Clay Matthews cap charge for the coming season is:

$15,075,000

Should we cut him, we gain almost 11 million in cap space, and carry 4.1 million in dead money. Adding Sam's 3 million and Starks 750k, we're around 8 million in dead money between the 3.

15 million for Clay seems way, way, way too much to me. Perhaps, cutting Clay nets Nick Perry the big deal he has coming from somewhere from Ted?

Clay never struck me as a guy who was happy to be playing in Green Bay. He's Hollywood as they come. Would love to trade him but nobody would touch that contract and given that why should we?

Short of a very Packers friendly restructure, which I couldn't foresee, I think it's time to move on from Clay. He's another of our oft injured players who is declining and has always been a bit of a prima donna. Wouldn't bother me one bit to see him shown the door.

Hard saying all that knowing the state of our defense. I just truly wonder how many PED's that guy has pumped into himself and if that has a lot to do with his recurring hamstring issues?

Can you see Ted parting ways with Clay? That's the tough thing for me. I'd love to see him shown the door but I'm not sure Ted is going to do that while looking at his roster and seeing Kyler Fackrell waiting in the wings. Is Fackrell ready to give us anywhere near what Clay can even in his diminished state? Still, 15 million for Clay is just inexcusable so something's gotta give. What?

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I still think he can be an elite pass rusher if healthy but even if he were, the 15 mil is a tough pill to swallow and it's hard to imagine the Packers couldn't find 1 or even 2 guys to match his recent production with the 11 mil they'd save.

Another wasted 4.1 is tough, they're already devoid of proven talent so I get that axing him entirely isn't an easy decision, but I'm really hoping for at least a restructure, as unlikely as that might be.

If he won't take a pay cut he has to be cut.

It would be nice if we could possibly trade him. Not sure who would like that cap hit, but I guess if you have issues putting bums in the seats he may work for some team. Maybe a Jacksonville, Oakland or San Diego trade?

His ego is probably not going to like it, but I think it would be smart for him to consider a move to the inside. He was healthier and more productive in my opinion as an ILB. I just don't think he can get it done at the elite level he is getting paid anymore on the outside.

What is your definition of Packer Friendly? His cap number is 15M. If we trade him, we eat 4.1. If we cut him, we eat 4.1. Better option is to extend him.

He is due 22million over the next two years. So give him a 1 year extension, convert 15 million of that 22million into a signing bonus. Give him a 2017 salary of 1 million, 2018 4 million, 2019 5 million. It frees up 5 million in cap space this year, 2 million in 2018. Clay gets more guaranteed NOW, the team doesn't really pay any more unless clay last 3 more year, and not the greatest risk of having to eat tons of dead money later.

but he also has to play inside more. He is more effective inside on run downs.

We should do the same type of thing with Cobb and Rodgers as well. Between the three we can probobably free up a good 15 million in cap.

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Packers friendly would be something in order of paying him Peppers money now that Peps money is freed up.

A restructure sounds good but still a bitter pill to pay him 15 million no matter how it's handled. He's simply not worth it and it gets old hearing we need to do it because we have nobody else but that seems to be how it always goes.

11 million cap space vs. having him at OLB is the real debate short of an unlikely restructure. What do you want if a restructure isn't done? Let him play or walk?

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That is a hard question to answer without knowing what else happens.

I would say if he doesn't want to restructure, I would move him back into his 2015 role. Inside on running downs, and let him pass rush from different spots on passing downs. That lets him be involved in more plays.

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It's hard to believe that Clay will be 31 before 2017 season starts.

We've given big money to guys 6 years older who play the same position. In actual earnings Clay isn't making much more than Julius was.

After seeing the earnings breakdown between Julius and Clay, I feel very confident Clay is going to be back under his current deal. No way I see Ted cutting him.

I'm still not sure gaining 11 million in cap space vs. having him isn't worth it especially given his increasingly likelihood of missing significant time as he ages. He was hurt back in his early days here. Has to be a consideration.

That 11 million is awfully tantalizing to me. Like you PFWT, I'd like to see what happens. If Perry or him is the deciding factor, I'm giving the money to Perry as risky as that is.

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I'm assuming Perry will require 7-9/year, maybe more, and then if you keep both you've got 20+ million tied up in two injury-prone pass rushers with few options behind them.

I don't see a restructure or cut happening but the more I think about this the more I favor it.

I am not sure whether stats will call this bullshit, but I did certainly notice from the eye test that with Clay out of the lineup that Perry was not as effective. I am concerned whether a big payday for Nick backfires if Clay is moved or cut.