Hopes and dreams for a splashy offseason free agent signing? Shit all over! The Green Bay Packers lost out on running back Steven Jackson to the Atlanta Falcons, despite numerous reports they were close to a deal.
In fact, Adam Schefter, who first reported Jackson’s deal with the Falcons, erroneously reported Jackson had a deal with the Packers yesterday. Obviously the Packers were close, but just like a Mike McCarthy playoff run, this situation turned into an abortion at the end.
This is typical of the Packers in free agency under Ted Thompson, at least when they actually decide to participate. The Packers make overtures to guys, dick around for a while and then watch as they sign with another team.
The Falcons gave Jackson a three-year deal worth $12 million with $4 million guaranteed. The Packers were also working on a three-year deal with him. We also know that at one time, the basics of that deal were worked out and only the details remained.
So what happened?
Well, either Jackson used the Packers for leverage on the Falcons, the Falcons became more interested as free agency wore on and Jackson remained unsigned or the Packers just plain fucked it up.
Whichever way it went down, fuck Steven Jackson and fuck the Packers.
Alright, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at this without emotion. Was signing Jackson imperative for Green Bay?
No. The guy is about to be 30 and his production is going to drop. It’s doubtful he would have been on the team for the duration of that mythical three-year deal the Packers were offering.
How many good 33-year-old running backs can you name? Marcus Allen? Who else?
That means the Packers would be looking for another back in a couple years anyway and they may have ended up with some dead money on their salary cap.
In fact, we bet that’s what this is about — bonus money. The Falcons probably ponied up more bonus money than the Packers would. So when they cut Jackson next year or the year after, they’ll get to eat that money.
Let’s move on, hand the ball to DuJuan Harris and call it a day.