Packers release Hawk, avoiding $10M salary

[manchild24]

ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news, and shortly thereafter predicted that Hawk would "return (to Green Bay) with a new deal -- soon." The Packers simply had to make the move now, or risk having to guarantee Hawk $10 million for the 2011 season. Unlike players with expiring contracts, however, Hawk is free to sign elsewhere immediately and will certainly want to max out his earnings. He led the Super Bowl champs in tackles last year.

 

[Primetime]

This was expected. Would like to see GB sign him to a smaller deal in the near future. Hopefully Barnett comes back healthy and we can have three solid players at inside linebacker.

 

[BrntO4Life]

He just won a SB. Something tells me he takes the biggest deal he can, which likely pushes him out of Green Bay.

 

[Tengo Juego]

He just won a SB. Something tells me he takes the biggest deal he can, which likely pushes him out of Green Bay.

If someone wants to overpay him, then spend away. Hopefully he wants to come back though. I'd rather him over Barnett.

 

[Yawkey Way]

My dad, who used to play football and what not but doesn't really know a ton of players like some of the nerdier types do, shocked me one day watching a Packers game. He said, "A.J Hawk is never in the right position. Every single time i've ever watched him, even dating back to college, he's always been out of position and not done his job correctly."

i thought it was interesting that he of all people would say that, so I pose the question to Packers fans, what is the consensus on Hawk?

 

[Woy]

Paul Posluszny > AJ Hawk still. :shifty:

 

[SuperKevin]

Paul Posluszny > AJ Hawk still. :shifty:

I want both of them in the middle of our 3-4 defense in Buffalo

 

[Colonel Angus]

Just saw on jsonline that Hawk is scheduled to fly back to Green Bay tomorrow to sign a new 5 year deal. Is Schefter ever not right?

 

[manchild24]

yep just saw that on roto

Citing two sources, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reports that free agent AJ Hawk will re-sign with the Packers on Thursday.
Cut Wednesday to avoid a guaranteed $10 million salary, Hawk will reportedly fly back to Green Bay on Thursday and sign a five-year contract. Hawk apparently never even considered other teams; after his release he could've immediately begun taking free agent visits around the league. If the report is correct, the Packers may wind up parting ways with Nick Barnett

 

[Colonel Angus]

Even when news broke today I didn't really believe he wouldn't be a packer next year. I just couldn't see him going anywhere else to be honest.

 

[Tailback U]

I like Hawk, but I also like Bishop and feel that he is just starting to emerge.

Is Barnett supposed to heal 100%?

 

[MrBill]

If the Packers weren't the youngest and best team in the league, with a solid chance to repeat next year maybe Hawk would have gone to another team.

 

[Senser81]

My dad, who used to play football and what not but doesn't really know a ton of players like some of the nerdier types do, shocked me one day watching a Packers game. He said, "A.J Hawk is never in the right position. Every single time i've ever watched him, even dating back to college, he's always been out of position and not done his job correctly."

i thought it was interesting that he of all people would say that, so I pose the question to Packers fans, what is the consensus on Hawk?

Interesting. I always thought the opposite. Barnett is the idiot that freelances and tries running around blockers instead of taking them on. Hawk isn't an "explosive" player, but he always seems to be in the right position and will step up and take on blockers instead of avoiding them. He is somewhat of a liability in pass coverage, but he never really blows an assignment. But thats just my take.

 

[bucky]

If the Packers weren't the youngest and best team in the league, with a solid chance to repeat next year maybe Hawk would have gone to another team.

I would think so. But even if he does, he turns 30. Both Hawk and Bishop are younger. I don't see Barnett starting at ILB next year, and I don't think he is big enough to play OLB in Capers system.

Even though he was an idiot with the picture tweeting, he's been a GB Packer his entire career. I hope that however this works out, it works out for both GB and Nick.

 

[bucky]

Interesting. I always thought the opposite. Barnett is the idiot that freelances and tries running around blockers instead of taking them on. Hawk isn't an "explosive" player, but he always seems to be in the right position and will step up and take on blockers instead of avoiding them. He is somewhat of a liability in pass coverage, but he never really blows an assignment. But thats just my take.

Watching some of GB's blitzes, they will send Hawk first to take on blockers and then have a DB or LB follow, coming in free. There is value in making the sacrifice so that somebody else can make the sexy play.

 

[manchild24]

Packers re-signed ILB AJ Hawk to a five-year contract.
Hawk, 27, is expected to receive in the vicinity of $30-35 million in max value, with over $10 million guaranteed. We can't say we're in the love with the deal, but by all accounts Hawk is a coaching staff favorite despite his on-field deficiencies. He's not a stout run defender as 3-4 inside linebackers are supposed to be. For his part, Hawk ranked 22nd in the NFL in tackles last season, and the only linebacker with more pass breakups than Hawk was Kansas City's Derrick Johnson. Hawk also notched three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

 

[Primetime]

*clap, clap, clap*

 

[Senser81]

*clap, clap, clap*

Don't you mean :applause: ??

 

[Primetime]

I've never used the smiley before and was too lazy to find it amongst the 5000 smileys we have on the site. It was just so much easier.

 

[Diivox]

This really bothered me at first but it makes sense now.

I have not been terribly impressed by Hawk's play since GB drafted him, but he does seem to have some real value at ILB.

upon further reflection this isnt about Hawk, its about Bishop and Barnett.

Bishop is a guy that more than earned his starting assignment. Bishop deserves the starting gig, the guy is a smart, natural ILB, and Clay Matthews next contract is going to be fucking massive... there is only so much you can spend at LB even if its the core of a 3-4 defense.

Hard for me, because Barnett is the man, I have been a huge fan since he was drafted, He's the only guy I have ever contemplated buying a jersey for, and I'm feeling the same pain in my stomach thinking about it as I did with Kampman. Kampman and Barnett were/are Packers, they were OUR guys. but football is a business.

TT wisely knew that he could pay Hawk less for his new contract than he will have to pay Barnett for his next contract, and he can get younger at the position. Hawk still led the team in tackles even though, as bucky so astutely observed, he tends to make the sacrificial play.

Barnett did not help himself with the team photo drama. Finley is one thing, they've been trying to build the offense around his injury prone ass for years now, but Barnett essentially lost his job to injury and then made a big deal about how the team was treating him. You can do that as a first string first ballot pro bowler. you dont get to do that as a backup.

As sad as this makes me, and I would take Barnett over Hawk any day of the week, I got to respect the wisdom from TT. the man just won a superbowl by dumping an aging veteran for a rising star. He gets the grace period to make his moves. he obviously knows what he is doing. Paying Hawk less than you'd pay Barnett, for production that is going to come anyway due to the outstanding players around him, while also getting younger, is just the type of move that got the team where it is, so despite my loyalties, it IS the smart move.