Veteran back is one of the highest-paid players on team
The Packers should dump Ryan Grant. There I wrote it, and believe me, it wasn’t easy. The veteran running back is one of my favorite players. He’s a high-character person, a tough and dependable football player, and most importantly, a Jersey boy. But with the team tight against the newly re-instituted salary cap, there’s simply no good reason to pay the former Notre Dame star almost $6 million.
Green Bay won the Super Bowl without Grant. And that was with the pedestrian Brandon Jackson and the even more pedestrian John Kuhn splitting carries during the regular season and rookie James Starks, who wasn’t even on the active roster until late November, getting the bulk of the opportunities in the playoffs. Even minus Grant, the Packers figure to be in better shape at running back entering 2011. Starks should be much improved after going through his first training camp and third-round draft choice Alex Green has a chance to be a very effective change-of-pace back. Plus, with the money saved by getting rid of Grant, the team could re-sign Jackson. This would give the offense a veteran safety net just in case.
Not only would the offense survive without Grant, it could be significantly better if general manager Ted Thompson takes some of that money and puts it toward re-signing wide receiver James Jones. Look, the Packers have been and always will be a passing offense as long as Mike McCarthy is calling the plays. Sure you have to hand the ball off occasionally to keep a defense honest, but if any team doesn’t need to be spending big money at the running back position, it’s the Packers. When Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback and Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and potentially Jones are your receivers, you’re doing the defense a favor every time you choose not to throw.
Grant won’t have much value to other teams because he’s coming off a season-ending injury, he’s getting old for a running back and he’s making a lot of money. Ironically, those are my strongest arguments for why his current team shouldn’t want him either. If there wasn’t a cap, I’d be all for hanging on to Grant for one more season. He’s a quality player and the type of person you’d want around young and impressionable backs like Starks and Green. But the cap is a reality and it forces teams to make difficult but necessary decisions. This would be one of those difficult but necessary decisions.
Given the choice and if its a money issue, I would rather have Jones over Grant.
Funny you didn’t mention Donal Driver as one of the receiving “threats”.
I figure it was intentional and you’ve got your reasons.
Still love your blog though.
Greets from Denmark
Didn’t intentionally leave out DD, just a careless oversight. In fact, I’m going to change that right now. Thanks!
What are you NUTS? Just review last year at RB. You liked seeing Kuhn have to play at RB?
Jackson was as close to bad at Featured back as you can get, and Im a Jackson fan.
Starks showed well but he goes down your worse then last year.
So under your cap scheme we go into the season with Starks and Jackson and another rookie?
Go back and watch the Eagles game last year and how Grant ran you would give him 10 million.
This season the Packers have the chance of having one of the best offensive back fields in the NFL.
That is worth far more then a few million.
NUTS? I may not be F. Lee Bailey, but I thought I made a pretty good argument for dumping Grant.
Damn. . . as much as I think having Grant back makes our running game that much better, your reasoning bears considering. Besides I think Starks will be improved and Green has a boatload of potential.
I too agree with re-signing Jones, but it looks like it’s tme for Mr. Grant to restructure that deal and take the home team discount in exchange for the chance (and very good chance) on getting a second ring. Just a thought.
RB are a dime a dozen these days. Grant should restructure his contract or be released. Unless we’re talking about Barry Sanders type of talent, no need to dedicate $6 million to that position.
I’m not sure we really need Grant, Jackson, or Jones. Of the three, I’d prefer to keep Grant.
Hmmm….basically a trade of Grant for Jackson and Jones. I think I’d take that trade. Might be able to resign Grant after you release him and then release Jackson on the final roster cut if Green, Grant, and Starks are healthy.
Jackson signed with Browns tonight so there goes your whole theory…besides I say keep Grant. He is going to have a chip on his shoulder to prove he can play, as well as be extremely motivated to get a new contract (probably won’t come from us though) So why not pay a highly enthused back $5-6 million for one year, then let him walk?
Running the ball well is more than a formality. How many games have we had trouble closing out because we couldn’t pick up a first down to eat up the clock in the closing minutes?
I disagree that we should cut Grant. Don’t forget that Starks isn’t exactly the model of health for a RB, missed 10 or more games last season and also all of his final college season.
I do like Alex Green and I think he will be a hell of a back for us, but he is unknown at this point and Kuhn has not even been re-signed yet so I think not. At least not yet.
The Packers have Grant, Starks, Green and Brandon Saine (UDFA from OSU not mentioned in the article). Plus, Cobb can play a little RB. Starks, Green, Saine and Cobb are burners and they can catch coming out of the backfield (ahem, Grant). If one or two of them can pick up blitzes, Grant is gone.
I like Grant for all the reasons everyone else posted. I think he’s the poster-child for a zone blocking RB. But, $6 mil for a RB in this offense is ridiculous and they can win without him.
I’d rather see them put those 6 million shekels towards keeping Cullen Jenkins. THAT is a player worth $6 mil.
I obviously agree, but Grant received his bonus so he’s not going anywhere. By the way, I just finished a story on Saine. It’ll be posted on Friday.
I don’t know what Grant’s bonus was but unless it was for half his salary, he could still get cut if Nance does as well or better. Starks and Green are the future.