Pro Bowl, he'll receive a $100,000 bonus, and more importantly, his base salary the following season will increase $1.5 million. If he makes the Pro Bowl as an alternate, he'll receive a $25,000 bonus and his salary the next year does not change.

[BigEd76]

Top names still left in FA:
DE = Brady Smith, Gary Walker, Duane Clemons

DT = Grady Jackson, Brentson Buckner, Travis Hall, Brandon Noble, Jason Fisk, Steve Martin

LB = Junior Seau, Jamie Sharper, Chris Claiborne, Earl Holmes, Keith Newman, Tommy Polley, Barrett Green, Tim Johnson, Chad Brown, Jeff Gooch, Nick Rogers, Saleem Rasheed, Rocky Calmus, Ronald McKinnon, Nate Wayne, Barry Gardner, Quinton Caver

CB = Ty Law, Nate Clements, Ahmed Plummer, Kevin Thomas, Dexter McCleon, Ralph Brown, Dale Carter, Ray Mickens

S = Lance Schulters, Ronnie Heard, Keion Carpenter, Ifeanyi Ohalete, Antuan Edwards, Tony Dixon, Earl Little, Reggie Tongue, Tebucky Jones, Kim Herring

P = Kyle Richardson, Bryan Barker

[SD_Eagle5]

You could fill a Pro-Bowl D with that list 5 years ago.

[The BIGSTUD]

The funny thing is I'd take every single OLB in that list over Dhani Jones. Yes, even Nate Wayne. Nate Wayne is as bad as they come, but he's better than Dhani. But that's like pick your poison.

I say bring in Chad Brown or Claiborne and cut Dhani and have Brown/Claiborne and Gocong battle it out for SAM. 


Also any idea as to why we signed Jasper over Buckner?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Jasper has a lot more gas in the tank.  Buckner's like 35-36 years old and has been forced to play a lot of snaps down in Carolina with all the injuries to Kris Jenkins.

[Feva]

... and Jasper doesn't kiss his cleats.

[MURP]

Nate Wayne, Barry Gardner, Quinton Caver

does anyone else feel sick when reading that?