Packers 2010 Free Agent Handling

[econoodle]

Hi men.

Anyone using Green Bay in franchise that has any thoughts or experiences on how they handled the glut of expiring contracts they have after the first year of madden 10?

I know the agents are hardlined in getting players big money, and players will stand firm if they don't wanna be there, anybody have any problems with the Pack FA's?

I was thinking of making a big run at the O-Line and Nick 'At Nite' Collins.

[jeremym480]

I have a Franchise with the Packers too. In year one I remember four pretty big name FA's. Chad Clifton, Aaron Kampman, Atari Bigby and Nick Collins.

I ended up re-signing Collins and Bigby to 4 year deals. That should solidify both safety spots for 4 or 5 good years.

I ended up applying the Franchise Tag to Kampman because he is a little older and I wasn't sure if I would be able to sign him to a long term deal. Unfourtuantly, I'll look at it again in the 2011 off-season and make another tough decision. I may consider switching back to the 4-3 (due to lack of OLB sacks) and moving him make to DE and moving Raji back to DT.

And for Clifton, well, he regressed a few points so, I ended up letting him go. I signed another free agent Tackle (26 yr old, 79 OVR with B potential) to take his place. He ended up signing with the Chargers and dislocated his knee around week 10 and is out for the season. So, it looks like I made the right move there.

I guess I should warn you that the 2011 off-season doesn't appear much easier. IIRC, I have 22-24 players in the last year of there deals. So it should be another interesting off-season.

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeremym480

And for Clifton, well, he regressed a few points so, I ended up letting him go. I signed another free agent Tackle (26 yr old, 79 OVR with B potential) to take his place. He ended up signing with the Chargers and dislocated his knee around week 10 and is out for the season. So, it looks like I made the right move there.

I traded Clifton to the Lions in my Franchise, and he ended up getting injured for them as well...

And as for the free agents in the offseason, the worst part I had to deal with were signing any of the offensive linemen. All of linemen whose contracts expired demanded huge deals...some guys would not sign at all no matter what money I threw at them.

I ended up having to rebuild through the draft big time and found some late-round gems that are filling in just fine.

[Imaking332]

I think theres a glitch when signing guards. No matter what you do, they will never sign even if theyre rated 60 and when i change their position to Center(Tackles demand alot more money) they end up signing.

[jaf112285]

I only use the Pack in chise mode. Hometown team and I just cant use anyone else. The first offseason was super tough. I hate to have to let players go, but signing everyone seems to fill most of the cap room. I usually let Clifton go after year one. Its easy to find a cheap young guy to fill the slot (thats what she said). Kampman is always a tough decision. Im not a fan of Madden's 3-4, and usually switch back to 4-3 and put kampman at DE again. Its nice to get a good def playbook to get some hybrid formations to get more use out of all the great backup LB's. Its nearly impossible to sign any good free agents and still have enough cap for draft pics and resigning next year. I always try to make things most life-like, and never go after big name FA, I think ted thompson has signed about 4 free agents on the last 2 years. I try my best to keep the core of the team together, and build through the draft.

[reyes the roof]

The whole signing/re-signing process works really strange this year. I'll attempt to re-sign someone and I will offer them exactly what it says they want and then they will reject it and not accept until I add about 20 million to the contract. It's a very odd way of negotiating

[jaf112285]

Quote: Originally Posted by reyes the roof

The whole signing/re-signing process works really strange this year. I'll attempt to re-sign someone and I will offer them exactly what it says they want and then they will reject it and not accept until I add about 20 million to the contract. It's a very odd way of negotiating

I agree. There is something odd when negotiating contracts. Some guys take the initial offer, and some, for who knows what reason, want waaay to much money. This happened with Spitz in my chise. Wanted almost 10 million a year, with an 83 rating. Drafted a rookie in the late first round who wanted almost 12 million a year. Bogus.

[econoodle]

Interesting so far.

I had a feeling I would be in for a tough ride resigning the O-Line players, now it looks like that will be the first position I will be scouting for in the upcoming draft.

Spitz wants 10 mil?

Great.

[reyes the roof]

Quote: Originally Posted by jaf112285

I agree. There is something odd when negotiating contracts. Some guys take the initial offer, and some, for who knows what reason, want waaay to much money. This happened with Spitz in my chise. Wanted almost 10 million a year, with an 83 rating. Drafted a rookie in the late first round who wanted almost 12 million a year. Bogus.

I think the thing that messes up negotiations is the fact that you can't increase guaranteed money. When you have your initial offer, all you can increase salary, but you can't make the bonus any higher so I think that's why guys end up wanting such ridiculous contracts

[TeamBuilder]

I traded Kampman and Clifton because they were both going to be too old to resign. I figured I would get value out of them now instead of paying for a decline later.