Nearly every move the Green Bay Packers make will impact their ability to work out contract extensions with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews.

PackersNews  wrote:

This is the frustrating part of the year. So much time and energy is devoted to cap space. They can't get the best players possible. They can only go after players that will fit under the cap and hopefully be good players as well.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I actually find it exciting. Example, the Bengals were the big winners so far of Day 1. Why? The Steelers got weaker, so did the Ravens and they haven't lost anything, yet. The Packers haven't gotten weaker, but the other teams in the division haven't gotten better. The 49ers added Anquan Boldin, and might add Charles Woodson. This doesn't scare me or concern me. The Seahawks added Percy Harvin, doesn't concern me. All in all, the first day was pretty exciting and fun to watch. And the Packers have Johnny Jolly back, who is a complete unknown, which I find exciting. It's like opening a Christmas present. What is it? It's a big box!! But does that big box have lots of sticks or big ass karaoke machine?

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

I actually find it exciting. Example, the Bengals were the big winners so far of Day 1. Why? The Steelers got weaker, so did the Ravens and they haven't lost anything, yet. The Packers haven't gotten weaker, but the other teams in the division haven't gotten better. The 49ers added Anquan Boldin, and might add Charles Woodson. This doesn't scare me or concern me. The Seahawks added Percy Harvin, doesn't concern me. All in all, the first day was pretty exciting and fun to watch. And the Packers have Johnny Jolly back, who is a complete unknown, which I find exciting. It's like opening a Christmas present. What is it? It's a big box!! But does that big box have lots of sticks or big ass karaoke machine?

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

I actually find it exciting. Example, the Bengals were the big winners so far of Day 1. Why? The Steelers got weaker, so did the Ravens and they haven't lost anything, yet. The Packers haven't gotten weaker, but the other teams in the division haven't gotten better. The 49ers added Anquan Boldin, and might add Charles Woodson. This doesn't scare me or concern me. The Seahawks added Percy Harvin, doesn't concern me. All in all, the first day was pretty exciting and fun to watch. And the Packers have Johnny Jolly back, who is a complete unknown, which I find exciting. It's like opening a Christmas present. What is it? It's a big box!! But does that big box have lots of sticks or big ass karaoke machine?

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

The Packers haven't gotten weaker, but the other teams in the division haven't gotten better.

Bears agreed to terms on a five-year contract with LT Jermon Bushrod, formerly of the Saints.

Bears TEs coach Andy Bischoff promises to line up new $21 million tight end Martellus Bennett all over the field in order to create mismatches.
"The days of the tight end that blocked and ran flat routes in this league are coming to an end," he said. "The guys that just run 3-yard flat routes, that's not going to do anything for you." Bischoff believes Bennett can "threaten the defense" and "create stress in the middle of the field." Bennett is a good enough pass catcher to be Chicago's No. 2 receiver behind Brandon Marshall.
Source: ESPN.com

Not that they are huge big game changers but I think they make the Bears better.

Originally Posted by: JustinAVA182 

I appreciate Ted and his staff being fiscally responsible in not going after the giant FA names year after year like some teams do. However, overpaying your own players when they are not measuring up vs. others at the same position around the NFL is not being fiscally responsible either. I'm hoping the big miscues there are corrected, and that we are successful in landing a FA or two at positions where we have real needs. I would consider Finley to be one of those miscues, and I feel the only reason he has not been released, yet, is due to a possible trade.

Woodson and Pickett were giant FA signings, and those paid off big for us. I would not mind seeing more of those types of signings with the same kind of impact on our team, instead of bargain basement attempts to fix real problems, which is all we've seen in the 6 years since.

We're not going to have much room with Rodgers slotted to get $20M+, Matthews $12-15M, Raji $10M. All the more reason to slough off those players who are highly paid, but not giving a like return in value with their play.

Would you rather have Finley at $8M or Dashon Goldson playing S alongside Burnett for around $10M? A player signed in FA like Goldson could be a great value to this team, even with a higher pay level, as he would provide a higher play level. The monies out would be nearly the same.

This is no cake walk, and I appreciate the difficult job Ted has in front of him in improving our team, getting the most bang for his buck.

Originally Posted by: play2win