Everyone was surprised when it become know the Green Bay Packers would either trade or release Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton. This isn’t going to make much more sense, but the move was reportedly contract-related.
This comes from Tom Silverstein.
I’ve been told by multiple sources that the Sitton release was contract related, that he was not happy with the Packers waiting on extending his contract while pursuing deals with other players. There must have been some kind of standoff. Sitton is in the final year of his deal and was set to be unrestricted next year.
Sitton — along with David Bakhtiari, T.J. Lang, J.C. Tretter and a number of players at other positions (Eddie Lacy) — will be free agents after the season.
We knew the Packers weren’t going to be able to afford to pay all four of those offensive linemen. It still makes no sense that the Packers would release Sitton for that reason — or that he wasn’t “happy” — now, however.
No one values compensatory picks more than Ted Thompson. Plus, whatever Sitton’s mindset, guys typically play great during their contract years. Obviously, if they want to maximize their next contract, that’s a requirement.
So letting a motivated Sitton play out his deal and sign elsewhere actually would benefit the Packers immensely. Both on the field and in the draft pick department.
We’re not saying Silverstein is wrong, but if he’s right, the Packers are a bunch of fucking idiots.
11 Comments
He will sign with the Bears in the next 48 hours. Their line is the worst.
Wow… considering we don’t ever sign free agents, this move to clear $ space is a bit unreal. & here I thought we’d have a ridiculously deep o-line…
I think something else is going on.this move makes absolutely no sense. I hope it is not something petty that we have put ahead of winning a super bowl
Somebody needs to fess the fuck up about what really happened. This is a bunch of bull is MM and TT just poo poo this as a business decision. We, as fans, are owed an explanation that makes sense for this kind of lunacy!
You don’t get better by getting worse. You don’t win it all without your best 53.
Listen, TED and McCarthy owe you no information……just ask them. This isn’t exactly something new.
WOWZERS!
These may not be the three best Packers but the three I always respected the most and wished were on my team were Jordy Nelson, Josh Sitton, and Mike Daniels. In fact, I’d rank them #2, #3, and #4 after Rodgers (though infinitely ahead of him as people). Sitton was without a doubt the top offensive lineman on the team.
I know how sensitive and insecure you guys are about the Vikings picking up players who used to play for the Packers but I’d certainly love to have Sitton on the team. We could keep him at LG and move Boone to his more natural RG spot. We’d have to cut Fusco, the RG, to make the move but Sitton would be a big upgrade and that cut would save us 5 million so Sitton would only cost a few million in the big picture and we”d upgrade two spots actually and have one of or the best guard tandem in the league.
WOWZERS! On the same day the Vikings upgrade their QB position and Packers take a big step back on offense! WOWZERS!
Wowzers are you pathetic. Go away Viking fan.
Maybe we can be like the Vikings, and trade a 1st round pick for a 3rd rate player to replace him.
Congratulations, your QB situation has officially reached mediocre. All it took was someone else’s busted 1st-round pick. Kuuuuu-dos
Note to all of the Packer TT sycophants on here . . . TT “The Frugal GM” is that bad. He has missed on more opportunities and trades in the last 10 years than he should have. Fuck that fucking fuck. Go Pack Go . . . and look for a new GM NOW! You do not release a proven O linemen during his motivated contract year. So much for 1st string O line continuity . . .
This is by far the best article this man has written.
This move brings to mind two words, strange, and odd. Two words that get more frequently used in describing Ted Thompson.
If i could ask Ted. i would simply ask him…what’s the upside to this? If anyone has a clue, PLEASE tell me, because i’m certainly clueless.
So Mordy brings up two very valid points. The man is in a contract year, and the Packers lose out on compensatory picks by releasing him. Picks that Ted Thompson treasures.
So what am i missing here?……Are we in salary cap trouble? Do we have too many Pro Bowl offensive lineman? Does this improve our depth somehow. Someone, anyone, help me understand this.
I’m sure we’ll get the full Sitton story when McCarthy holds his next presser. <— yes, that was a joke people. Mark my words, McCarthy won't give any info, other than to say…. "it was done in the best interest of the team……..looking forward".
If that's the case, i hope a reporter ask him how he figures that.