Dez Bryant

[The GM]

No. A problem waiting to happen. He is too- excitable for my taste. He'll get into the faces of coaches, and probably Rodgers sooner or later if he thinks he's open and the pass goes elsewhere. Volatile to me, passionate to to others. Besides, he's going to want a big payday, if not immediately, then very soon. He also doesn't seem to be able to take any responsibility for his actions. Its all someone else, or a conspiracy, or something. But its not him:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/04/13/dez-bryant-blames-coaches-his-former-teammates-who-are-garretts-guys-for-his-release/

Agree, I can see him flinging his helmet, screaming at teammates on the sidelines.  In this offense, you have to be prepared to NOT get the ball.  The ball is spread around.  Ask yourself this, when was the last time you saw a Packer WR blow up about not getting balls thrown his way?    Its been awhile, and now is not the time to start.

You might hear about some vague interest by the Packers, but IMO that is more about Gute keeping the Packers name alive in any FA talks. 

[RT]

Matt Miller
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@nfldraftscout
 4h4 hours ago
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Twitter any time a player gets cut:

Fan of former team: "He sucked, we're better off without him."

Fans of every other team: "I hope we sign him, he's exactly what we need!"

Their is a reason the former team doesn't want them around anymore and it isn't just about money. If the Packers would of tried a little bit, they could of kept Nelson around for something just over the minimum. They didn't offer because they really didn't want his services anymore. The same go's for Bryant. Father time wins every battle.

Green Bay did offer him a new deal with a large pay cut and Nelson quickly declined.

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/packers-free-agency-2018/2018/3/15/17127988/packers-contract-offer-to-jordy-nelson-was-embarrassing-according-to-james-jones

Packers had their number and weren't willing to budge.

Nowhere in my post did I say the Packers didn't offer a reduced deal. I said, " If the Packers would of tried a little bit" and that is exactly what Nelson said 11 days after the acticle you provided a link to. This is Nelson comment, “The ‘hurt’ part was the unwillingness to make it work.”

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2018/03/26/jordy-nelson-hurt-by-lack-of-contract-negotiation-with-packers/

No but you also claimed if that offer was "something just over the minimum" they could have kept him. They lowballed him and he did not accept.

Thank you for enlarging the point of the original post and highlighting that they no longer wanted his services. Glad you were able to connect those 2 dots. Good job you.

[scoremore]

Dez is a vet.  He's got plenty left.  Yes he could definitely help the Pack.  What's the price tag?  How would he fit in the locker room?  Those are my biggest concerns with the guy.  Gute should probably do his due diligence whether he becomes a Packer or not I don't know but would say odds are very slim.  Can't look for a rookie WR to come in and make an impact.  Just never happens.  Allison all he does is make plays whenever he's out there.  Clark and Yancey like those guys too.  Davis?  Dunno if he'll ever be a factor at WR.  So we have 3 potential guys that could step up.  Hit on one and we are ok with the guys we have.

[LaSeeno]

Man, one side of me really wants to see Dez opposite Adams.

[ricky]

Man, one side of me really wants to see Dez opposite Adams.

Don't succumb to the Dark Side!

[claymaker]

Thank you for enlarging the point of the original post and highlighting that they no longer wanted his services. Glad you were able to connect those 2 dots. Good job you.

They did want his services though, contrary to your point. They DID offer him exactly what you described as "something just over the minimum", likely a bit more, in an effort to keep him.   

[ricky]

They did want his services though, contrary to your point. They DID offer him exactly what you described as "something just over the minimum", likely a bit more, in an effort to keep him.

If they wanted to keep him, he'd still be on the team. They offered him an insulting low contract. Nelson instead moved on. So, did they offer m  a contract? Yes. Was it a realistic attempt to keep him on the roster? No. To illustrate, league minimum for players with 10+ years experience is a little over $1 million. The Raiders signed him for two years for about $7 million a year. Though realistically, this is a one year contract, since they'd have no dead cap if they cut him next year. Could the Packers have done the same? I think it was within their grasp if they had wanted to keep him.

Here are the numbers NFL vet minimums salaries: https://landryfootball.com/understanding-nfl-minimum-salaries-veteran-cap-benefit-rule-free/

Here are the numbers for the Raiders: https://overthecap.com/player/jordy-nelson/1121

[claymaker]

They did want his services though, contrary to your point. They DID offer him exactly what you described as "something just over the minimum", likely a bit more, in an effort to keep him.

If they wanted to keep him, he'd still be on the team. They offered him an insulting low contract. Nelson instead moved on. So, did they offer m  a contract? Yes. Was it a realistic attempt to keep him on the roster? No. To illustrate, league minimum for players with 10+ years experience is a little over $1 million. The Raiders signed him for two years for about $7 million a year. Though realistically, this is a one year contract, since they'd have no dead cap if they cut him next year. Could the Packers have done the same? I think it was within their grasp if they had wanted to keep him.

Here are the numbers NFL vet minimums salaries: https://landryfootball.com/understanding-nfl-minimum-salaries-veteran-cap-benefit-rule-free/

Here are the numbers for the Raiders: https://overthecap.com/player/jordy-nelson/1121

We don't know the exact number of the offered contract. I doubt it was the league minimum, 4 or 5 million seems about right to me. Considering the Raiders gave him 7, 4-5 million is a fair assumption and also a very low offer. They wanted to keep him at their number not his.

[ricky]

We don't know the exact number of the offered contract. I doubt it was the league minimum, 4 or 5 million seems about right to me. Considering the Raiders gave him 7, 4-5 million is a fair assumption and also a very low offer. They wanted to keep him at their number not his.

"Just over league minimum" would be four or five times as much? That is not "a little over the league minimum" IMO. We'll probably never know the real offer, unless Jordy decides to share it. 

[marklawrence]

Current rumors are that Dez wants to play for the Giants, and the team that is most interested in him is the Ravens.

I'm perfectly comfortable predicting he won't be a packer.

[MO.Pack]

Giants say they are not interested in his service.

[RT]

I don't think it is out of the question that no one wants him.

[ricky]

I don't think it is out of the question that no one wants him.

Cincy or the Ravens would take him. Maybe Oakland. All three seem to like outcasts, and the Ravens and Raiders could use a WR to help bolster their offenses. But RT, you could be correct. A guy who seems to have regressed as an offensive threat, but who wants to get paid like a star. Also, although he had indicated repeatedly he would never play for a reduced/reworked contract, once he was released, suddenly he was willing to take a pay cut. This guy is bad news. Time to pull out that 12 foot Hungarian.

[davekenya]

Apparently Bryant has turned down a multi-year offer to join the Ravens (who then signed Snead).  Brant was cut by the Cowboys because his declining numbers over the past three years ere iincongruent to a 16.5 M cap figure in 2018.  Bryant is betting on himself.  He apparently believes injuries, a lack of a focus and poor scheme in Dallas were factors in his decline and has vowed to bounce back in 2018.  He wants to sign a 1-year 'prove it' deal and then be back on the market.  To me this would indicate he'll try his hardest to not only do well but behave well; knowing 31 other teams will be watching him.  This would motivate him to play well.

Playing with Rodgers would give him about the best chance to showcase his skills (whatever they may be); Rodgers will get him the ball if he's open.  If anything, this would indicate Bryant might take less to sign in GB than elsewhere - knowing he'd have best chance to have big numbers with GB compared to most teams. 

The cost to GB could be absorbed in a 1-year deal.  It could mean - but not necessarily - pushing Rodgers' extension out a year.  After 2018, GB would have the money allocated to Bryant to work with plus others (CMIII) no longer under contract and they'll need to figure out Cobb.

The other cost would be a roster spot.  GB will likely draft a WR (or 2??) anywhere in rounds 2-6 if the board dictates it.  Cobb + Adams + Bryant + 1 rookie + 2 carry-overs from last year would fill 6 WR spots.  That would be letting go current WR roster talent.  Is Gute comfortable doing that?  Potentially losing Cobb and Bryant after 2018 would leave only Adams as proven talent.  Would Gute be comfortable with that?  Would we?   For these reasons, Bryant doesn't seem a good option. 

On the other hand, he'd be a great 1-year fix -- Graham, Adams, Bryant, Cobb, Montgomery out of backfield -- how the heck do you defend that?  Bryant would be insurance if there was a WR injury; or Adams got another concussion taking him out 3-6 weeks.  If this happened, I don't see two of Graham, Adams, Cobb (the other injured) as being much of a threat to defenses.  Monty would need to play more WR schemes.  This would be the case for getting Bryant.  We know a rookie WR would only be able to contribute minimally not knowing the offense and audibles/scrambles, etc that AR and MM would want.

[marklawrence]

I think you're a very optimistic guy.