Collins » Packer Update

Blueprint For Fixing The Defense

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:13 am 3 Responses »

Dec 282011

Hawk is having a very disappointing season

Since writing about blueprints seems to be in vogue these days, I’ve decided to write my first post in months on that very subject. But instead of providing a blueprint on how teams can beat the Packers (that would be sacrilegious), I’ll be providing a blueprint on what needs to be done to fix the defense.

1) Draft an impact outside linebacker – I’ve begged for general manager Ted Thompson to upgrade the position opposite Clay Matthews for two years (I still cringe every time Antwan Barnes gets another sack for the Chargers. TT could’ve acquired him for next to nothing on any number of occasions over the past 18 months). Coordinator Dom Capers got by in 2010 with a motley collection of right outside linebackers, but that was only because of Cullen Jenkins. The former Packer and current Eagle was one of the top handful of pass rushing defensive linemen in the league last season and he essentially took the place of a second outside linebacker in passing situations. With Jenkins gone and Mike Neal unable to take his place, the Packers have played with only one legitimate pass rusher all season. And no matter how special Matthews is, that’s simply not enough. So unless Thompson can find a defensive lineman like Jenkins between now and the start of training camp next summer (and those guys are almost as hard to find these days as a Wisconsinite who still loves Brett Favre), he must use one of his first two draft picks on a playmaking outside linebacker.

2) Replace Hawk at inside linebacker - After watching his defense play so well en route to a Super Bowl championship, it came as no surprise when the Packers decided to re-sign A.J. Hawk and send Nick Barnett packing. After all, not only was Hawk one of Thompson’s first draft picks after taking over as GM in Green Bay, but more importantly, the former Ohio State star was coming off his finest season since joining the team in 2006. Unfortunately, the decision has proven to be a mistake – a $36 million mistake. Hawk’s play has clearly regressed. He’s only 27, but he appears to have lost a half step – a half step he couldn’t afford to lose. Even worse, he seems content to arm tackle rather than take on running backs and tight ends. As for Barnett, he hasn’t been a world beater in Buffalo, but he’s having a better season than Hawk. And while I didn’t criticize Thompson then and I won’t criticize him now for choosing Hawk, he has to admit his mistake and rectify things in the offseason. A tougher and more athletic inside linebacker must be found to pair with Desmond Bishop in 2012, and if that player is not on the current 53-man roster (maybe rookie D.J. Smith), then it’s up to Thompson to go out and get him.

3) Upgrade at safety – Regardless of whether Nick Collins returns in 2012 (I’d be shocked if he ever plays again), the Packers must add a quality safety in the offseason. Charlie Peprah obviously can’t be a starter next season, and truth be told, he shouldn’t even be third on the depth chart when training camp opens. The former Alabama star has been forced to start 24 games since October 2010, and that’s about 20 games too many. Capers was able to hide Peprah’s glaring lack of athleticism in 2010, but that hasn’t been the case this season. The difference? A year ago, the pass rush was consistently strong and Collins was playing at his usual Pro Bowl level. This year, the pass rush has been anemic and Collins has been replaced by struggling second-year pro Morgan Burnett. That leaves Peprah as an easy target for opposing offensive coordinators, who must spend the work week salivating over the chance to isolate a tight end, or god forbid, a wide receiver, on the slow-footed journeyman. I don’t know if Collins’ potential replacement is currently on the roster (maybe Charles Woodson), but I do know it’s up to Thompson to make sure the defense won’t have to turn to Peprah for a third time in 2012.

4) Draft at least one defensive end – The Packers can’t count on Neal to be the player he was prior to suffering serious shoulder and knee injuries and Howard Green, C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn have all proven to be – at best – deep reserves. Thompson needs to overhaul this group. While Green has the size to play in a 3-4, he’ll be 33 in a couple of weeks. Wilson and Wynn are both under 300 pounds, and neither has the physical ability to overcome their lack of bulk. There are a number of reasons why the run defense has been so porous this season, but one of the biggest is not a having a capable third lineman to play alongside B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett. Johnny Jolly filled that role ideally in 2009 and Jenkins, while certainly no run stuffer, held his own a year ago. Thompson needs to find a player who can at least hold his own in 2012. Fortunately, those players are often available in the middle rounds of the draft.

5) Get veterans to play better – The final step in my plan to fix the defense isn’t up to Thompson, it’s up to the coaching staff and the players already on the roster. More specifically, Raji and cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Sam Shields simply have to play better in 2012. All three took a step back this season. Raji might’ve been the most disruptive interior defensive lineman in the league late last year and throughout the playoffs. Not only was he fairly stout at the point of attack, but he was making tackles for losses and getting consistent pressure on the quarterback. His relative lack of success as a pass rusher this season can probably be explained away by the loss of Jenkins and by having to play too many snaps. But his struggles against the run cannot be as easily excused. No player with his size, strength and athleticism should ever be pushed around as often as he’s been pushed around this season. As for Williams and Shields, neither is playing nearly as well as he did 10 months ago. The former deserves a lot of credit for playing through a painful shoulder injury, but he’s been healthy for the past month or so and he still hasn’t retuned to his previous form. The latter has steadily improved in coverage throughout the season, but his tackling has been pathetic. Capers fully expected these three players to be stars this season. Unfortunately, like the defense as a whole, they’ve come up short.

So there’s my five-step plan for fixing the defense (by the way, it also wouldn’t hurt to add another cornerback). Needless to say, I’m expecting Thompson to focus on defense in next April’s draft. The good news is that improving the defense in 2012 shouldn’t be a Herculean task. A few shrewd draft choices and the return to form of a few veterans is all it should take. The even better news is that the Packers, even with a defense that has more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese, are currently 14-1 and in great position to win their second consecutive Super Bowl. Hey, ain’t it a great time to be a fan?!

Plenty of Packers got snubbed

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:47 pm No Responses »

Dec 292010

Raji is one of a number of deserving players who didn't make the Pro Bowl

Five Packers deserved to go to the Pro Bowl and five were chosen on Tuesday. The problem is which players will be in Hawaii on Jan. 30, 2011 and which players will be on a golf course that Sunday (of course, fans hope that none of the five Packers will be playing in that “game” and instead they’ll be preparing for a much, much bigger one a week later). Offensive tackle Chad Clifton, safety Nick Collins, wide receiver Greg Jennings, outside linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson were named to the NFC squad. That’s the highest number of Packers selected to the Pro Bowl since 2007.

Collins, Jennings and Matthews are very deserving. Collins hasn’t had a great season by his standards, but he’s still one of the top three safeties in the conference. Jennings, who only caught 14 passes in the first five games, has been arguably the league’s premiere wide receiver since the middle of October. Matthews is the most feared member of one of the league’s best defenses and a likely top-5 finisher in the defensive player of the year voting. So that’s where the fans, players and coaches got it right. But they got it wrong by rewarding Clifton and Woodson and snubbing Aaron Rodgers and Tramon Williams.

Clifton deserves all the credit in the world for bouncing back from a week 2 benching and putting together a very solid season. But at this point in his career, the only way he should be in Hawaii in January is if he’s taking his family on vacation. The 34-year-old has never been much of a run blocker, but he was so good in pass protection earlier in his career that a trip to the Pro Bowl wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow. That’s not the case now. He’s still not much of a run blocker and his protection isn’t good enough to offset that deficiency – at least as far as postseason honors are concerned.

Woodson is having a good season, but he isn’t even the best corner on his own team. That distinction goes to Williams, who was named the first alternate. While Woodson, the reigning defensive player of the year, is third on the team in tackles and has forced 5 fumbles, his coverage has been spotty. And since covering receivers is a pretty big part of a corner’s job, it’s safe to say this trip to Hawaii is borne more out of respect for what he’s done than for what he’s actually doing. Williams, on the other hand, has played so well that it’s actually a surprise when a receiver catches a pass on his watch.

Mike Vick, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan are the quarterbacks. All three are having very good seasons for very good teams, but the latter two simply aren’t as deserving as Rodgers, who’s the first alternate. Brees has thrown 21 picks in what has been an up-and-down year and Ryan is blessed to have Pro Bowlers all around him on offense. The Falcons’ star gets to hand off to Michael Turner and throw to Tony Gonzalez. The Packers’ star gets to hand off to Brandon Jackson and attempt to beat the cover-2 with Andrew Quarless. Rodgers has carried the offense on his back for the past nine weeks. That will likely get him some strong MVP consideration. Somehow, it didn’t get him to Hawaii.

The good news for Rodgers and Williams is that they’ll probably wind up in Hawaii if the Packers don’t get to the Super Bowl. Since either Philadelphia, New Orleans or Atlanta is likely to get there if Green Bay doesn’t, the first alternate would step in for Vick, Brees or Ryan. The only fly in the ointment would be if the Bears and Jay Cutler make it all the way to Dallas. As for Williams, he’ll get his ticket punched the minute Woodson begs out of the game. And the odds of No. 21 making the trip are about the same as, well, they’re about the same as the Bears and Jay Cutler making it to Dallas.

Offensive guard Josh Sitton and nose tackle B.J. Raji were also overlooked, but that didn’t come as a big surprise. Young linemen often have to wait their turn while bigger-named veterans bask in the Hawaii sun for an undeserving year or two. Guard Chris Snee of the Giants and nose tackle Jay Ratliff of Dallas are two prime examples. Both are perennial Pro Bowlers, but neither has had a particularly good season. Unfortunately, that’s how this whole process works and why it’s so flawed. Fans vote for their favorites, and let’s be honest, players and coaches vote for who they know and who they see. For example, do you think Sitton and Raji got votes from any coaches or players from the Saints?

Anyway, we’ve spent way too much time writing about a fake game – especially when the Packers have such a huge real game coming up in a matter of days. And if the Packers are to beat the Bears and then go on a run through the playoffs, they’ll do it on the backs of players like Rodgers, Sitton, Raji and Williams. And if those four are sipping champagne and holding the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium, do you think any of them will care one iota about not making the Pro Bowl?

Collins expected to play Sunday

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:49 pm No Responses »

Dec 242010

The Packers seldom have to worry about their Pro Bowl safety missing a game

The Packers may have listed Nick Collins as questionable for Sunday’s game, but there’s little question as to whether the Pro Bowl safety will play against the Giants. As has been the case in all but three games since 2005, Collins will be be in the starting lineup when the defense takes its first snap. The former Bethune-Cookman star makes headlines – not to mention a heck of a lot of money – with his ballhawking skills, but it’s his willingness to play through injuries that earns him the most respect inside 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Collins wouldn’t let a painful knee sprain keep him out of the lineup in early October, so the odds of him missing with biggest game of the season with sore ribs are about the same as a mother giving Brett Favre access to her teenage daughter’s cell phone number. It ain’t going to happen.

In other injury news, Frank Zombo is listed as doubtful with a sprained knee. The rookie linebacker was unable to practice all week. His backup, Erik Walden, is also hurting. The third-year pro from Middle Tennessee State bruised his quad against New England. If neither Zombo nor Walden can play, Robert Francois would likely get the nod and thus become the fifth player to start at right outside linebacker this season.

Coach Mike McCarthy didn’t rule out making a roster move at linebacker before Sunday’s game. And while the team could easily open up a spot by releasing third-string quarterback Graham Harrell, their aren’t many attractive options to take his place. It’s too late to sign someone off the street and practice squad players Mike Rivera and Curtis Young wouldn’t offer much immediate help. The former is primarily an inside linebacker and the latter was playing in the UFL a few months ago. More than likely, McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson will maintain the status quo and keep their fingers crossed that Walden and fellow outside linebacker Diyral Briggs (ankle) can gut it out on Sunday.

As far as the Giants are concerned, Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith (knee/IR) and defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (neck/IR) are the only key starters who won’t be available. Wide receiver Mario Manningham, defensive end Osi Umenyiora, left tackle David Diehl and center Shaun O’Hara are all listed as probable.

No news on Rodgers until midweek

Posted by Michael Rodney at 6:31 pm 3 Responses »

Dec 202010

Rodgers' status for the Giants will be updated at midweek

Anyone interested in the condition of Aaron Rodgers will have to wait until Wednesday. That’s when coach Mike McCarthy said he’ll have an update on the Pro Bowl quarterback. Rodgers, who suffered his second concussion of the season on Dec. 12 at Detroit, didn’t play in last night’s 31-27 loss to New England. And while the team will continue to take a very cautious approach with Rodgers, it’s hard to imagine No. 12 not being under center when the Giants visit Lambeau Field on Sunday. The fact that he attended practice last Friday and made the trip to Massachusetts bodes well for his being medically cleared to play in what’s essentially a playoff game.

In other injury news, Cullen Jenkins has already been ruled out for Sunday. The defensive end has missed the past two games with a calf injury. Nick Collins, who left last night’s game in the second quarter, will likely be ready for the Giants. Not only were x-rays on his ribs negative, but the Pro Bowl safety has a long history of playing hurt. Outside linebacker Frank Zombo (sprained knee) continues to make progress and could return after missing his first game of the season.

Quick thoughts from yesterday:

-While quarterback Matt Flynn has always been held in high regard by McCarthy, many people still questioned whether he had the talent to start in the NFL. Try finding those people today. The former LSU star certainly has some physical limitations, but he’s a born leader whose poise is off the charts and whose arm is just good enough. In a league where Chad Henne, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colt McCoy, Kerry Collins, Rex Grossman, Jimmy Clausen, Alex Smith and John Skelton all started games this weekend, they’ll be a market for Flynn should GM Ted Thompson look to move him in the offseason.

-Maybe it was playing in front of family and friends or maybe it was being on the same field as Vince Wilfork, but something got into B.J. Raji last night. Already having a very good season, the second-year nose tackle took his game to another level. He recorded two sacks and generally made life difficult for the interior of New England’s offensive line – including perennial Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins. Raji may never be quite as stout against the run as Wilfork, but his ability to get into the backfield makes him unique among nose tackles. Anyone still upset with Thompson for not drafting Michael Crabtree?

-James Jones will undoubtedly look to make a lot of money as a potential unrestricted free agent during the offseason, but it’s hard to imagine any GM paying big bucks to the enigmatic wide receiver. While the former San Jose State star is a very good No. 3, he’s just too inconsistent to be given a more substantial role. Whether it’s a costly fumble, a big drop or not fighting hard enough for the ball, Jones somehow seems to find a way to hurt his team at the most inopportune of times. Last night, for example, his failure to complete a route led to a momentum-turning pick-6 for the Patriots.

OK, NOW TED NEEDS TO PAY COLLINS

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:05 am 2 Responses »

Mar 102010

SHOW HIM THE $$$

It was only 17 days ago that we wrote a story about how GM Ted Thompson shouldn’t give safety Nick Collins any more money at this time. Well, that was before the Packers placed a tender on Tramon Williams that will pay him $3.04 million next season – or approximately $257,000 less than what Collins is due to earn. And not to sound too much like a disgruntled old agent, but that just ain’t right. Williams is a quality third corner who’s been up-and-down in 20 career starts. While Thompson and the defensive coaches obviously think very highly of the former Louisiana Tech star, others aren’t nearly as enthusiastic. “Williams is definitely talented, but he wasn’t overly impressive filling in for an injured Al Harris in either of the past two seasons,” opined a scout for another team. “He’s still fairly young, so maybe he’ll get better with more experience, but right now I look at him as a very average starter.”

Collins may not be an elite safety, but he’s a heck of a lot better than average. He’s started 77 games since being drafted in the second round out of Bethune-Cookman in 2005 and has gone to the last two Pro Bowls. And while we had no problem with him earning $3.3 million just two-and-a-half weeks ago, that number now seems too low. And since Thompson has always treated his best players fairly, the guess here is that he’ll somehow manage to make things right. How he goes about doing that remains to be seen.

A long-term extension is going to be very costly. We reported last December that Collins’ agent was looking for a deal worth at least $40 million and with 40 percent of the money guaranteed. It’s doubtful that he’ll settle for much less after Antrel Rolle just signed a $37 million contract ($15 million guaranteed) with the Giants. Granted, Rolle was a free agent, but he’s also not nearly as good a player. “If and when negotiations begin, finding a middle ground won’t be easy,” predicted a person close to the situation. “One option might be to do a short-term deal that would boost Collins’ compensation in 2010. Thompson has done that in the past.” Ironically, he did it last with Williams less than a year ago. The 26-year-old received a tender worth $460,000 in February 2009. He eventually signed a one-year contract for $905,980 a few months later. Thompson didn’t have to do give Williams more money, but it was the right thing to do. It’s now time for him to do the right thing with Collins – regardless of what we may have written 17 days ago.

(NOTE – We wrote this story last Friday. Since then, Collins has signed his restricted free agent tender. This would suggest that his agent is confident that a new deal is forthcoming.)

NO REASON TO PAY COLLINS RIGHT NOW

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:14 am No Responses »

Feb 222010

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

There’s absolutely no reason for Ted Thompson to offer safety Nick Collins a long-term contract. Why? Let another restricted free agent explain. “The teams have the leverage,” Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield told the Newark Star-Ledger. “They have the opportunity to tender guys, keep them for cheap, and I expect them to do just that. They’re businessmen, this is a business, so that’s what I expect.” Granted, the former Northwestern star isn’t a two-time Pro Bowler, but he’s also not going to make over $3 million in 2010. “Look, the players agreed to this CBA in ’06 and now they have to live with the ramifications,” opined an agent. “It’s easy to sympathize with the 212 players who will lose out on unrestricted free agency, but that’s life. The NFL isn’t a charity and its 32 teams are under no obligation to ‘make things right’ by handing out lucrative deals a year or two before they have to. In fact, they’d be downright foolish to do so.”

Thompson’s definitely no fool and that’s why very little progress has been made on a multi-year deal. It was never really about wanting to see how Collins played in the new defensive scheme. It was always more about the CBA. The Packers certainly aren’t a cheap organization, but they’re always well-aware of the bottom line. They have to be. That’s why Thompson tends to open up his wallet only when he absolutely has to or when a highly productive player is grossly underpaid. Otherwise, he prefers to sit back and let things work themselves out. That’s precisely the strategy he has been using when it comes to Collins and it’s the one that makes the most sense at this particular time.

Without a long-term contract in hand, there’s virtually no chance of seeing Collins at any of the offseason activities. In fact, he can’t participate in any of the mini-camps or OTAs without signing his tender – something he almost certainly isn’t going to do until training camp, if then. “This could get contentious, but the Packers and Collins won’t be the only team and restricted free agent engaged in this uncomfortable dance,” said the agent. “Similar situations will be happening all around the league. It’s just the way things are in 2010, and at some point, the players will have to accept that.” Perhaps, but few players are as enlightened as Cofield. Something tells us that Collins is going to create quite a stir in the weeks and months to come. And something tells us that Thompson won’t care.

FEW PACKERS WILL POPULATE PRO BOWL

Posted by Packer Update at 10:35 am 1 Response »

Dec 282009

Going to Miami

Green Bay has one of the best records in the entire league, but it won’t seem like that when the Pro Bowl rosters are announced on Tuesday. The 10-5 Packers figure to have no more than three representatives in the all-star game that will be played in Miami on the Sunday before the Super Bowl. So is this a sign of disrespect? No, not really. “Green Bay has a lot of players enjoying good to very good seasons, but not many are performing at a Pro Bowl-level,” opined a former scout. “And that kind of fits with [GM] Ted Thompson’s philosophy on building a team. He’s not enamored with superstars or big names. He prefers a roster filled with good players and quality people. And while that may not make the Packers all that popular on Tuesday, it could serve them very well in the weeks to come.”

We asked the scout to predict which players will get an invite to the Pro Bowl, which players won’t but should and which young players are on the verge:

LOCK

CB Charles Woodson: “He’ll start for the NFC. Not only is he a lock for the Pro Bowl, but he should be one of the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year. No corner does more for his team. He lines up at multiple positions and excels at all of them. Plus, his overall statistics are eye-popping. He’s really revived his career in Green Bay and Canton now looks like a definite possibility.”

VERY GOOD CHANCE

QB Aaron Rodgers: “He should be a lock, but you never know when it comes to this position and the Pro Bowl. Only Drew Brees has had a better season in the NFC. Anyone who thinks Brett Favre is more deserving either works for ESPN or doesn’t watch much football. He’s already one of the top 7 or 8 quarterbacks in the league and he could move into the top-5 by next season.”

PRETTY GOOD CHANCE

FS Nick Collins: “He went a year ago and he’s been just as good this season. He deserves to go, but the competition at his position is very stiff. Darren Sharper is a lock and Adrian Wilson is extremely popular with NFC players and coaches. That leaves only one spot. He should get it, but you never know.”

SLIGHT CHANCE

RB Ryan Grant: “He’s third in the conference in rushing and fourth in yards per game, so he has a chance. But I don’t think most players and coaches consider him as good as guys like DeAngelo Williams, Frank Gore or even Jonathan Stewart. He has the numbers to go, but he probably won’t get the votes.”

NO CHANCE, BUT DESERVING

DEs Johnny Jolly and Cullen Jenkins: “Jolly has played the run as well as any defensive end in the league. Jenkins is solid at the point of attack and far more productive as a pass rusher than most players at his position. They won’t go because they don’t have the statistics, but they’re playing at that level.”

SOMEDAY SOON

OLB Clay Matthews: “He should get some consideration, but it’s tough for any rookie to make the Pro Bowl – especially one who didn’t even start until the fifth game of the season. With his talent and work ethic, this may wind up being one of the few Pro Bowls he doesn’t play in over the course of his career.”

TE Jermichael Finley: “He’d have a chance if he didn’t miss four games during the middle of the season. He has the potential to be more than a perrenial Pro Bowl tight end; he has the potential to be the best tight end in the league. Few players have his combination of size, soft hands and athleticism.”

OG Josh Sitton: “He’s quietly developed into one of the best young interior linemen in the NFL. He’s not a great athlete, but he moves well enough to make all the necessary blocks. He’s also strong and nasty. It took Marco Rivera a while to be appreciated. It could be a similar story for this right guard.”

KEEPING COLLINS JUST GOT EASIER

Posted by Packer Update at 5:28 pm 1 Response »

Nov 232009

Tag, you're it?

There’s no question that Aaron Kampman will be missed. Even though the former Pro Bowl defensive end struggled in his transition to outside linebacker, he was still the team’s best pass rusher. So for the next six weeks, the defense will have to find a way to slow down opposing offenses without No. 74 in the lineup. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, here it is – Kampman’s knee injury should ensure that free safety Nick Collins will be back next season. “[GM] Ted Thompson almost certainly would’ve used the franchise tag on Kampman,” opined a person familiar with the situation. “Now, if needed, that tag can be placed on Collins.” The former Bethune-Cookman star is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but that will only happen if there’s a new collective bargaining agreement. Otherwise, the five-year veteran will be a restricted free agent.

The Packers don’t want to lose Collins, but Thompson has shown little interest in negotiating a long-term deal. “The agent has made it clear that he wants his client to be one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL,” said the source. “Thompson isn’t willing to go there, and now he has another option. He can slap the tag on Collins and keep him around for at least one more season at a very reasonable price.” The franchise tag for safeties last offseason was a modest $6.34 million. “I don’t think Thompson would have a problem paying around that amount,” added the source. “He likes Collins and the defense needs him. He just doesn’t want to commit an eight-figure signing bonus to a player he doesn’t consider to be great.” Now he doesn’t have to.

COLLINS' AGENT COMES CLEAN

Posted by Packer Update at 12:07 am Comments Off

May 162009

Dave Butz, the agent for Nick Collins told the Wisconsin State Journal on Friday what we’ve been reporting for weeks – that the Pro Bowl safety is not attending the offseason program because he’s upset that the Packers have made no effort to work out a new deal. “Unless the team is willing to at least discuss the contract situation, we don’t see any need for Nick to participate on the field,” said Butz. Earlier in the week, Collins cited family issues as the reason for his absence. “Nick does indeed have legitimate personal family concerns,” added Butz. “But despite any other issues or concerns, Nick would not be attending the offseason program — regardless of any family matters.”

So why isn’t GM Ted Thompson anxious to work out an extension with one of the team’s better young defensive players? “There are three reasons,” said a person familiar with the situation. “One is that Thompson doesn’t believe in giving huge money to a safety. Another is that he’s still not totally convinced that Collins is a premier player. And the final reason has to do with the CBA. As of right now, there’s a pretty good chance that Collins won’t be eligible for unrestricted free agency next March.”

Right now, agreeing to new deals with receiver Greg Jennings and corner Tramon Williams are the team’s top priorities. “Those players are really underpaid,” said the source. “Thompson always tries to be fair, so he’s going to work hard to get something done in those two cases. Collins is a different situation. Due to an escalator clause that kicked in after last season, his base salary jumped from $545,000 to $3.05 million. That’s more than fair for a player with only one good season on his resume since being drafted in the second round in 2005.”