Report: Green Bay Packers Considering Using Franchise Tag on Greg Jennings
By Josh Hill
The Green Bay Packers seemed to be okay with letting veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings walk this offseason as his contract is expiring. But after some thinking, it appears that the Packers aren’t so sold on the idea of letting Jennings go — possibly to a competitor within the NFC North — and and considering using the franchise tag to keep him in Wisconsin.
According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the Packers haven’t yet made a final decision on the fate of Greg Jennings and his future in Green Bay. However if one thing is clear it’s that the Packers would be willing to use the $10 million franchise tag but wouldn’t be willing to give Jennings a long term deal.
Interesting to hear the #Packers are still considering franchising Greg Jennings. Thought that ship had sailed. Apparently not.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2013
And that’s puzzling.
Green Bay has three top-notch receivers under contract in 2013 and the $10.36 million that Ted Thompson would have to pay Jennings is better suited upgrading the team elsewhere, like allocating it to a lump sum to sign a viable starting running back or getting some offensive line help.
It’s really hard to believe that the Packers would give the 30-year old Jennings that kind of money for a single season in which he very well could be injured for a majority of. Last year Jennings fell off as a top target due to an injury that held him out of most of the season and when he was in he didn’t do anything that made anyone leap and and demand a $10 million salary for him.
That’s not to say Jennings isn’t a $10 million receiver, he’s just not a single year $10 million receiver, as that kind of salary would be broken into at least two years of a contract.
When Ted Thompson actually forks over $10 million for a single season of Greg Jennings, that’s when people will believe it. Until then, Minnesota and Miami look to be the top landing spots for Jennings next season.