When the Green Bay Packers, for some strange reason, decided not to tender tight end Tom Crabtree he became an unrestricted free agent. Predictably, other teams took notice and now multiple suitors have expressed interest in the Packers best blocking tight end.
Tyler Dunne termed that interest to be significant, which will make it hard for the Packers to re-sign Crabtree while they’re dilly dallying around with Greg Jennings and Steven Jackson.
The idea in not tendering Crabtree — one that we might call “stupid” — was to save money. Instead of having to commit the $1.323 million a low tender would have cost them, the Packers appear to have given up their right of first refusal on Crabtree with the goal of signing him to a league minimum deal. That would have saved them around $600,000.
Now, that scenario appears unrealistic.
If the Packers lose Crabtree, they’re losing a key special teams contributor and a sometime offensive playmaker. That scenario also adds another question mark to a position full of them.
Jermichael Finley and his inflated contract are no lock to remain with the team. Andrew Quarless is coming off a major injury and hasn’t played in over a year. D.J. Williams hasn’t shown he can produce at the NFL level and Ryan Taylor is a special teams ace, but not much else.
Almost as importantly, none of these other guys drives a tank, so they aren’t nearly as badass.
Crabtree > Finley
Finley > Crabtree
Don’t they end up getting compensatory picks if he does well? Can’t ask for much more from an undrafted FA when they already have 4 tight ends under contract.
He had some great plays in 2012. That TD on 4th-and-26 against the Bears was classic.
&%$@ the Bears!!
Who knows, he may be really good if we give him a few more reps. Always seemed to come through for our Pack when he was given the chance, if I remember correctly.
Damn, I always thought he would be a decent pass-catcher, if he was more of a priority. Seems like many of his “targets” were shit/desperation passes when Rodgers was under pressure, and he threw it at his shoes.
Well, maybe Bostick will come on.
I’m still OK with Finley leaving. With an oLine that loves to give up sacks, what good is a TE to stretch-the-field? just more time to get Rodgers smacked.
With Welker and Amendola signing ~$6mil / yr deals, I wonder what Jennings price could be? $5mil? a far cry from what I heard GB originally offered (9-10mil).