quote:

Bedard left that up to the reader--as a good journalist is supposed to do.

an oxymoron.

Apparently, Collins really does have a serious family issue he's dealing with, if you believe the JSOnline blog.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/44794397.html

what's wrong with these guys wanting a little more money when they perform. In the age of being cut at anytime guys need to try to get paid when they can get paid, contract or not. Teams do not abide by contracts when a guy gets "too expensive", so when the guy feels like he isnt get paid enough it is his right to make money that he feels he is worth.

It's all about positioning and barganing. I see nothing wrong if Collins is upset... and it sure as hell doesn't make him a headcase.

Let us not forget Collins is getting $3 Mil this year due to clauses in his contract (a close to 600% raise).

Good for him. Now he needs to show he can produce in the new scheme.

If he plays well he'll get his payday (either from us before the end of the year, or from some other team next year). There's no harm in him positioning himself for it, but he's not the #1 priority.

Jennings is only making $600K this year, and has shown to be the better (up to this point) player. He's the priority, and #36 is most likely going to have to wait in line for a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach:
Let us not forget Collins is getting $3 Mil this year due to clauses in his contract (a close to 600% raise).

Good for him. Now he needs to show he can produce in the new scheme.

Not to mention, he's been average before last year. $3 mil is a fair salary for him, IMO. The blog entry confirming his family problem also says his agent has been told the Packers are prepared to see what life without Nick Collins is like. Good for them.

However, if he does produce big in the new scheme, he'll really want a big payday and he'll have a pretty decent case he should get it. Wilde reminded me that Sharper was in this same situation years ago. After a breakout season, he was a borderline case for a new contract. He rolled the dice on doing it again. He won and cashed in pretty good. I hope Collins is able to win as well. That means the Packers will have a pretty good safety back there in 2009.

Of course, if the CBA is not extended, he'll still be restricted after 2009 season.

Dunno, but I think this whole thing about Collins is overblown.

If the dude had such a beef, why would he be on the Packers Tailgate Tour? Granted it's not a who's who on the roster, but they had 50 other guys to ask...if he really didn't want to go, he wouldn't be there.

Packer Update chimes in.

PackerUpdate

Jennings comes first, and maybe some TT concerns.

“Unless the team is willing to at least discuss the contract situation, we don’t see any need for Nick to participate on the field,” said Butz.


Don't see any need?? Ummm, how about because your client is under contract. F'him and his agent.

Nickj Collins got bumped from 400k to over 3 million
and hes upset? uhhh....ok sounds like a great deal to me

I doubt this kid is gonna sit out and miss out on any part of 3 mil

next

Collins had been improving as a player until 2007 when he took a step back and it was later determined that he was dealing with serious family issues during the year. Last year he played very well, and in reality he could actually get better.

What I don't understand is all the criticism the guy gets from some fans on this board. It's a lot like Bibgy as well. We can do a LOT worse than either of those two guys.

You're right, we can do worse than Collins and Bigby. I also don't believe Collins is a great player (he had a statistically good year last year with some big plays....he had some pretty ugly ones as well). He's a starting caliber S with big play ability. That's as far as I'm willing to go unless he's better this year than he was last year.

$3 mil is plenty, and if he does build on last year he'll be in line to make more than that (if not from us, from another team). I think Collins and his agent don't wish to risk him not having the season he did last year (which would make his next contract less than he thinks he can get now by attempting to apply pressure).

It would be counter-productive to sit out while they're installing the 'd', but it's the only leverage he has. I think that's why the agent is talking to the press now, because they aren't getting anywhere behind the scenes.

I don't think it's going to work (the agent has already allegedly been told the Packers are not afraid of not having Collins for the long term) and I fully expect him on the field for TC. If the salary cap goes away (which I hope it doesn't) he would then have to wait another two years.

Collins is a FOOL--he needs to be at the OTAs to really learn the new D, so he can have another GREAT year and get the big payday he yearns for. His agent is a moron, and I agree with TT (if he's accurately quoted on Packer Update) that Williams and Jennings are a higher priority right now.

Collins' agent isn't a moron, he's just doing his job. I'd be doing the same thing if I was the agent, and if I were on the other side I'd taking the same position the Packers appear to be by not prioritizing it.

TT isn't quoted anywhere in that article.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach:
Collins' agent isn't a moron, he's just doing his job. I'd be doing the same thing if I was the agent, and if I were on the other side I'd taking the same position the Packers appear to be by not prioritizing it.

TT isn't quoted anywhere in that article.

I disagree on the agent. His job is to get his client more money. How can that best be achieved this year? By getting the new D absorbed so he can shine again this year. That's the key to the big payday, and keeping him out of OTAs will only work against his client's performance rather than coerce the Pack into valuing Collins more than the other two players.

Just not a well-thought out strategy.

It is the agent's job to try get his client more money, which is exactly what he's doing. You're just disagreeing on the method, and I (and the agent obviously) disagree with your take.

There is no guarantee that Collins is going to have as good a year in a brand new defense or that he'll even remain healthy all year. Throw in the uncertainty as to when Collins may or may not be able to hit the market due to the collective bargaining agreement being up in the air and it's a no-brainer to try to push your guy to the head of the line if you can.

As a Packer fan I'd certainly like him to attend everything too, but the team can't force him to do so. Until/unless he starts skipping mandatory practices he's within his rights to do exactly what he's doing.

It's a business as much as we may not like it to be, and that cuts both ways.

Is anyone else bothered but Butz' assertation that members of the Packer coaching staff was telling Collins they'd go to bat for him? I'm not sure how commonplace that sort of thing is but it seems like it might just be fanning the flames.

quote:

Originally posted by YATittle:
I disagree on the agent. His job is to get his client more money. How can that best be achieved this year? By getting the new D absorbed so he can shine again this year. That's the key to the big payday, and keeping him out of OTAs will only work against his client's performance rather than coerce the Pack into valuing Collins more than the other two players.

Just not a well-thought out strategy.

I can't blame them. It worked for Ryan Grant. It was that deal that makes things like this more likely to happen.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach:
Collins' agent isn't a moron, he's just doing his job.

This. In the world of non-guaranteed contracts they try to stirke while the iron is hot, as it were. $3 million this year is nothing if he gets injured or struggles in the new scheme and misses out on what COULD POSSIBLY be a a good, long-term deal. That $3 million is less than his likely signing bonus.

Agreed w/ those stating most of it makes sense. Collins had a big highlight year and made the Pro Bowl but I doubt TT or anyone else is convinced he's a premier player.

Agreed also that $3M is a solid salary for a S but you can't blame the agent/Collins for wanting to ride the wave of apparent success to some up-front coin.

Hopefully Collins will show up and work hard in TC. The D needs everyone on board w/ the new scheme.

IMO, no player on that defense deserves to get a raise after the year they had last year. Collins made the pro bowl based on the 3 pick sixes he had last year. Those big plays were huge but without those, he had a pretty average year. He still takes bad angles at times and he isn't anything special in coverage. I don't consider him an elite safety. I think TT agrees with me, but Collins needs another great year to show he is worth a big extension.

quote:

Originally posted by Hipp:
Is anyone else bothered but Butz' assertation that members of the Packer coaching staff was telling Collins they'd go to bat for him? I'm not sure how commonplace that sort of thing is but it seems like it might just be fanning the flames.

Most of the defensive coaches don't know Collins and have rarely, if ever, seen him play live. So if any coach went to bat for Collins it would almost have to be MM, and I can't imagine that happening. This sounds like a desperate agent who knows that he has very little leverage. I don't think TT has any intention of giving Collins a big extension right now and I also don't think the coaches are all that terrified at the prospect of having to play without him. Collins is a good safety, but like the vast majority of players in the NFL, he's hardly irreplaceable.

He's received a nice raise due to his nice performance last season.

I think Heyward nailed it with the coaches are not afraid to play without him.

Jennings otoh.....

I can understand Collins wanting some security with a new deal but to be honest, Collins isn't first in line.

The 1st person in line is Jennings.

I don't think the coaches would be willing to go into the season without Jennings

Exactly my feeling. Shades of Darren Sharper. A big play safety who is weak on fundamentals.

And as for the Ryan Grant reference, I think TT realizes he made a mistake on that one, and will learn from his error. Bet it doesn't happen again.

quote:

Originally posted by Boris:
I don't think the coaches would be willing to go into the season without Jennings

yep. Im sure Rodgers would be the first one to agree. Greg makes his job much easier

Yeah, the guy is a real head case.

Collins father dies after long bout with cancer