Just like Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk last year, former Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Nate Palmer wasn’t out of work long.
Palmer was released by the Packers on Friday and didn’t even clear waivers. He was awarded to the Tennessee Titans on Monday.
Somehow, teams are really interested in the Packers’ inside linebacker rejects.
Jones quickly landed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles last year after the Packers axed him, only to get released three months into the season. Hawk got a similar two-year deal from the Cincinnati Bengals and actually managed to stick around for the entire season, but not as a starter.
The difference with Palmer is he was claimed on waivers and that’s most likely because of his contract.
By claiming him, the Titans will have to pick up what was left on Palmer’s contract with the Packers. That’s actually a modest number compared to what teams would have had to pay Jones or Hawk last year.
Palmer is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $675,000 this season.
The teams interested in Jones and Hawk waited for them to clear waivers and become free agents in order to negotiate more team-friendly deals.
Palmer’s deal is already team-friendly.
But really, we fail to see the fascination by other NFL teams with the Packers’ inside linebacker failures.
Maybe the Titans’ staff can actually coach Palmer up and get something out of him, but the last two guys who fit this bill actually got worse after leaving Green Bay, where they weren’t any good to begin with.
Jones couldn’t even crack the starting lineup for the Eagles. He recorded just five tackles before being released in November.
Hawk started 11 games for the Bengals, but managed just 24 tackles and a sack.
So, good luck with Nate Palmer, Tennessee.