Since early in the 2016 season, we have been speculating that cornerback Sam Shields’ days as a member of the Green Bay Packers were numbered. Shields didn’t play again after suffering his fifth concussion in week 1.
Our take was he would have to retire.
Packers’ beat writer Rob Demovsky is now pushing the theory that the Packers will made the decision for Shields by releasing him.
That does make some sense. Despite his injury history, it’s going to be hard for Shields to walk away from the $9 million he would earn next season.
If that’s the case, the Packers’ hand could be forced. They surely will be reluctant to continue sending a player out there with Shields’ concussion history. Releasing him would also provide a financial benefit. While they would eat $3.125 million in dead money, the overall savings involved with releasing Shields would create an additional $9 million in cap room. Shields’ 2017 cap number is $12.125 million.
Also working against Shields is his recent marijuana arrest. That will likely result in an NFL suspension, not that the Packers are unaccustomed to those…
However it happens, we’ve probably seen the last of Shields in a Packers uniform.
That then raises the question of how the Packers will adapt in the secondary. We wouldn’t be surprised if they drafted another cornerback early on in the draft after the dreadful play of both Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins in 2016.
Yep! They will draft another basketball hybrid, or a safety that runs a plus 4.5 . . . Because they genius . . . they are legion.
are . . .
I doubt it will happen, and I hate being the materialistic weasel of the group but is there a case for getting relief on some of that signing bonus? Shields if found guilty (or not) must have violated the morals clause in his contract. I would think that based on past drug use history for Shields the Packers would not give a large signing bonus to him without some guarantees this type of situation would have a financial punishment to Shields.
The other question is how the hell do you put out valid concussion tests if you are impaired. Before all you marijuana promoters tell us how marijuana does not impair a person as much as alcohol please remember some of us were using before your parents were born. We know what it does and it cannot help give a valid result in concussion testing.
PF4L
01/13/2017 at 12:58 pm
So does Shields still have a concussion, or is he just too stoned to pass all the protocol test?
A very legit question. Who knows in Sam’s case, it may have helped or it may have hurt in recovering from the concussion. Either way if you are taking a drug that you have not informed the doctor that you are taking the test results for better or worse are not valid. In fact it may have helped Sam in reducing some concussion symptoms, but it could also result in Sam being released to play to early because some symptoms are masked causing further damage. Is that what occurred after the concussion last year? There is no way to know for sure but it does raise questions.
They need to work hard in FA to bring in a legitimate CB1. We can’t wait around another 3 years hoping the next draft pick works out.
Completely agree. Although, Charles Woodson’s don’t fall from trees…
I am not sure what the CB FA market looks like, but time to open the wallet up for a very important position
Looks like Stephon Gilmore, (Buffalo Bills) is the biggest name on there. The only real name in fact:
Cornerbacks
Mike Jenkins, Arizona Cardinals
Marcus Cooper, Arizona Cardinals
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Atlanta Falcons
Jerraud Powers, Baltimore Ravens
Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills
Corey White, Buffalo Bills
Teddy Williams, Carolina Panthers
Leonard Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Johnthan Banks, Chicago Bears
Dre Kirkpatrick, Cincinnati Bengals
Chykie Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Brandon Boykin, Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Thomas, Dallas Cowboys
Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys
Kayvon Webster, Denver Broncos
Asa Jackson, Detroit Lions
A.J. Bouye, Houston Texans
Darius Butler, Indianapolis Colts
Darryl Morris, Indianapolis Colts
Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams
Chimdi Chekwa, Miami Dolphins
Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota Vikings
Terence Newman, Minnesota Vikings
Logan Ryan, New England Patriots
Kyle Wilson, New Orleans Saints
Sterling Moore, New Orleans Saints
Leon Hall, New York Giants
Coty Sensabaugh, New York Giants
Trevin Wade, New York Giants
D.J. Hayden, Oakland Raiders
Dwayne Gratz, Philadelphia Eagles
Nolan Carroll, Philadelphia Eagles
Robert McClain, San Diego Chargers
Josh Robinson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Valentino Blake, Tennessee Titans
Greg Toler, Washington Redskins
So after picking cornerbacks in rounds 1 and 2 in the 2015 draft, were going to have to go back and try again?
Since 2011..Teds 1st round picks haven’t exactly produced a lot of play making results on the field.
In a draft and develop philosophy. We only have 1 player on the roster from the entire 2011 draft. Davon House was no longer needed in our secondary because we had Rollins and Randall.
On a related subject, anyone hear any retirement talk from Thompson lately?
It’s a fucking shame that Murphy is to inept to tell Ted….
Know when, to say when.
Yea, Teddy T obviously doesn’t recognize talent at the secondary…
Drafted Morgan Burnett 71st overall, Casey Hayward 62nd overall, Micah Hyde 159th overall, & Clinton-Dix 21st overall.
Not to mention Damarious Randall & Quinten Rollins haven’t exactly even completed a 2nd season in the NFL
We also, kinda, sorta, brought-in this dude named Charles Woodson that helped us win a Superbowl. Ted did that… No Big Deal…
They absolutely must address the situation in FA with a veteran. The problem is I don’t think there is a strong veteran CB class this year. The problem is we know Ted won’t address it. Instead he will take two CB’s, one in the second round and one in the 5th round that will be a project, a converted QB. Ted will hit on the second rounder, miraculously, but he will be out in week 6 with a season ending injury. There will be no viable replacement and the secondary shits the bed and rolls in it. The 5th rounder? He will be a borderline practice squad/street FA guy that will never sniff a starting job. No wonder McCarthy can’t win a super bowl, TT has been one of the 10 worst drafting GMs in the NFL the past five years. Does Datone Jones work at Golden Corral yet?
Add that into the money they’re wasting on Peppers and the Paytaker, and you’re looking at a seriously cap crippled team next year. I hope they can find a way to sign Perry, maybe dumping Shields will help.
Shields will save them 9 million.
They need to sign Perry, but they can’t over value him. It took 5 years for him to come into his own off his rookie contract. Guys that “bring it” in a contract year always worries me.
I`ve commented on this previously. They really should draft a real cornerback in the first round. Not an ex basketball player or converted safety. They also could make a trade for someone like Joe Haden, a real cornerback. I do not expect this. They need to do something! The safeties are really good and so is Micah Hyde but they must solidify the cornerback position. If they had great corners this team would be in the hunt every year.
Is it a surprise that Packers are smoking dope, when you sign a big time drug dealer, like Letroy Guion?
Or…is it a surprise the majority of NFL players smoke weed?
But good try Ron.