trickblue
02-03-2005, 10:29 AM
Sharper's future a little unclear
Packers aren't comfortable with his salary cap number
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Green Bay Packers and safety Darren Sharper will know soon whether they are destined to part ways.
Darren Sharper has two years left on a six-year, $30 million contract.
Packers negotiator Andrew Brandt and Sharper's agent, Joel Segal, are expected to discuss the safety's future during the scouting combine in mid-February and both sides are digging in for a tough negotiation.
Sharper has two years left on a six-year, $30 million contract (including a $7 million signing bonus) he signed in February 2001, but the Packers do not think they can live with his massive cap number, which jumps to $8.633 million when the fiscal year begins March 2. As a result, they intend to discuss with Segal ways to reduce Sharper's salary cap number.
Brandt declined to discuss the Packers' intentions with Sharper and Segal did not return a phone call, but according to a source familiar with both sides, there will be discussions soon to figure out whether Sharper's future is in Green Bay.
The Packers owe Sharper a roster bonus of $2.6 million on March 15 and a base salary of $3.4 million next season. If they don't pay the bonus, Sharper will become an unrestricted free agent and his base salary would be wiped off the books.
The remaining $2.63 million installment of his prorated signing bonus would accelerate into 2005 and count immediately against the cap, but with the elimination of the $6 million in bonus and salary the Packers would be $3.4 million lighter against the cap.
The Packers haven't given an indication that they want to release Sharper outright, but if they want to reduce his salary cap number they're going to need him to accept a pay cut and it could come in any number of forms.
Though Sharper said Wednesday that the Packers had not approached him or his agent about accepting a pay cut, he said he understood that his cap number was high and needed to be lowered. But he said he didn't think a pay cut was in order, even though he is coming off what he described as an average year.
"I want to retire as a Packer and they can make that happen," said Sharper, who is spending his off-season in Miami rehabilitating a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered during the season. "The way the contract was set up they can lower my cap number by making part of the salary a signing bonus and extending the contract.
"That would give them cap space and I would be signed for another five years. It's the easiest way to do it."
The Packers aren't about to extend Sharper's deal until they know for sure last year was an aberration and even then they would be reluctant because Sharper turns 30 in November. New general manager Ted Thompson and recently hired defensive coordinator Jim Bates will be able to offer objective viewpoints on whether Sharper is a declining player.
If they think his play was subpar before the knee injury he suffered Oct. 24 against Dallas, there's a good chance they will allow Brandt to seek a significant pay cut with the knowledge Sharper might not except it and be released.
At this point, Sharper said he couldn't imagine accepting a major pay cut or a restructured contract that would force him to earn back his money in incentives.
"Taking a cut is something I don't want to do," Sharper said. "I don't want a contract with incentives. At this point in my career, I don't think I should have to do that. I've put in eight years work here and I think I'm still in the prime of my career. I don't know what to expect. I guess the contract situation will take care of itself."
If the Packers demand a pay cut and Sharper refuses, the danger of cutting him is that he would become another Rodney Harrison, who is getting ready to make a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots. Harrison was released by the San Diego Chargers after the 2002 season because he appeared to have lost his speed.
A number of teams passed on Harrison, who was 30 at the time, but the Patriots took a chance on him and reaped the benefits as he became the most valuable player in their secondary. Last year, he was named to the all-pro team and this year he started all 16 games and led the team in tackles and forced fumbles.
Harrison, like Sharper a two-time Pro Bowl selection, played through a hamstring injury during the '02 season and has maintained that the Chargers underestimated the effect that had on his speed.
Sharper, who led the team in interceptions with four and was fourth on the team in tackles, faces similar question marks about his speed, which has long been his primary asset as a safety. He maintains that he has the same speed he had two years ago, when he was the starting safety on the NFC Pro Bowl team, but was affected by the injury and his off-season preparations.
Sharper said he bulked up for the '04 season after learning that defensive coordinator Bob Slowik was going to utilize him closer to the line of scrimmage as part of his blitz package. He struggled as an open-field tackler and did not show the instincts of a natural in-the-box player during the season.
Sharper said if Bates planned on using him more in coverage, he would adjust his workouts accordingly.
The injury, he said, affected him the entire second half of the season, but he tried to play through it in an attempt to help the team. He said it should be clear to the Packers that he's a completely different player when he's healthy.
"I was injured most of the season and I still led the team in interceptions and tied the (season) record for most touchdowns," Sharper said in reference to his three defensive scores. "If you put me out there healthy, I'd double that output. I was in and out of the lineup the middle part of the season and when I came back I was hurt.
"Maybe my performance was average but I was still productive."
Packers aren't comfortable with his salary cap number
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Green Bay Packers and safety Darren Sharper will know soon whether they are destined to part ways.
Darren Sharper has two years left on a six-year, $30 million contract.
Packers negotiator Andrew Brandt and Sharper's agent, Joel Segal, are expected to discuss the safety's future during the scouting combine in mid-February and both sides are digging in for a tough negotiation.
Sharper has two years left on a six-year, $30 million contract (including a $7 million signing bonus) he signed in February 2001, but the Packers do not think they can live with his massive cap number, which jumps to $8.633 million when the fiscal year begins March 2. As a result, they intend to discuss with Segal ways to reduce Sharper's salary cap number.
Brandt declined to discuss the Packers' intentions with Sharper and Segal did not return a phone call, but according to a source familiar with both sides, there will be discussions soon to figure out whether Sharper's future is in Green Bay.
The Packers owe Sharper a roster bonus of $2.6 million on March 15 and a base salary of $3.4 million next season. If they don't pay the bonus, Sharper will become an unrestricted free agent and his base salary would be wiped off the books.
The remaining $2.63 million installment of his prorated signing bonus would accelerate into 2005 and count immediately against the cap, but with the elimination of the $6 million in bonus and salary the Packers would be $3.4 million lighter against the cap.
The Packers haven't given an indication that they want to release Sharper outright, but if they want to reduce his salary cap number they're going to need him to accept a pay cut and it could come in any number of forms.
Though Sharper said Wednesday that the Packers had not approached him or his agent about accepting a pay cut, he said he understood that his cap number was high and needed to be lowered. But he said he didn't think a pay cut was in order, even though he is coming off what he described as an average year.
"I want to retire as a Packer and they can make that happen," said Sharper, who is spending his off-season in Miami rehabilitating a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered during the season. "The way the contract was set up they can lower my cap number by making part of the salary a signing bonus and extending the contract.
"That would give them cap space and I would be signed for another five years. It's the easiest way to do it."
The Packers aren't about to extend Sharper's deal until they know for sure last year was an aberration and even then they would be reluctant because Sharper turns 30 in November. New general manager Ted Thompson and recently hired defensive coordinator Jim Bates will be able to offer objective viewpoints on whether Sharper is a declining player.
If they think his play was subpar before the knee injury he suffered Oct. 24 against Dallas, there's a good chance they will allow Brandt to seek a significant pay cut with the knowledge Sharper might not except it and be released.
At this point, Sharper said he couldn't imagine accepting a major pay cut or a restructured contract that would force him to earn back his money in incentives.
"Taking a cut is something I don't want to do," Sharper said. "I don't want a contract with incentives. At this point in my career, I don't think I should have to do that. I've put in eight years work here and I think I'm still in the prime of my career. I don't know what to expect. I guess the contract situation will take care of itself."
If the Packers demand a pay cut and Sharper refuses, the danger of cutting him is that he would become another Rodney Harrison, who is getting ready to make a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots. Harrison was released by the San Diego Chargers after the 2002 season because he appeared to have lost his speed.
A number of teams passed on Harrison, who was 30 at the time, but the Patriots took a chance on him and reaped the benefits as he became the most valuable player in their secondary. Last year, he was named to the all-pro team and this year he started all 16 games and led the team in tackles and forced fumbles.
Harrison, like Sharper a two-time Pro Bowl selection, played through a hamstring injury during the '02 season and has maintained that the Chargers underestimated the effect that had on his speed.
Sharper, who led the team in interceptions with four and was fourth on the team in tackles, faces similar question marks about his speed, which has long been his primary asset as a safety. He maintains that he has the same speed he had two years ago, when he was the starting safety on the NFC Pro Bowl team, but was affected by the injury and his off-season preparations.
Sharper said he bulked up for the '04 season after learning that defensive coordinator Bob Slowik was going to utilize him closer to the line of scrimmage as part of his blitz package. He struggled as an open-field tackler and did not show the instincts of a natural in-the-box player during the season.
Sharper said if Bates planned on using him more in coverage, he would adjust his workouts accordingly.
The injury, he said, affected him the entire second half of the season, but he tried to play through it in an attempt to help the team. He said it should be clear to the Packers that he's a completely different player when he's healthy.
"I was injured most of the season and I still led the team in interceptions and tied the (season) record for most touchdowns," Sharper said in reference to his three defensive scores. "If you put me out there healthy, I'd double that output. I was in and out of the lineup the middle part of the season and when I came back I was hurt.
"Maybe my performance was average but I was still productive."