The Green Bay Packers probably fucked up when they didn’t give Sam Shields the new contract he was seeking this past summer.
Shields was a restricted free agent and ended up signing a one-year tender for a little over $2 million. That happened after pretty much everyone — and by everyone I really mean we — acknowledged that Shields had surpassed Tramon Williams as the best cornerback on the squad.
Now, the Packers coaching staff has acknowledged that Shields is the team’s No. 1 corner, which means he’s getting a heap load more money this coming offseason than the Packers could have locked him down for the past one.
The Packers went into the season with the idea that they’d leave Williams and Shields on their sides of the field and not match Williams up with the opposition’s No. 1 receiver, as they’ve done in the past. That went out the window against Cincinnati, when Shields went to cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt and asked to match up on Bengals stud receiver A.J. Green.
“I said, ‘You feel good about it?’” Whitt recalled on Friday. “He said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Go ahead and match him.’ It really wasn’t our part doing it.”
Although Green scored a touchdown in the second half, Shields shut him down as much as you can shut down a guy like Green. Four catches for 46 yards. Pedestrian. Oh, and Shields also had a pick in that game.
That’s what a shutdown corner does.
We know Shields was pissed when the Packers didn’t give him the deal he wanted before the season. Now he’s going out and proving he’s the guy and he’s going to make the Packers, or someone else, pay. A lot.
Obviously, he’s trying to make a statement this season, but he’s not getting all uppity about it.
“If I keep playing how I’ve been playing, I’ll just let my play speak for itself,” Shields said.
While this is great for the Packers defense, it might not be so great for Shields’ chances of remaining in Green Bay. He’s not the only guy who’s going to get paid after the season. Among others, B.J. Raji, Jermichael Finley and James Jones are in the final year of their contracts.
We don’t see a way the Packers can pay all four of those guys top dollar and Shields, although obviously a killer, plays a position that the Packers have crazy depth at.
We see three scenarios here. The Packers give Shields a new deal during the season, they cut Williams and his $6.5 million salary and re-sign Shields after the season or Shields becomes a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
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Why is it always good news, bad news..?
I would wait until AFTER we play Megatron to extoll Shields’ status as a shutdown corner.
Shields will be likely chasing the jing elsewhere. Heyward, House and Hyde could likely be your corners of the future.
I agree.
Sample size is too small.
And based on quotes/sound-bites, he might be too cool to hang in Green Bay.
Agreed. Megaton tears it up then Shields is right. The play will speak for itself.
When I see talk of Shields as the Pack’s #1 CB, I stop and ask myself – didn’t the Packers throw a boatload of cash at another guy who had 1 good year to make sure they had their “#1 shutdown corner” locked up for a while?
These cases of paying premium dollar for long term contracts to guys that are one year wonders at worst, or wildly inconcistent at best creates a false sense of security as to the state of the back end of the defense.
If SS can deliver throughout this year, he deserves the jack from whoever decides to pay him. I just see him as way too inconsistant to pay as a #1. As much as you have to love some of his plays, there’s just as many that leave you with recollections of T-Buck.
I agree.
There are times when the Packer throw big bucks after one (limited) performance(s).
I thought they paid too much for David Martin, when they signed him long-term in mid season.
I thought they paid too much for Lang.
The Packers don’t do it too often, but sometimes you get the idea they think: if we pay him “x” he’ll be good, but if we pay him “2x” he’ll be great !!!
interesting situation here. I think Shields will get his moola, whether here or elsewhere. Maybe Tramon takes a pay cut to free up some bread, who knows. But I will say this, I like the way Shields is handling the situation. He ain’t saying dick, which is good. Don’t try to negotiate through the press, like some have in the past. Let your play speak for you, and if you’re injured, then I guess it won’t say much.
Trade him for Sherman?
Who want’s that piece of shit in GB!
I would!!! Why wouldn’t we want arguable the best corner in the NFL in Green Bay? Because he has a big mouth?….C’mon….The guy can ball!! So you wouldn’t want a big talking, big playmaker in Green Bay. You must be very happy with Tramon Williams then. Tramon Williams doesn’t talk anymore for 1 simple reason..He can’t. The last time Tramon Williams “talked” he called himself “Optimus Prime”. Since then, what has he done besides not tackle ant not cover? I’ll tell you what he’s done, he got himself demoted and a foot out the door.
Beyond Shields or Raji and other player signings, I’m wondering if this might be Capers’ last year.
He’s had some colossal screw-ups in the playoffs as well as teams that have hemorrhaged yards and have been unable to preserve a lead.
I mean what does this defense do it it can’t get a turnover, or get home on some exotic blitz?
Every game this season, giving up 13 4th quarter points? That’s just weak teat.
After having to suffer (embarrasment) through some of the worst defensive games in NFL history, orchestrated from this “genius”….I’d help him pack. Unfortunetly for Dom and us Packer fans, it isn’t 2010 anymore.
Given that you can never have enough cornerbacks, I don’t see Williams being cut out right unless Hayward, Hyde, and House make tremendous strides. I see them forcing Williams to take a lower salary.
Hyde is a good player, but I do not feel his speed is adequate. Sam Shields can be a great player, he has that extra bit of talent that most do not have. That has always been a difference maker to me. House is very inconsistent. T. Williams is an above average back that appears to be on an upswing after his injuries, although I feel he is not going to get any better as far as being as good as he was back in 2010. Hayward may be an answer, but he has to play first! We need to keep Sam Shields!