How much is Grant worth?

The Packers and running back Ryan Grant appear to be in heated talks these days as Grant tries to parlay a great ten game stretch into a long-term lucrative contract. Hopefully Grant comes to his senses and signs a reasonable deal because the Packers by no means should pay big bucks to an unproven back. If they were in that business they would have jumped all over Samkon Gado a few years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I love Grant, but I don’t think the Packers need to open their checkbook to an unproven player.

Grant should have just signed the tender offer. If he starts out this season where he left off last season, the NFC Championship not included, the Packers will take care of him before the end of the year like they have been doing the last few years with players like Donald Driver and Nick Barnett. I will be disappointed if the Packers all of a sudden open up the bank for a guy that hasn’t really done jack and his backup, Brandon Jackson,  has more potential in his little pinky than Grant will ever have. Granted, no pun intended, Jackson hasn’t done anything either, but being younger and with his strong play at the end of last year and the praise from his head coach this offseason, Jackson is in position to make a run for the starting job.

To be honest, I don’t feel much better about the Packers’ running game going into this season than I did going into last season, and we all know that wasn’t good. I just can’t get Grant and Gado out of my mind. Where is Vince Workman when you need him?

I could be wrong, but there was a reason the Packers didn’t run the ball in the NFC Championship game and that was simple – they couldn’t! Without a back like Edgar Bennett, Dorsey Levens or Ahman Green, that can run in all kinds of weather, including cold, the Packers will always be one step away. That doesn’t bode well for new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. My hope is Jackson takes a huge step and  wins the job. I just like the way he kept his head up last year and came on in the end. I think this kid can be great.

I hope it doesn’t get ugly, because Grant is a fan favorite already, but big bucks should not be in order.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 9:21 pm and is filed under Al Davis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • TRIP

    I could not agree with you more. If he plays well towards the end of the regular season, he deserves a healthy contract. But he should be focused on making sure he’s actually the starter before all that. Gosh, I pray he’s not the next Javon Walker.

  • TRIP

    However, he does deserve more than the league minimum for a 2nd year pro.

  • Larry

    Defenses will play Grant much differently this year and I predict he is going to have a much harder time breaking free. I think Grant and his agent realize this is the best time to push for a big contract. I predict that they will get a large contract from the Packers but not a ton of guaranteed money….everybody wins if Grant does well.

  • Cody

    Grant played a great 10 games last year. That is at least worth more then the sub 300k minimum that he would recieve. Give him a small 3 year deal with a small signing bonus and see if he can repeat. I’m not saying to just throw a ton of money at the guy, but its not like the Packers are short on cash, in fact, I think that we have the most at our disposal right now with Favre retiring, but I’m not sure. But all that I’m saying is to give Grant a reason to stay in Green Bay this year to prove that he is all of what he showed us last season.
    My two cents..

  • Tim

    well justin fargas had 10 games very similar to Grant and he was rewarded a 4 year 16 mil contrract. Grant deserves the same. he will sign a 4-5 year deal worth 16-20 mil, most likey with 4-5 mil up front., Will be about 3.75 per year. It will be done before TC

  • http://n.a. Tom

    Grant obviously should not get LT money but he should get more than than the tender offer. I agree with giving him a smaller 3 year deal w/signing bonus and some incentives. He moves very fluid like a running back should and he has the ability to stutter step out in the open field and make people miss and turn on the afterburners. I like him and think they really need to get the line up to speed NOW!!!

  • matt

    I completely agree with Al.

  • Jimm G

    I agree that he shouldn’t get a huge contract extension with guaranties but he should get an extension. I’m all for an incentive laden contract that will benefit both sides based on performance and his agent has indicated that they are open to this approach. I think Grants and Rodgers successes will be linked to the same thing, getting the line fixed if we do that we will challenge for NFC supremacy if not, well we could all be disappointed.

  • Ryan

    I agree. Give him a smaller 3-5 yr contract worth a couple million and see how he does. One of my favorite things with the Pack is they dont just throw tons of money at playes like our neighbors to the west. I think it sets bad precedent and then you end up with other mediocre players that expect big payouts for a few good games. Just my 2 cents.

  • JeffN

    Indeed this is a tricky contract to figure out. He does deserve more the minimum tender. I would agree to going heavy on incentives for a 3 to 5 year deal. A heavy incentive contract would be best for both sides. If by some stretch jackson get’s the starting job then Grant does not make big bucks. If Grant wins the starting job and tears up the field like he did 2nd half of last year then he makes a modestly large amount. If Grant truly is a stud then right now is the time to get him in a cheap 5 year deal like we did with Ahman Green. Green didn’t have a huge contract in Green bay because they signed him to a 5 year deal after he had 12 starts under his belt. Grant has something like 8 starts. Time for TT to make a decision. It’s a tough one.

  • Jake

    I actually agree, I mean we have other players that have already proven themselves to be amazing players that we’re not throwing huge wads of money at. I do think he deserves a pretty decent offer because he did have a good showing last season, and I think we could use him, but he still has to perform well this year to truly show he has what it takes. I say invest in him, but don’t go throwin the bank at him. GO PACK GO!!! oh…and I’m finally starting to be behind Rogers…slowly but surely. The team has confidence in him, so that shows something. I’ve got big hopes for 08-09!!!

  • Reid

    I am predicting 3 years for a total of around $10 Million, $2M or $3M of that is signing bonus and a lot of it in the form of “game checks” like other contracts on our roster. You don’t play, you don’t get the $$. Let’s face it, our running game did a complete 180 when he became the starter. He hits the hole at full speed, doesn’t dance around, breaks arm tackles, cuts back as well as anyone I’ve seen, and has great vision that helps him break the long ones. Of course, this won’t get done until about 15 seconds before training camp starts.

  • Jimm G

    I’m going to disagree with Reid; I think this gets done sooner than later. I’m basing my opinion on comments that have been published that his agent made that both sides need to give a little. Grant is there working with the coaches and I believe that willingness to be in Green Bay will help move things to a quick conclusion.

  • Yoop

    Ok so he is not proven, don’t give him a big contract. GADO? please. Gado was a street free agent that came from a DIV 3 school.

    So he has not proven anything! In that thinking it would NOT be ok to give a Rookie a BIG contract.
    A player that has NEVER played a down with the Packers , never started a game with the Packers, has proven nothing.

    Ah but I’m sure all of you don’t give him a big contract posters would be perfectly Ok with giving a higher draft pick more money.

    Just for fun only ONE RB in the 2008 draft had a 40 time what was quicker then Grant that was over 6′ and over 200#. That was McFadden, Only 4 RB total had a better time.
    Grant had a better Verticle, Better Bench press, same 10 yard time as McFadden.

    So what kind of phycial ability does Grant have?

    Or give a big contract to a FA? Thats OK. They must be proven players!!

    Who was the #1 RB in FA this year? Michael Turner.

    Yes he is PROVEN!!!!!!!!!

    Many wanted TT to give up his first round draft choices for him last year. AND give him a big contract. I suppose that would be OK now wouldn’t it.

    Micheal Turner has had 228 carries for 1,257 yards in 4 years. 6 TD’s in 4 years, 11 catches for 71 yards in 4 years.

    OH yes and he started ONE game in those 4 years. ONE GAME!!!!!!!!!!

    What kind of contract did Turner get over 35 million with 15 million up front.

    Ryan Grant has 188 carries for 956 yards, 8 TD’s , 30 catches for 146 yards and SEVEN starts.

    WHO is more proven?

    Grant was the #2 back in the NFL from week 7 on. ONE!! RB had more production the that RB is BEST RB in the NFL.

    What is the AVERAGE salary for a NFL RB? Average signing bonus for the starting RB in 2007 was 7 million, average cap number 3.5 million.

    What does he deserve? What ever the contract is that he and the Packers agree too.

  • Pete H

    I agree and disagree with Yoop and Al. Yoop, the players you just brough up that just got huge deals (Turner and Fargas) are still unproven. Just because 2 desperate teams put up huge money doesn’t mean the Packers should. I could sit here all weekend typing names of players who had stretches like Grant’s and then went on to suck indefinately. Al, I agree that they shouldn’t break the bank on Grant yet, but to say that Jackson has more potential than Grant is just not complete. What is this based on? because Jackson was a higher pick? Terrell Davis… 6th round Willie Parker undrafted. Also, the reason they couldn’t run in the championship game is because they had no blocking….Ahman, Dorsey, Edgar…heck Hornung, Taylor…Payton, Brown, Tomlinson would not have done much better. By the way…Dorsey and Edgar are no match for Green. Ahman was a top line back who could be the focal point of an offense….Levens and especially Bennett were great pieces to a whole.

  • Jimm G

    Yoop, you assume way too much! I guess reading a couple of posts makes you an expert on the posters thinking… what am I thinking now?

    I’m not big on the contracts that ANY players get, they are fortunate to have the opportunity to make a ton of money playing a game; they all had the opportunity to earn degrees, most on scholarships, yet think that they should be set up for life because they have better athletic ability then most. The sad part of this is that the “stars” of this sport will make more in a signing bonus then a soldier will make in a career, who deserves to be “paid”? Okay, I’ll get off of my soapbox. I can’t do anything about what these guys get paid, I don’t have to like it and don’t, my opinion on this subject is that our team needs to spend wisely so that we don’t mortgage the future on one or two players.

    As for rookies, I believe in having an established pay system based on draft slot for their first two to three years so that they prove themselves for long term contracts; if they don’t like that then they should use their degree like those of us that aren’t as athletically talented.

    I know that I don’t have to watch the games if I don’t like the money these guys make but I love the game, warts and all.

  • Yoop

    Right! that is my point those other players are UNPROVEN, and the MARKET is what it is.
    Grant will get a contract and some will say IT”S TO MUCH! some will say you should not have paid him at all!!!.

    Everyone has a opinion on it.

    And NONE of the those opinions are based on what has and is going on in the NFL.

    Fargas and Turner are STARTING RB’s in the NFL and are being paid market contracts. IN fact Fargas will NOT even be the starting RB with the Addition of McFadden.

    No Neither team HAD to give them those contract but if they didnt someone else would.

    Do you think some other team would give Grant a BIG contract? YES they would.

    It really ALL comes down to what you think it a BIG contract.

    Based on the average contract for a starting RB in the NFL they are ALL big.

    As I said the contract he should get is the one he and Packers work out and ALL agree too.
    But it will be based on what the market is. NOT some opinion. NOT if he has or hasnt proven anything.
    Based on the current market for a starting RB in the NFL.
    Because that is what Ryan Grant is the starting RB for the Packers.

  • Pete H

    Well you’re half right again. The market is partly driven by how PROVEN a player is. Turner and Fargas got what they did because desperate teams are more willing to pay unproven players above and beyond what other teams pay. The Falcons and Raiders are both humiliatingly poor teams. Yes Grant would get that kind of money from some team, probably a team similar to Atl or Oak, but Green Bay is not in the same boat as them. Heck Thompson won’t even pay top dollar for someone who is proven! I can guarantee that Grant would not get the same coin as someone like Addai, Gore, Steven Jackson, because they have proven themselves.

  • Jeff

    Agreed that the market drives salaries – that doesn’t mean it’s always smart for a team to pay what the market demands. Should we have ponied up and kept Ahman Green?

    Nor is it always best for a player to chase the bucks – in the long run, Javon Walker should have shut his trap and played with Favre.

    The Packers have a solid RB who gives every indication of being both a great player and a solid team guy – he’s up there doing as much of his job as he should without a contract. Those things count, and the Packers need to pony up some. Grant is in a great situation – he’s the starting RB with a solid and very young team in a scheme that fits his game beautifully.

    I think this deal gets done for less than market value and everybody’s happy about it. Now let’s get our run blocking figured out and nail down the TE situation.

  • Jeff

    And speaking of market value . . .

    And as long as we’re tossing the CBA, let’s establish a rookie cap. The contracts demanded by high first rounders these days are freaking looney tunes – they’re blowing the market apart.

  • TRIP

    JeffN makes a good point. We did have Ahman Green under wraps in cheap contract. If TT can get the right deal, a 5-year deal maybe isn’t a horrible thing if you can get it based off incentives, of course. If in-fact Grant is as good as he showed last season, we could score huge points buy not waiting until we have to pay HUGE bucks for him.

  • snyz

    just do me a favor and don’t compare this situation to justin fargas, guys. we don’t have a GM that should be in the mental ward of an old folks home, kay?

  • John

    Grant can’t run in all kinds of weather? He did OK against Seattle in a blizzard (201 yds, 3 TD’s).

  • Pete H

    John I agree with you, but a point is best made by using a whole picture. He had a monster game against Seattle, but he also put them in a huge hole (2 fumbles). He also produced nothing against the Giants, though that, in my opinion, was more o-line and play calling than Grant.

  • John

    Pete, that’s right, fumbles are game killers, but he showed the kind of character you want in a player by overcoming that with a monster game. Plus, besides the o-line and play calling against the Giants, backs traditionally don’t do much the week after a 200 yd game. Even the great ones. The Pack has the cap space, and we need Grant. Sign him!

  • imanisportsagency

    Yoop’s comments definitely make the most sense. Cut the guy some slack people.

  • Reginald

    The Packers should open up the checkbook for Ryan Grant and give him a big contract filled with incentives. The only way he gets his money is that he continues to produce on a high level. This type of deal should make everybody happy because protects the packers and lets Ryan know that he will be rewarded for his production.

  • Brian

    Good thing this goof IS NOT the man that does the contracts in Greenbay. He’s a bafoon. If you couldn’t see that the guy ( Grant ) has Alot of talent, ecspeacilly running behind the zone blocking scheme Greenbay is useing now your completely blind! NO back in the league was better than Grant since he got the start & better yet that made Greenbay a 13-3 team instead of a 8-8 team ( which thats what they would have finished without him ) He runs Hard & better yet he stayed HEALTHY ! Wake Up people 2-3 mill a year is fair & besides GB has all sorts of $$$ Spend It.