As expected the Green Bay Packers re-signed kicker [intlink id=”152″ type=”category”]Mason Crosby[/intlink].
What is perhaps a little more surprising is the deal is for five years and makes him one of the highest-paid kickers in the NFL.
Crosby’s deal is worth $14.75 million and includes $3 million of guaranteed money, according to the Journal Sentinel.
Guaranteeing only $3 million of the contract gives the Packers some flexibility to look elsewhere if Crosby turns into a train wreck, but at nearly $3 million per season Crosby is in the salary range of the league’s top-paid kicker, Sebastian Janikowski of Oakland.
Janikowski’s deal averages $4 million per season.
Crosby’s deal isn’t bad for a guy who’s never once hit 80 percent of his field goals in a season.
The Packers will tell you it’s tough to kick in Lambeau Field in the winter and they’d be right, but I have a hard time believing Crosby is one of the best kickers in the game.
I for one am glad that Crosby is back in the fold! He really was the only free-agent except maybe Kuhn I was worried about the Pack re-signing!
One of the best in the game he surely is not. Hopefully this contract and show of support from the organization boosts his confidence and he can start making more kicks. Good for him though – gettin’ paid, gettin’ paid!
Crosby has the potential to be one of the best. I think that’s why the resigned him for that amount. I’m sure another team would be signed him right away. But he has been known to be inconsistent.
It has nothing to do with being one of the best in the game. Is Charles Johnson one of the best in the game? It has to do with timing. You are going to have to pay a premium right now for any free agent who other teams might actually be interested in. Crosby would qualify.
The important thing is that the guaranteed money is low enough that the Packers could still cut Crosby loose at any time.
I’m not the hugest fan of Crosby, but I think this is a wise move. If the Packers thought they had a sure thing in signing Matt Prater instead that would have been great. But, Crosby is only 26 and all of the other FA kickers who might be better are in their late thirties.
I’m glad, as he’s not the worst kicker on the planet. These days you need a guy who’s fairly dependable, as long as he doesnt screw up too much. Sure he’s not going to hit some Vinitieri style clutch kicks, but the hope is that we never put him in that situation.
He needs to be FIRED!!!! He is not worth 25% of what he is payed!!