Thread: Ryan Grant not under contract in Green Bay

I was surprised when I read this this morning:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/PKR01/805080626/1058

With the signing of rookie cornerbacks Condrew Allen of Portland State and Kyle Ward of Louisiana-Lafayette and offensive tackle Ryan Considine of Louisiana Tech, the Packers have 89 players on their offseason roster. That's nine more than the training camp maximum.

However, unsigned players don't count. Those include the nine draft picks plus running back Ryan Grant, who hasn't signed his exclusive-rights tender because he's hoping for a long-term contract.

I actually had to look up what an exclusive right tender was and found the following:
"Under the CBA, the team holds the exclusive rights to such players, and may continue to offer them one-year deals for the minimum salary based on their years of service, until they have completed three years in the league.
At that point, the players become eligible for restricted free agency."

This is surprising to me that the Packers are not signing him to a contract, instead only offering him the minimum salary based on years of service.
He pretty much resurrected your running game last year.
While continuing to offer him a one year exclusive rights contract now is safer for the team, I would think that they are risking alienating him if he does continue to play at the level he finished the season with.

maybe they're just looking to see if he can reproduce last years form before committing to him. As you say though a dangerous strategy to follow, maybe they can't handle trying to sort the QB & RB spots at the same time.

I'm surprised too.
Its not like he's a highly touted RB or high draft pick...I wouldn't think he's asking them to break the bank.
But, I'm sure he'd be happy to collect a couple of million signing bonus on say, a three year deal.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

I was surprised when I read this this morning:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/PKR01/805080626/1058

With the signing of rookie cornerbacks Condrew Allen of Portland State and Kyle Ward of Louisiana-Lafayette and offensive tackle Ryan Considine of Louisiana Tech, the Packers have 89 players on their offseason roster. That's nine more than the training camp maximum.

However, unsigned players don't count. Those include the nine draft picks plus running back Ryan Grant, who hasn't signed his exclusive-rights tender because he's hoping for a long-term contract.

I actually had to look up what an exclusive right tender was and found the following:
"Under the CBA, the team holds the exclusive rights to such players, and may continue to offer them one-year deals for the minimum salary based on their years of service, until they have completed three years in the league.
At that point, the players become eligible for restricted free agency."

This is surprising to me that the Packers are not signing him to a contract, instead only offering him the minimum salary based on years of service.
He pretty much resurrected your running game last year.
While continuing to offer him a one year exclusive rights contract now is safer for the team, I would think that they are risking alienating him if he does continue to play at the level he finished the season with.

It always pisses me off whenever I see a Ragin Cajun on the roster of a team that I hate...just like Tillman over in Chicago.
> >

they are probably just seeing if he can last an entire season, or if he is a one year wonder. Its basically what Dallas is doing with MBIII. Im sure if he starts off well they will offer him a big contract.

"dcboardr41" wrote:

they are probably just seeing if he can last an entire season, or if he is a one year wonder. Its basically what Dallas is doing with MBIII. Im sure if he starts off well they will offer him a big contract.

yeah but he is gonna suck without favre

Basically they're going to use him like a sheep for 3 years by paying him the league minimum without rewarding him with a contract of some sort.

While that's all fine & dandy & legal because he signed a contract, If he continues to have success, I wouldn't be surprised to see him try & get out of it before then. The Packers may wind up with one very disgruntled RB on their team.

If he does stay the 3 years at the minimum, come FA time I'd expect him to want to go elsewhere.