Evan Dietrich-Smith Will Be Playing Hardball
We know the Green Bay Packers can’t sign every one of their own free agents this offseason. And frankly, some of them don’t deserved to be re-signed. Center Evan Dietrich-Smith probably does, however.
Unfortunately, by the sound of things, he isn’t going to come cheap.
Dietrich-Smith got the golden ticket. That is, the endorsement of the franchise, also known as Aaron Rodgers.
After the season, Rodgers made it clear that he wanted to keep sticking his hands under Dietrich-Smith’s ass for the foreseeable future. And it looks like EDS is going to ride that as far as he can.
He was asked directly if he wanted to return to Green Bay. Most guys just say “of course” to such a question. This guy didn’t.
“I’m not going to make any predictions, like I said,” Dietrich-Smith replied. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
We know this. Dietrich-Smith is pretty high on himself right now and there’s really no reason he shouldn’t be. He played well in 2013.
On the other hand, Scott Wells.
You may or may not remember when former Packers center Scott Wells became a free agent. Wells never made a Pro Bowl, but it was widely assumed that he was a top-tier center.
Unfortunately, the Packers weren’t going to pay what Wells was looking for. That turned out to be $6 million per year, which is a lot to pay for a center. Especially one who isn’t an All-Pro every year.
The Packers signed Jeff Saturday instead for a fraction of that price. That move didn’t work out so well and ultimately, opened the door for Dietrich-Smith.
So here we are again.
Dietrich-Smith seems ready to take the hard line approach and go for the big money. Rodgers sure as hell didn’t help the situation for the Packers.
We can tell you this, though. And listen up, EDS.
The Packers aren’t going to hand out a deal like Wells got to a center. First off, they can’t afford it. They have too much invested in the line already (considering the contracts of Rodgers and Matthews). EDS can thank Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang for that.
Second, we’ve all seen that Wells was replaceable. Forget that Wells has missed 13 games since signing the big-money deal with St. Louis.
The bottom line is the Packers managed to get by just fine without him.
If Dietrich-Smith gets that big offer somewhere else, he’s probably gone. We’re pretty sure he isn’t getting it in Green Bay.
And if that’s the case, the Packers will survive.
I bag on Teddy from time to time, but no way in hell would I want his gig.
Either he signs the guy and he continues to play solid, or signs him and has him do a Morgan Burnett. Or he lets him walk and the guy goes and plays lights out somewhere else, or goes to his new team and drops a Jennings on the field. Talk about your crap shoot – literally!
If I had Ted’s job, I’d be such a frickin’ sauce hound that I’d be shit-bagged every day of the week.
No way he gets a sweet deal. Having the privilege of playing in front of #12 is exactly that…a privilege.
If he gets greedy…he’s gone. And exactly…we will survive.
I had the idea that the center-in-waiting was Van Roten.
Sure would like to know more about his foot injury — an injury that sent him to IR, when other players had broken foot bones and stayed on the active roster.
Don’t see how they can trust Tretter with so little time with the team.
Hopefully, they’ll continue to tinker with players and positions — it worked so well with Barclay at center, and Sherrod at guard…
wat
EDS pls
Damn straigh, it’s a privilege to have the greatest QB in the game’s hands shoved up your bottom! Out of all the people in the world who you wouldn’t absolutely hate being your proctologist Aaron Rodgers is right at the top of the list, right, DD?
Go on now, go. Walk out the door. Just turn around now, ’cause you’re not welcome anymore.
One of the reasons Rodgers likes EDS is two years ago when we played Detroit in Green Bay Farley took a shot at Rodgers. The next play EDS drove Farley into the ground with extreme prejudice. Farley ended up leaving the game. The play was a clear message to not mess with our quarterback. EDS is the type of lineman we need to keep.Only Ted and Mike know if there is another replacement that can match EDS’s nasty attitude and skill level. It would be a shame if EDS had to leave because of salary.
Yeah would be a shame if EDS had to leave because he wanted too much money.
I don’t see how the market is going to be there for EDS after just one season as the starter.
He played well enough to make $2-$4 mil a season. Any more than that, eff him. You do NOT sink big money into the center position. The tackles and Sitton are where you spend your money on the line. The center is replaceable.
This. I think people are overplaying his value, and IF the value does skyrocket for some reason, we let him go. Centers are actually replaceable and as much as I do really like EDS, he has bad knees, double braces every game and he gimps around like he is 70 if you see him walking to and from the locker room. Thats a bad fucking sign man.
Move on if he wants more than 3 mill a year.
This is really disappointing. I like EDS, or liked him. WHere is the loyalty? THe desire to win? The desire to be a Green Bay Packer?
Yeah, like the loyalty the teams show the players?
Cuts both ways.
Like Howard above said, we need his nasty attitude.
Not only that but I played a bit of Center myself (not claiming to be an expert here) the center to QB exchange is critical that it is smooth. It sets up the rhythm for the rest of the play, regardless if it’s a run or pass.
Having that trust between the qb and center is something that just cant be done in a few weeks.
Aaron is the best evaluator for this position, so if he wants him I say sign him.
Looking back letting Wells go was a good move by TT. Wells has only played 19 of the last 32 games for the Rams
Thank you for the completely random thought on an ex-Packer, having nothing to do with the article.
In other news, Paul-Ott Caruth is now a good golfer.
Perhaps he was implying that letting EDS walk wouldn’t be the end of the world since losing Wells (who was considered a better player) wasn’t. Your comment, however, has absolutely no relevance to this subject or the Packers in general, implicit or ex-. Foot in mouth eh, buddy?
Thanks for being a dick to a fellow Packers fan, fir no reason.
Agreed Phat, atta boy
They can and will do better! Hes had 1good season!! Theres a reason they couldnt run up the middle at times..he struggles against bigger dlines!
And that reason would be the other side gets paid big bucks to stuff the run.
According to FootballOutsiders.com the Packers were the most efficient “power” running (short-yardage 3rd and 4th downs) teams and had the 2nd-best YPC between C and Gs.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol
If they are going to spend big bucks on a Center. they would be better off going after All-Pro Alex Mack. Hell, he might give some team a slight discount just to get out of the Factory of Sadness and play for a perennial contender.
Good idea, but Ted would let him go, bank the coin to extend Raji and then bring in some obscure reach from West Cornhole State as an UDFA to fill his spot.
See, that’s the bagging part.
Yeah, just like Ted really tried to resign Greg Jennings.
With all this position swapping maybe they should put Raji at center.
Or FB…
If you a mediocrity like AJ hawk the packers throw $33 million at you because your TT’s favorite. Brad Jones gets 3/$12. Burnett $25 million. Raji $8 million a year offer. All are players on a bad/failed defense.
Meanwhile some of the offensive players go begging: Wells, James Jones, EDS and Nelson settlesl for millions less than he’s worth on a low-ball offer. Go figure.
I remember the despair and doubt when Ted didn’t extend Wells, when Ted let Bishop leave last off-season… Anybody care to man up and admit that maybe Ted slightly knows what he is doing?
Big Ol’ Scott Wells was one of my favorite players. I hate to see him go for the money, but it turns out he left just at the right time he did (presuming he would have the same injuries here).
Pay da man his me-unney