Fla\/\/ed
Footballguy
Rushing to the forefront
Green's recovery brings contract push from Packers
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Mar. 3, 2006
Confident that running back Ahman Green is on track to make a full recovery from a torn right thigh tendon, the Green Bay Packers are making a strong push to re-sign their second all-time leading rusher.
According to National Football League sources who have been monitoring Green's status as he prepares to enter the free-agent market, the Packers are aware that Green could command a deal worth more than $2 million per year even though his status for next season won't be known until the start of training camp.
As a result, they have been having regular talks with agent David Dunn and could complete a deal before the start of free agency.
After Green suffered his injury in an Oct. 23 game at Minnesota, there was some thought that the Packers would re-sign him for only a minimum wage deal before the start of next season. But Green has piqued the interest of a couple of teams that would prefer a less expensive option to unrestricted free agents Shawn Alexander, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis and DeShaun Foster.
As a result, the Packers appear committed to spending more than $2 million to bring Green back as their starting running back. Even though they are impressed with rookie Samkon Gado, who filled in when Green and others were hurt last year, the 29-year-old Green would be their projected starter going into training camp if he re-signs.
Green has made it clear to his agent and the Packers that he would like to remain in Green Bay, where he put together five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2000 to 2004 and appeared in the Pro Bowl four times. But he also would like a multi-year contract, according to sources, and is pushing the Packers to fill that desire.
"I'm hopeful," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "But those are things in the end, depend on other people. But I'm hopeful it could happen."
Dunn said last week that the two sides were aggressively working on a deal that would allow Green to continue a Packers career that started in 2000, when he was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. He would not predict what the market would be if Green were to make it to unrestricted free agency, but teams like Minnesota, San Francisco and possibly the New York Jets are thought to have a strong interest in him.
Last year, Green was paid a base salary of $4.375 million as part of a five-year, $21.5 million deal he signed before the 2001 season. Before he got hurt, he was seeking a blockbuster deal that would reward him for being the most productive runner in the NFL from 2000-'04, when he gained 6,848 rushing yards.
There aren't a lot of running backs who are known to have come back from ruptured thigh tendons, but Green, who underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair a full-blown tear, is almost two months ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, Dunn said, and making better progress than most had predicted.
McCarthy said Green has been rehabilitating at the Packers facility so there is no shroud of secrecy regarding his health and the Packers know better than anyone else how much progress he has made. The fact Green showed up at McCarthy's introductory news conference and seems interested in playing for the new coach increases the chances of the two sides completing a deal.
"Absolutely," McCarthy said. "I think it's important when guys are here (working out). I've seen him two or three times in the weight room and I've actually missed him one or two times because I've been in a meeting. He's been around. I feel very optimistic and positive about his contribution to our team next year."
Green's value on the open market is affected somewhat by the domestic violence arrests in his past. Because of those, his injury and decreased production before he got hurt, it's possible he won't receive anything more than a one-year deal from an interested club.
One personnel director said his owner didn't allow the team to sign players with Green's off-the-field history and it's possible other teams could feel the same way. Another factor that could affect Green's worth in the market is the number of attractive running back prospects coming out in the college draft.
Either way, the Packers still think Green can be an effective player, even as they make the transformation to a zone running scheme. Over the past five years, the Packers have employed a power-gap scheme that blocks the opponent a different way.
McCarthy thinks Green and Gado will have no problem adjusting.
"The biggest thing about the system is you're looking for the type of runner who puts his foot down and goes," he said. "You're not making a bunch of moves at the line of scrimmage. I think from what I've seen on film, both guys will be a fit for that style of running. It's not a matter of whether they've run it; the reads will be similar to what they've done before. There will be more emphasis on one cut, one decision."
Regardless of what happens with Green, McCarthy said Gado was still in the team's plans. It's harder to predict whether an undrafted rookie who went from the practice squad to the starting lineup will be capable of handling a full-time load better than someone with Green's experience.
"I think when you're dealing with the running back position and even the quarterback position, the toll that individual takes, you never have enough good running backs," McCarthy said. "What Ahman has done in the past obviously speaks for itself. Until you've done it for a full 16 games, you never know. Monday morning there are few guys who feel worse than a running back."
Green's recovery brings contract push from Packers
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Mar. 3, 2006
Confident that running back Ahman Green is on track to make a full recovery from a torn right thigh tendon, the Green Bay Packers are making a strong push to re-sign their second all-time leading rusher.
According to National Football League sources who have been monitoring Green's status as he prepares to enter the free-agent market, the Packers are aware that Green could command a deal worth more than $2 million per year even though his status for next season won't be known until the start of training camp.
As a result, they have been having regular talks with agent David Dunn and could complete a deal before the start of free agency.
After Green suffered his injury in an Oct. 23 game at Minnesota, there was some thought that the Packers would re-sign him for only a minimum wage deal before the start of next season. But Green has piqued the interest of a couple of teams that would prefer a less expensive option to unrestricted free agents Shawn Alexander, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis and DeShaun Foster.
As a result, the Packers appear committed to spending more than $2 million to bring Green back as their starting running back. Even though they are impressed with rookie Samkon Gado, who filled in when Green and others were hurt last year, the 29-year-old Green would be their projected starter going into training camp if he re-signs.
Green has made it clear to his agent and the Packers that he would like to remain in Green Bay, where he put together five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2000 to 2004 and appeared in the Pro Bowl four times. But he also would like a multi-year contract, according to sources, and is pushing the Packers to fill that desire.
"I'm hopeful," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "But those are things in the end, depend on other people. But I'm hopeful it could happen."
Dunn said last week that the two sides were aggressively working on a deal that would allow Green to continue a Packers career that started in 2000, when he was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. He would not predict what the market would be if Green were to make it to unrestricted free agency, but teams like Minnesota, San Francisco and possibly the New York Jets are thought to have a strong interest in him.
Last year, Green was paid a base salary of $4.375 million as part of a five-year, $21.5 million deal he signed before the 2001 season. Before he got hurt, he was seeking a blockbuster deal that would reward him for being the most productive runner in the NFL from 2000-'04, when he gained 6,848 rushing yards.
There aren't a lot of running backs who are known to have come back from ruptured thigh tendons, but Green, who underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair a full-blown tear, is almost two months ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, Dunn said, and making better progress than most had predicted.
McCarthy said Green has been rehabilitating at the Packers facility so there is no shroud of secrecy regarding his health and the Packers know better than anyone else how much progress he has made. The fact Green showed up at McCarthy's introductory news conference and seems interested in playing for the new coach increases the chances of the two sides completing a deal.
"Absolutely," McCarthy said. "I think it's important when guys are here (working out). I've seen him two or three times in the weight room and I've actually missed him one or two times because I've been in a meeting. He's been around. I feel very optimistic and positive about his contribution to our team next year."
Green's value on the open market is affected somewhat by the domestic violence arrests in his past. Because of those, his injury and decreased production before he got hurt, it's possible he won't receive anything more than a one-year deal from an interested club.
One personnel director said his owner didn't allow the team to sign players with Green's off-the-field history and it's possible other teams could feel the same way. Another factor that could affect Green's worth in the market is the number of attractive running back prospects coming out in the college draft.
Either way, the Packers still think Green can be an effective player, even as they make the transformation to a zone running scheme. Over the past five years, the Packers have employed a power-gap scheme that blocks the opponent a different way.
McCarthy thinks Green and Gado will have no problem adjusting.
"The biggest thing about the system is you're looking for the type of runner who puts his foot down and goes," he said. "You're not making a bunch of moves at the line of scrimmage. I think from what I've seen on film, both guys will be a fit for that style of running. It's not a matter of whether they've run it; the reads will be similar to what they've done before. There will be more emphasis on one cut, one decision."
Regardless of what happens with Green, McCarthy said Gado was still in the team's plans. It's harder to predict whether an undrafted rookie who went from the practice squad to the starting lineup will be capable of handling a full-time load better than someone with Green's experience.
"I think when you're dealing with the running back position and even the quarterback position, the toll that individual takes, you never have enough good running backs," McCarthy said. "What Ahman has done in the past obviously speaks for itself. Until you've done it for a full 16 games, you never know. Monday morning there are few guys who feel worse than a running back."
If you want to post something of value, use facts to support and back-up your opinion.
Excellent job leaving out the receiving numbers 
