The Green Bay Packers released linebacker [intlink id=”80″ type=”category”]A.J. Hawk[/intlink], safety [intlink id=”553″ type=”category”]Derrick Martin[/intlink] and tight end [intlink id=”490″ type=”category”]Donald Lee[/intlink], Wednesday.
Hawk’s release doesn’t come as a big surprise, considering the Packers had no intention of paying his $10 million salary, which would have been guaranteed on the first day of the league year.
The league year is supposed to begin March 3, but won’t begin until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Until there is a new agreement, Hawk won’t be able to negotiate with anyone and neither will the Packers, so there’s still a possibility he could return.
The Packers would like to bring Hawk back under a new deal, but reportedly haven’t made much progress in negotiations.
Hawk had probably his best season with the Packers in 2010, recording 111 tackles and three interceptions.
Unlike Hawk, Lee and Martin, were simply released because of their performance.
Lee was in a logjam at tight end, where the Packers have [intlink id=”209″ type=”category”]Jermichael Finley[/intlink], [intlink id=”1036″ type=”category”]Andrew Quarless[/intlink] and Tom Crabtree. Lee recorded only 11 receptions for 73 yards, in what might have been his worst season as a member of the Packers, in 2010.
The team regularly used the younger Quarless and Crabtree ahead of Lee after Finley went on injured reserve.
Martin played in only five games for the Packers in 2010 and recorded nine tackles. He never developed into anything more than a special teams player after the Packers acquired him from Baltimore before the 2009 season.
Martin was also in a logjam. In addition to [intlink id=”162″ type=”category”]Nick Collins[/intlink] and [intlink id=”1034″ type=”category”]Morgan Burnett[/intlink], the Packers expect to re-sign [intlink id=”525″ type=”category”]Charlie Peprah[/intlink] and [intlink id=”375″ type=”category”]Anthony Smith[/intlink], and seem to prefer practice squad player Anthony Levine over Martin.
I’ve read that Schefter thinks the pack are going to resign him to a contract soon…could be a rumor but I hope he’s correct.
The Packers had the option of cutting Hawk tomorrow morning. If they had done that, Hawk would have had no opportunity to negotiate with any team before the CBA became defunct. By cutting him today, they gave him the opportunity to speak with other teams, including the Packers. Don’t be shocked if the Packers resign Hawk tomorrow. It depends on what Hawk finds out from other teams.
I hear he’s already been resigned for 5 years. :D
thank God Donald Lee (overpaid fumble machine) is gone!!!
from nfl.com.. “The Green Bay Packers announced Wednesday that they had released linebacker A.J. Hawk. They reportedly will announce one day later that Hawk has signed a five-year contract.”
You are right Joe I was just reading on JSOnline & PackersNews.com that Hawk has already agreed to a new multi-year deal! Ted sure does not mess around when he goes after core players he values! Very glad that Hawk will remain a Packer!
Hawk earned his contract, the guy finally played like he was billed and came through. I’m glad he remains a packer. As for Barnett who cares I don’t do twitter
“Hawk’s release doesn’t come as a big surprise,…”
hmmmmm. really? cause i was pretty certain they would end up keeping him. woooah…look at that – i was right.