[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081007&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=81007152&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]Even if Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were a minimum-salary player, he probably would not be giving the Green Bay Packers their moneys worth.
Considering the ninth-year veteran defensive end is their highest-paid player in terms of base salary this season and has the highest 2008 salary-cap number of any player on their roster, the Packers probably cannot be anything but disappointed in Gbaja-Biamilas production.
Already reduced to a part-time role last season when he posted 9 sacks this year Gbaja-Biamila has been a virtual nonfactor. In five games, the Packers career sack leader (74) has only half a sack to his credit. It came in Week 2 against Detroit in a game in which the Packers sacked the immobile Jon Kitna five times.
Whats more, Gbaja-Biamilas snap counts have dwindled. After playing 30 snaps in the opener against Minnesota and 27 against the Lions, he played a season-low nine snaps against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. His snap count spiked to 23 the next week at Tampa Bay, but he played just 13 plays in Sundays loss to Atlanta.
Forget sacks. His last quarterback pressure came in the third quarter against the Lions. That means he hasnt come close to touching a quarterback in the last 13 quarters. Thats not exactly what most teams would expect from a pass-rush specialist with a base salary of $6.15 million and a salary-cap figure of $7.727 million.
The Packers are stuck paying Gbaja-Biamila for the entire season, so theres no incentive to cut him. Unless he makes a major contribution in the final 11 games, it would seem unlikely he would return next season at his 2009 base salary of $7.3 million.
His troubles began in the offseason when he underwent knee surgery in May after he experienced pain and swelling during workouts. After the surgery, he missed all organized team activities, the June minicamp and most of training camp.
Coach Mike McCarthy did not list Gbaja-Biamila on the injury report last week, the first time this season he has not done so, but McCarthy said Monday that the knee injury and a lingering ankle problem remain a factor.
His knee and his ankle are things that he has been fighting through, McCarthy said. But hes doing a great job as far as the extra time and work that he is putting into it.
Carl Hairston, who coaches the Packers defensive ends, disputed the notion that Gbaja-Biamila has run out of steam.
That guy, no, Hairston said. That guy could practice all day, but Mike has done a good job trying to keep him healthy, so no, I dont see that.
Gbaja-Biamila showed some signs of life on Sunday against the Falcons. He got decent push twice and once had a hand up near quarterback Matt Ryan, but it didnt affect the pass.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pound Gbaja-Biamila has long been known for his speed rush, and some of his burst appeared to return against the Falcons.
Hes not as explosive as he used to be, Hairston said. Its going to take a little time and repetitions to get that back. Hes increased his workload. Hes now practicing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so its just a matter of him getting his knee and ankle back to full strength so he can have confidence in what he used to do.
Once against the Falcons, he timed his move perfectly with the snap and got a good jump but couldnt get around the corner.
Thats what he doesnt have right now, Hairston said. Eventually, after we work more on it in practice, that will come back.
Given that Gbaja-Biamila is 32, theres reason to wonder whether it will.
Yeah, hes still got it, Hairston said. But he depends on his knee bend to get around the corner, and right now he doesnt have that. Its just a matter of the other things working for him and getting those things turned around. I think as this goes on, hell get better.
Gbaja-Biamila isnt the only one on the defensive line struggling with his pass rush. The Packers will take a streak of 10 straight quarters without a sack into Sundays game at Seattle.
Not only did they go sackless against the Falcons, they registered just one hit on Ryan. The Falcons often kept two running backs in the backfield on passing downs and used those backs to chip Gbaja-Biamila and fellow defensive end Aaron Kampman. The Falcons also were able to keep their third-down situations in manageable distances, which allowed them to make short, quick throws before the rush could arrive.
Weve got to get in some longer situations, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. The balls coming out quick. Theyre chipping occasionally here or there. Kabeers had a couple of pretty good rushes, but the ball came out. The rush and the coverage go together.